15 YEARS AGO, HAPES.

EVERYONE EVERYWHERE IN THE KNOWN GALAXY HELD THE SAME BELIEF. THAT THE PLANET HAPES WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLANET IN THE GALAXY, POPULATED WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. AND DEEP INSIDE, TEVARII HAD TO AGREE.

SHE STOOD NOT FAR FROM THE FOUNTAIN PALACE, THE HOME OF THE HAPAN ROYAL FAMILY. ITS CRYSTAL-LIKE SPIRE REACHED HIGH INTO THE NIGHT SKY, STANDING OUT IMPRESSIVELY AGAINST THE TRANSITORY MISTS. HER HEAD TILTED TO THE SIDE SPILLING HER STARK BLACK HAIR ONTO HER SHOULDERS. SHE TOOK A MOMENT TO TAKE IT ALL IN, THE BEAUTY OF IT THAT SHE HAD TO ADMIRE.

BUT ONLY FOR A MOMENT.

USING THE FORCE TO MANIFULATE THE WINDS ABOUT HER, SHE LIFTED HERSELF OFF THE GROUND AND HIGH INTO THE AIR. THE PUPILS OF HER BROWN EYES EXPANDED UNTIL NOTHING WAS LEFT EXCEPT TO BLACK ORBS. SPARKS OF BLUE ENERGY ILLUMIATED THE CORNERS OF HER EYES AS SHE CONTINUED TO STARE AT THE LUXURIOUS BUILDING.

THE SHEER FORCE OF HER WILL BEGAN THE SOIL TEMBLING, LIGHTLY AT FIRST BUT IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE GROUND WHAT SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY THAT THE PEOPLE BELOW HER COULD NOT KEEP TO THEIR FEET. THE QUIET NIGHT WAS SHATTERED WITH THE ROAR OF THE QUAKE AND PEOPLE SCREAMS AS THEY NOTICED THE WOMAN FLOATING IN THE AIR.

A SADISTIC SMILE CREPT ONTO HER LIPS AS SHE CONCENTRATED HER FOCUS STILL TOWARD THE PALACE. SHE COULD SEE IT SHAKING ON ITS FOUNDATION NOW, COULD HEAR THE SCREAMS OF THOSE TRAPPED INSIDE AS IT BEGAN TO SHIFT. THEIR FEAR AND TERROR FUELED HER, MAKING HER STRONGER AS SHE DREW ON THEIR PANIC.

THE GROUND BENEATH THE PALACE BEGAN TO SINK IN ON ITSELF, TEARING CHUNKS OF THE PALACE DOWN AND PULLING OTHERS DEEP WITHIN THE EATH. THE HIGHEST TOWER OF THE PALACE COLLAPSED, THE DEATH OF THOSE INSIDE EXHILERATING HER. THE SECONDS TURNED INTO MINUTES, AND THE DEATHTOLL ROSE STEADILY UNTIL THE QUAKING STOPPED.

TEVARII STILL HOVERED IN THE AIR, WEAKENED BUT STILL CHARGED WITH THE DEATHS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. SHE TOOK IN THE CARNAGE, THE BEAUTY OF HER WORK. THE ONCE GLORIOUS AND IMPRESSIVE FOUNTAIN PALACE WAS NOW A PILE OF RUBBLE, SUNK DEEP WITHIN A HOLE SHE CREATED IN THE EARTH. HER EYES TURNED BACK TOWARD THE CITY CENTER.

I CAN FEEL YOUR FEAR. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TO ME, KNOW WHY I'M HERE. BUT YOU CANNOT PREPARE THEM. YOU CANNOT EVEN FIGHT BACK.

TEVARII LAUGHED OUT LOUD, SLOWLY ALLOWING THE WINDS TO DIE DOWN FROM AROUND HER, AND LOWERED TO THE GROUND. SHE MOVED THROUGH THE STREETS, MAKING HER WAY AWAY FROM THE RUINS OF THE PALACE AND TOWARD THE CITY CENTER.

HARD TO BELIEVE, ISN'T IT? JUST DAYS AGO YOU CAME TO THIS PLACE - HOW SAFE AND WELCOMING IT HAD BEEN FOR YOU. LITTLE DID YOU KNOW THAT THEY COULD NOT PROTECT YOU FROM THE ONE PERSON WHO FEARED YOU AS MUCH AS YOU FEARED HER.

SHE CONTINUED ON, INTO A MARKET SQUARE THAT WAS FILLED WITH PEOPLE STARING AT A LARGE HOLOSCREEN OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PALACE. A WICKED SMILE SPREAD ACROSS HER MAROON LIPS.

YOU'VE WAITED THIS LONG, A LITTLE LONGER WON'T KILL YOU.

SHE MOVED THROUGH THE STUNNED, SILENT CROWD UNTIL SHE STOOD IN THE DEAD CENTER OF THE SQUARE. TEVARII CLOSED HER EYES, REACHING OUT INTO THE HEARTS OF THE SOULS THAT STOOD AROUND HER. ONE BY ONE, THEIR GREATEST FEARS ENTERED HER MIND, AND THE SAME SADISTIC SMILE SHE WORE AS SHE DESTROYED THE PALACE WAS ONCE AGAIN ON HER FACE.

BLACK SOULLESS EYES SNAPPED OPEN, AND ONE BY ONE THE CROWD BEGAN TO SCREAM IN ABSOLUTE TERROR. MANIFESTATIONS OF THEIR GREATEST SPRUNG TO LIFE AROUND THEM. OFF TO THE SIDE, AN ILLUSIONARY RANCOR ROARED OUT THE CALL OF THE HUNT AS IT STOOD OVER ONE MAN THAT COWERED AGAINST A WALL. ANOTHER MAN FELL TO THE GROUND, CLUTCHING AT HIS CHEST AS HIS HEART GAVE OUT AND THE ILLUSION OF HIS FEAR DISSAPEARED.

TEVARII INTENSIFIED THE ILLUSIONS, AND DOZENS MORE FELL TO THE GROUND. SHE DID NOT RELENT UNTIL EVERY LAST HAPAN LAY STILL IN THE SQUARE. THE SCREAMS ECHOED DELIGHTFULLY IN HER EARS, BUT THE ROAR OF ENGINES DISTRACTED HER TERRIBLY.

TEVARII SNAPPED HER HEAD TOWARD THE INCOMING SHIPS THAT BEGAN TO OPEN FIRE ON THE TWO WOMEN. THE LASERS TORE INTO THE DURACREET AROUND TEVARII AND SHE NARROWED HER EYES MENACINGLY.

IN HER MINDS EYE SHE COULD SEE THE WAVES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY AND WITH HER CONCENTRATION ON THE DARKSIDE WAS ABLE TO PUT DISRUPT THE SINCRONIZATION OF THOSE WAVE. LIKE A PEPPLE TOSSED INTO A POND THE DISRUPTION SPREAD QUICKLY, ALTERING THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS.

ALL AROUND THE WOMAN ELECTRONIC DEVICES WENT HAYWIRE. A NEARBY, ABANDONED SPEEDER STARTED UP OF ITS OWN ACCORD AND CRASHED INTO A NEAR BY BUILDING. DOOR OPENED AND CLOSED RAPIDLY, TEARING OFF THEIR TRACKS AND CAUSING FIRES. TEVARII FOCUSSED THE DISSRUPTED ENERGIES FORWARD, TOWARD THE INCOMING SHIPS.

THE INSTANT THE SHIPS AND DISRUPTED FIELD CONNECTED THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS OF THE SHIPS BEGAN TO FRY AND FAIL. ONE SHIP EVEN PLUMMETED TO THE GROUND IN A SPLENDID FIREY CRASH WITH THE OTHER PILOTS FOUGHT TO CONTROL THEIR DOOMED CRAFTS.

WITH A SARDONIC SMILE, TEVARII STARTED ONCE AGAIN THROUGH THE STREETS. ONLY THOSE PATHETIC FOOLS NOW STAND IN MY WAY, AND THEY WILL BE LITTLE WORRY. YOU KNOW THIS, DON'T YOU? CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR HEART THAT THEY WILL DIE AT MY FEET AND THAT IS WHY YOU CRY. YOUR TEARS WILL NOT SAVE THEM, LITTLE JEDI, NOR YOU.

THE BUILDING ROSE HIGH INTO THE SMOKEY, DUST FILLED HAPES MORNING SKY. IT STOOD AT THE EDGE OF THE SQUARE RISING DOZENS OF STORIES INTO THE AIR. BLACK SOULLESS EYES STARED UP THE SLEEK HAPAN ARCHITECTURE, FOCUSSING ON A SINGLE WINDOW MORE THAN TWENTY STORIES UP.

IT IS WHY THE SUDDEN FORCE PRESENCE OF ANOTHER SURPRISED TEVARII SO. SHE HAD NOT BEEN ANTICIPATING ANOTHER ON A PLANET SO FEARFUL AND PREJUDICES OF THOSE THAT WEILDED THE FORCE. SHE CRANED HER NECK, WATCHING AS THE SHADOW OF A MAN MOVED THROUGH THE CORPSE LITTERED SQUARE, HIS BODY SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE BURNING WRECKAGE OF THE DOWN FIGHTER.

THE FORCE SENSE SHE FELT FROM HIM WAS UNUSUAL, DARK AND LIGHT AT THE SAME TIME. AN ABOMINATION TO THE POWER ONE WEILDED IN CONTROLLING THE FORCE. HE WAS STILL SOME DISTANCE FROM HER, BUT SHE COULD NOW SEE THE DETERMINATION IN HIS EYES.

SOMEONE SEEKS TO SAVE YOU, LITTLE JEDI, THOUGH HE MAY NOT KNOW IT.

HER BODY TURNED TO FACE THE APPROACHING MAN, A SCOWL WORN WITHIN THE SMILE ON HER LIPS. SHE STARED AT HIM THOUGH HER CONCENTRATION FELL ONTO THE AIR AROUND THE BUILDING. THE WIND SPEEDS INCREASED AS SHE FORCED MORE AIR INTO THE AREA, INCREASING THE PRESSURE ENOUGH THAT EVERY WINDOW SHATTERED, SHOWERING THE STREETS AND SQUARE WITH DURAGLASS.

SHE CHUCKLED SADISTICALLY AT THE MAN. "IF YOU WISH TO JOIN THESE FOOLS IN DEATH, THEN I DARE YOU TO FOLLOW." THE WINDS AROUND HER PICKED UP SPEED AND FORCE, LIFTING HER OFF THE GROUND AND HIGH INTO THE AIR. SHE ROSE TO THE WINDOW THAT HAD HELD HER ATTENTION A MOMENT EARLIER AND FLOATED INTO THE APPARTMENT.

KI ADI GLARED AT THE WOMAN.
"I WILL NOT JOIN THE SCATTERED CORPSES NOR WILL THE DEATH TOLL ON THIS PLANET RISE."
KI JUMPED AND LET THE WIND CARRY HIM. HE USED THE FORCE TO GUIDE HIM INSIDE THE APARTMENT.
"STOP NOW OR BE DECIMATED." WITH THAT KI STRETCHED OUT HIS HANDS AND CONCENTRATED ON THE AIR AROUND THE DARK WOMAN. HE THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THE ATOMS IN THE AIR. HE ENERGIZED THEM AND MADE THEM HOTTER. THEN A WALL, NO A SPHERE OF FIRE WAS AROUND THE WOMAN. KI WAS ALWAYS PROUD WITH HIS ABILITIES WITH THE ELEMENTS. NO HEAT WAS PRODUCED BY THE WALL AS IT REMAINED TRAPPED INSIDE. THE FIRE CHANGED COLORS AS IT GREW HOTTER, UNTILL IT BECAME CLEAR. THE FIRE NEITHER SPREAD NOR DAMAGED THE THINGS AROUND IT.
"TELL ME MOUSE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A TRAP?"

SHE GROWLED AT THE AUDACITY OF THE MAN. IN THE BACK GROUND TEVARII COULD HEAR THE SOFT WHIMPERS COMING FROM THE NEXT ROOM. SHE WAS SO CLOSE, SO VERY CLOSE AND HE DARED TO TRY TO STOP HER.

HER FINGERS BRUSHED AGAINST THE SPHERE OF FIRE THAT HELD HER IN PLACE, TESTING ITS STRENGTH. THERE WAS NARY A WAVER, AND WITH THE MAN STANDING WATCHING OVER HER SHE WOULD HAVE LITTLE CHANCE TO...

"TELL ME MOUSE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A TRAP?"

BUT LUCK WAS WITH HER.

THE DOOR TO THE BEDROOM THAT THEY STOOD IN BURST OPEN, A PANICKED MAN AND WOMAN STOPPING IN THEIR TRACKS JUST BEYOND THE THRESHOLD. THE WOMAN TURNED A HORRIFIED GLANCE TOWARD THE OTHER DOOR, THEN BACK TO THE TWO STRANGERS THAT STOOD IN THEIR BEDROOM.

TEVARII'S DARK EYES SPARKED WITH LIGHTNING AND SHE SNEERED AT KI. " DISTRACT THE CAT."

HER HEAD SNAPPED TOWARD THE COUPLE IN THE DOORWAY, LIFTING THEM WITH THE SHEER POWER OF HER MIND. THEY SCREAMED AS SHE PUSHED THEM OUT THE SHATTERED WINDOW WITH THE FORCE. WITHOUT ANOTHER THOUGHT SHE REALESED THEM, LEAVING THEM TO PLUMMET THROUGH THE AIR.


KI ADI HAD TO MAKE A QUICK DECISION. HE MADE HIS CHOICE. HE RAN AND DID A DIVE OUT THE WINDOW. HE SPED TOWARD THE GROUND CATCHING UP WITH THE FALLING PEOPLE. HE CAUGHT THEM AND WITH THE FORCE, LANDED ON HIS FEET. HE SET THEM DOWN AND LOOKED BACK UP TO THE WINDOW. HE JUMPED UP AND LAUNCHED HIMSELF TOWARDS IT. HE LANDED BACK INTO THE ROOM WHICH WAS NOW EMPTY. HE HEARD FOOT STEPS IN THE OTHER ROOM AND RAN TOWARDS IT.

HER EVIL LAUGHER ECHOED THROUGH THE ROOM, FOLLOWING THE MAN AS HELEAPT OUT THE WINDOW. NOW SOONER HAD HE DONE SO THAN TEVARII SLAMMED HER HANDS AGAINST THE FLAME WALL, DIRECTING HER POWER INTO IT UNTIL IT SHATTERED OUTWARD.

THE MAN FORGOTTEN FOR THE MOMENT SHE TURNED TO THE SECOND DOOR IN THE ROOM. IT OPENED WITH A THOUGHT, AND THE TINY WAILS OF THE INFANT THAT LAY INSIDE RANG THROUGH THE ROOM. TEVARII COOED SOFTLY - ALMOST MOTHERLY - AS SHE REACHED INTO THE BASINET AND LIFTED THE DAYS OLD CHILD INTO HER ARMS.

" SO TINY. SO HARD TO IMAGINE THE WOMAN YOU WILL GROW TO BECOME WLL BE A WOMAN RESPECTED AND FEARED THROUGHOUT THE GALAXY."

THE BABY WHIMPERED AND KICKED IN HER ARMS, BRIGHT GOLD EYES STARING UP AT HER. TEVARII BOUNCED HER LIGHTLY, REACHING INTO THE BABY'S MIND TO CALM HER AND LULL HER TO SLEEP. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE CHILD'S EYES CLOSED AND SHE QUIETTED.

TEVARII TURNED BACK TO THE DOOR, ONLY TO FIND THE MAN STANDING . " BACK AGAIN WORM? AH AH AH!" SHE SMIRKED VICTORIOUSLY WHEN SHE SAW THE LOOK IN HIS EYES, AS THOUGH HE WAS PREPARING TO ATTACK HER. " YOU MAY WISH TO RECONSIDER, YOU MAY INJURE MY DAUGHTER."

"A DAUGHTER OF EVIL SHE WOULD BE, A CHILD I COULD NOT LET LIVE. SO IT IS YOUR CHOICE, GIVE THE CHILD TO ME AND YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE OR, TAKE THE CHILD AND HAVE ME KILL YOU TAKING THE CHILD ANYWAY. I SENSE HER POWER JUST AS WELL AS YOU DO, DONT DENY THAT IS WHY YOU WANT HER." KI SNEERED AT THE WOMAN. SHE SEEMED SO FAMILIAR, IN A WAY HE COULD NOT COMPREHEND. DIDN'T MATTER NOW. HE LUNGED FOR THE DARK ONE.

TEVARII PUMPED HER MUSCLES WITH ADRENALIN, SPEEDING HER BODY UP TO TURN AWAY FROM KI ADI'S LUNGE AT HER. MOVING FASTER THAN HE, SHE STEPPED PAST HIM AND MOCKINGLY KICKED HIM IN THE BACKSIDE AS HE STUMBLED PAST.

"I DENY NOTHING, AND ADMIT EVERYTHING." IN THAT SECOND THE IMAGES FROM THE VISION THAT LED HER TO THE CHILD REPLAYED IN HER MIND. THE IMAGE OF THE YOUNG WOMAN THE CHILD WOULD BECOME HAUNTED HER, PLAGUED HER, REMINDED HER THE DEATH THAT AWAITED HER AFTER CENTURIES OF CHAOS. THE CHILD WOULD BE THE DEATH OF HER, THE DARKSIDE HAD SHOWN HER THIS, BUT SHE HAD LEARNED THAT THE FUTURE WAS NEVER SET IN STONE. IT COULD BE ALTERED.

SHE SNEERED AT HIM." WHETHER YOU TAKE HER FROM ME OR NOT, SHE IS ALREADY BEEN EXPOSED TO THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE AND WILL BE EASILY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ITS CALL. BUT YOU, WORM, WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT SHE IS TO BECOME." CRADLING THE INFANT IN ONE ARM TEVARII LIFTED THE OTHER AND GESTURED TOWARD THE OUTSIDE WALL.

THE POTENCY OF THE DARKSIDE SHE WEILDED TORE A CHUCK OF THE DURASTEEL WALL OUT AND SHE FLUNG IT TOWARD KI, HOPING TO CRUSH THE ANNOYING LITTLE MAN OR TO AT LEAST PIN HIM LONG ENOUGH TO FINISH WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. WITHOUT WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED SHE LEAPT OUT THE OPENING AND SOARED TO THE GROUND BELOW.

HER FEET TOUCHED THE STREET BELOW AND SHE TOOK A FEW STEPS AWAY FROM THE BUILDING. TURNING AROUND, HER FREE HAND ONCE AGAIN MOTIONED TOWARD THE BUILDING. THE ELECTRONS AND ELEMENTS OF THE BUILDING BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AS SHE FORCED MORE AND MORE OF HER DARK ENERGIES TOWARD IT. IN SECONDS THE FIRST FLOOR EXPOLODED IN A MASS OF FIRE AND SMOKE, FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY THE SECOND FLOOR, THEN THE THIRD, AND THE FORTH. SHE SMILED AS THE GAS LINES WITHING THE BUIDING CASCADED THE EXPLOSIONS UPWARD, BLOWING OUT EACH FLOOR ONE BY ONE.

TEVARII LOOKED DOWN AT THE SLEEPING BABE IN HER ARM, AND SMILED WICKEDLY. " NO ONE WILL MISS YOU NOW, LITTLE ONE."

KI ADI KICKED HE BEAM AWAY FROM HIMN, HOPING TO HIT THE WOMAN. JUST AS SHE JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW THE BEAM CRASHED INTO THE FRAME. KI THOUGHT OF NOTHING BUT THE CHILD, HE HEARD THE EXPLOSION AND HE FELT THE DEATH OF THE CHILD'S PARENTS IN HIS HEART. HE LEAPED OUT THE WINDOW RIGHT AS THE ROOM HE WAS IN WENT UP IN FLAMES. HE LANDED BEHIND THE DARK ONE SILENTLY. KI DROPED AS HE TOOK OUT HER LEGS WITH HIS. AS SHE FELL HE KICKED HER ARMS FLINGING THE CHILD INTO THE AIR. KI JUMPED AND CAUGHT THE BABY GIRL. SHE BEGAN TO CRY. ALL KI COULD DO WAS SAY "SHHHH..." AS HE LANDED ON THE GROUND. KI GLARED AS THE DARK ONE AS HE TRIED TO SOOTHE THE CHILD WITH A THE FORCE.
"WHILE FATE CAN NOT BE CHANGED HER DESTINY CAN BE. SHE IS THE ONLY ONE TO CHOOSE WHAT SHE IS TO BECOME. AND I WILL GUIDE HER IF IT MEANS THAT YOU WONT!" KI BEGAN TO TAKE A FEW STEPS BACK, PREPARING FOR ANYTHING.

DOZENS OF HEAVILY BOOTED FEET ECHOED ABOVE THE NOISE OF THE BURNING BUILDING BEHIND THEM. DESTROY THE BUILDING AND EVERYONE WITHIN HAD DRAINED HER AND THE ANNOYING LITTLE WORM HAD PREVENTED HER FROM CALLING THE ENERGY OF THOSE THAT DIED TO HER. BUT HE WAS STILL INJURED, SHE COULD SEE THAT NOW, AND PERHAPS SHE COULD STILL TAKE THE BABY ALIVE.

TEVARII GLANCED OVER HER SHOULDER, REMAINING ON THE GROUND AS DOZENS OF HAPAN SOLDIERS STORMED INTO THE SQUARE. SHE REACHED OUT TO THEIR MINDS, CLOUDING THEM, MAKING THEM SEE A HELPLESS HAPAN WOMAN AND NOT THE DEFORMED SITH SHE WAS. SHE TURNED BACK TO KI WITH A TRIAMPHANT SNEER AND SCREAMED AT THE TOP OF HER LUNG:

" STOP HIM, HE'S STEALING MY BABY! HE'S THE ONE WHO DESTROYED THE PALACE!"

"@#%$." WAS ALL KI ADI WAS ABLE TO MUMBLE BEFORE HE HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE WAY OF STUN BLASTS. HE JUMPED TO A NEARBY ROOF TOP. HE KNEW WHY THEY WERE USING STUN, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HURT THE CHILD, AND THAT WAS AN ADVANTAGE KI HAD. THE BABY BEGAN TO CRY AGAIN AND ALL KI COULD DO WAS TRY TO COMFORT HER. IT WAS OBVIOUS THE SITH WAS MORE POWERFUL IN CONTROLING PEOPLE AND CLOUDING THEIR MINDS. IT WAS AN ACT KI DID NOT LIKE DOING AND THEREFORE, RARELY PRACTICED IT.

HE JUMPED A FEW MORE TIMES, DODGING BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STAND STILL. HE GLARED AT THE WOMAN AND AS A SMIRK CROSSED HER FACE, A FIRE ERUPTED IN KI ADI’S SOUL AND FLAMES COULD BE SEEN IN HIS EYES. FINE, HE WOULD FIGHT BACK AND USE THE SAME TRICK SHE HAD ONLY HE WOULD SHOW HER HOW A REAL FORCE USER WOULD DO IT. THE WINDS PICKED UP AND THE GUARDS WERE THROWN AGAINST THE WALLS, MOSTLY UNHARMED DUE TO BEING SO CLOSE TO THEM. LIGHTNING CRACKLED OVERHEAD AND THE DARK CLOUDS IN THE SKY SEEMED TO DESIRE TO RAIN DOWN FIRE.

IN THE CONFUSION KI BROUGHT HIS WATCH COMMUNICATER TO HIS MOUTH AND SUMMONED HIS SHIP. THE BLADE ZOOMED DOWN WITH ITS HATCH OPEN. THE CHILD STILL CRYING, KI JUMPED IN THE SHIP AND CLOSED THE HATCH. HE LOOKED AT THE BABY, CALMING HER. AS SHE COOED KI SMILED.
"I WILL PROTECT YOU, I WILL LOVE YOU AS MY OWN. NO HARM WILL EVER COME TO YOU," KI FELT A TEAR CROSS HIS CHEEK. "BUT FIRST YOU NEED A NAME, HOW ABOUT... JUDZYIA." KI LOOKED UP TO THE CONTROLS AND FLEW AWAY INTO SPACE, FOR A PLACE TO REST, FOR A PLACE FOR HIS DAUGHTER TO CALL HOME.

TEVARII WATCHED THE SCENE PLAY OUT, STARING INTENTLY AT KI AS HE LEAPT TO THE ROOFTOPS. SHE WOULD REMEMBER HIS FACE, HIS EVERY DETAIL. AND SHE WOULD MAKE HIM PAY.

TWO HAPAN SOLDIERS HURRIED OVER TO HER, STILL BELIEVING HER TO BE A DEVASTATED MOTHER, AND PLACED THEIR HANDS ON HER AS THOUGH TO HELP HER TO HER FEET. THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT THESE SOLDIERS WOULD CARRY THE BRUNT OF HER FRUSTRATION, BUT SHE WOULD GIVE THE JEDI THAT STOLE THE CHILD SOMETHING TO REMEMBER HER BY.

SHE GRABBED BOTH SOLDIERS BY THE THROAT, HER INTENSE HATRED AND ANGER FLOWING THROUGH HER FINGERS AND INTO THE TWO MEN KILLING THEM ALMOST INSTANTLY. AT THE SAME MOMENT SHE LET OUT A SOUL SHATTERING SCREAM THAT TORE THROUGH THE FORCE AND TOWARD KI. HE WOULD FEEL HER ANGER IN EVERY FIBER OF HIS BEING.

THE MOMENTS PASSED, THE SCREAM ECHOING THROUGH THE SQUARE, AND SHE FINALLY RELENTED. SHE STOOD, RELEASING THE SMOLDERING CORPSES OF THE HAPAN SOLDIERS, AND SIGHED.

PERHAPS IT WAS FOR THE BEST. SHE WAS NOT PREPARED OR WILLING TO RAISE AN INFANT TO MATURATY. NO DOUBT SHE WOULD HAVE ENDED UP SACRIFICING THE CHILD WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, AND WHAT A WASTE OF POWER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN. SHE SMILED, MOVING THROUGH THE SQUARE AND BRINGING AN IMAGE OF HER TEMPLE TO MIND. AS SHE WALKED SHE MELDED THROUGH TIME AND SPACE AND FOUND HERSELF STANDING WITHIN THE TEMPLE.

THERE WOULD PLENTY OF TIME TO BRING THE CHILD TO THE DARKSIDE. IF THE IMPRESSION SHE HAD GOTTEN FROM THE JEDI HELD TRUE, HE WOULD DO HAVE THE JOB FOR HER.

SHE SMIRKED. SHE HAD WAITED CENTURIES, A FEW MORE YEARS WOULD NOT MATTER.

15 years later.

The young girl, no more than fifteen years old, paced nervously across the yard. The night sky was illuminated with billions of stars, yet the yard behind the two story manor was surprisingly dark. The girl tugged on her golden hair, looking over her shoulder for the hundredth time. " Hurry up, will you Judzyia?"

Long dark hair preceded the round young face of another girl as she peeked from behind the swoop bike. " Will you calm down, Emma? I'll know if anyone's coming."

Emma pulled her jacked tighter around her as she scowled at her friend. " I don't think this is a good idea, what if my brother finds out? Dad just bought him this bike!"

Judzyia stood and reached across the seat of the back and grabbed a hand full of Emma's coat. She pulled her toward her quickly, forcing Emma to catch herself against the back or risk falling. Judzyia scowled back. " You wanted to impress that stupid nerf herder, Heah Poloski, and told him how big you were into swoop racing. Well guess what Emma, you have to have a swoop bike before you can race." She pushed Emma back, sending her stumbling to the ground. " You're just lucky I happen to know how to hot-wire one."

She went back to the swoop bike, twisting a couple of stripped wires together and was rewarded with the soft whine as the engine started. Judzyia looked to Emma with a triumphant smirk and walked around the bike to help her friend to her feet. " Let's go get you a nerf herder."

Emma squealed with excitement and the two girls climbed onto the bike, Judzyia in front and driving. " He said he was going to get some of the others together and meet just outside of town. The old spice mine. That's where they race."

Judzyia nodded and revved up the engine. " Works for me. Hold on." Before she even made sure Emma's arms were tight around her she shifted the bike into gear and sped out of the yard.

The wind flew through both girl's hair, the cool night chilling them yet Judzyia did not seem to notice. Emma laughed as they sped through the quite village. " I can't believe you're dad lets you race," she shouted above the wind and noise of the bike's repulsor.

" What he doesn't know can't hurt me!" Judzyia replies with a smile. " Beside, what fun is it if they let you do it?"

Emma let go of her hold on Judzyia, lifting her arms into the air with a shout of youthful anticipation. Judzyia just shook her head. She envied Emma sometimes, to be able to just be a normal kid. But she had never been normal, not once in all the time she could remember. And at times that seemed like a very, very long time.

It only took a matter of minute to reach the old mines, and true to his word Heah had gathered more than a dozen kids with swoop bikes, and dozens more gathered around to watch. Judzyia stopped the bike near the others that were lining up, preparing for the first race.

" Get off Emma, first one's mine."

Emma nodded and accepted Judzyia's help off the bike. " Be careful Judzyia, my brother will kill you if you wreck the bike."

Judzyia took a helmet off the side of the bike and slipped in on over her head. " He can try."

A total of fifteen swoop bikes lined up at a makeshift starting line that had been drawn in the dirt. An older boy, about 18 or 19, stood out in front.

" Here're the rules!" He shouted, drawing silence from the crowd. " There are no rules!!" The crowd erupted into cheers at that only to be silenced again when he shouted. " Racers, the winner is the one through the mines and back here first! A tracer will be placed on your bike and we will be watching your progress from here!"

Judzyia heard a metallic ping as the magnetic tracer was slipped onto the back of her "borrowed" swoop bike. She could feel the anxiousness and eagerness of the other fourteen racers and smiled behind the visor of the helmet. This race was going to be a cake walk, just like every other race she had taken part in.

"Racers!! On my mark!! Three"

Judzyia slipped the back into its highest gear, the repulsors revving to life though she kept her hand tight on the breaks.

" Two!"

She reached out with the force, taking in ever inch of her surroundings, as her father had taught her. Though he may not have had swoop racing in mind when he did, it was a handy tool.

" One!"

Judzyia had a feel for the track now, seeing it in her mind. The crowd was alive with screams and shouts and with practice ease she eliminated the noise, and thus the distraction.

"MARK!!!"

The race began, fifteen racers tearing out into the mines, and Judzyia was in the lead.

A shadowy racer weaved in between swoops as he went up in ranks. He wore black leather with a black helmet, his swoop was even black. As he weaved he caught a glimpse of an explosion behind him. He turned to see some driver hiting the others into walls. The shadowy racer hit the throttle and zoomed forward. He had hit second place and closing in on the rider in front of him. *clang* The racer was hit by the rider that caused the explosion, no doubt if blasters were allowed, the man would of used them. *crack* The racer clad in black was hit again and began to spin. The idiot went after first place and began hitting her. After regaining control the mysterious racer zoomed forward. He had to protect the girl in first place. She kept getting hit and they were nearing a narrow and steep cliff. with the speed floored the racer went forward, protecting and maybe saving the girl.

The entrances into the actual mines had been sealed shut when the mines had closed but the equipment, buildings and scaffolding had been left behind. The decades had taken its toll on the site, equipment now rusted and unusable, buildings decrepid and collapsing, but the scaffolding was as sturdy now as it had been back in the days of use. It was those scaffoldings that the crowd converged on, looking down into the main pit that was now the race track.

Judzyia held the lead, easily moving through the obstacles and course with the feelings she got through the Force. True, it was cheating, but she followed the rules every other moment of her life. The only time she felt free of the path the fates had chosen for her was when she raced. It was these moments that kept her sane.

She could hear the explosions and commotions going on behind her, but held her concentration on her surroundings. The terrain was become more treacherous as the raced moved further into the abandoned mine. Her body suddenly jarred as the racer slammed into her, nearly throwing her from the bike. Somehow she managed to keep the lead and craned her head toward the rider.

A not-so-nice smile curled her lips. It was finally getting interesting.

As the racer moved in close once again she smashed her elbow back into the rider's helmet. His head snapped back but he kept on her, hitting into her again. Two could play that game. She let the other racer gain ground on her just enough so the nose of her bike was even with the back of his. She jerked the handle of her bike to the side, hitting him squarely and sending him spinning out of control.

Judzyia threw the bike into the highest gear and it shot forward along the ridge of the cliff. She could feel the crowd just ahead now, and realized they were coming to the end of the race.

The stolen swoop bike was the first across the finish line, and there was no containing the smile of pure satisfaction Judzyia wore when she removed her helmet. The crowd gathered around, dozens of hands slapping her on the back and congradulating her on her vicotry.

Emma came running up to her, squealing so high pitched Judzyia thought her ear drum would burst. Emma threw her arms around her friend's neck, pulling her into a giant hug. "Oh my god! That was a stellar race!! No one stood a chance against you! You should have seen what was going on behind you!"

Judzyia pried herself away from Emma's clutches, very uncomfortable with the display from the girl. Judzyia just shrugged, removing the tracer from the bike.. "It was a good race, considering the track."

" And what is that suppose to mean?!"

The racer on the bike that had slammed into her pushed his way through the crowd, throwing his helmet to the ground at Judzyia's feet.. "You seemed to know the course pretty well considering I've never seen you race here before! You were cheating somehow!"

Judzyia looked down at the helmet then up at the racer, her face darkenning as did her mood. This was the boy that Emma had wanted to impress, though why was beyong even Judzyia's understanding. He was a jerk. " Stuff it, Heah, before I stuff you."

Heah arched one eyebrow and smirked.. " Is that a threat, little girl?"

Judzyia hated being called a little girl, not even her father got away with it. But she knew better than to start something that this boy could not handle. She took a steadying breath, held her helmet beneath her arm, and started to walk away." Do us all a favor, Heah, and take a walk off that cliff back there."

" Don't walk away from me, @#%$!!" Heah reached out and roughly grabbed her by the arm.

Judzyia's bright blue eyes flashed dangerously as she spun her head around and glared at the boy. Without even realizing it she realesed some of the anger within her toward Heah. He screamed out in pain, the hand that held her burning rapidly... and badly.

Heah fell to his knees, grasping his severly burned hand at the wrist, tears streaming down his face. The crowd backed away from Judzyia, fear and loathing evident in their expressions - even Emma who was next to Heah in an instant.

Judzyia's heart sank and her lower lip began to tremble. Dropping the helmet into the durt she turned and bolted from the mines.

She ran blindly, tears filling her eyes though they did not spill over her lids. She left the crowd behind, disappearing into the dark hills that surrounded the village. How long she ran, she didn't know. She finally stopped when her legs felt like they were about to give out and rested against a tall tree.

She wrapped her arms around her, the chill of the night finally getting to her, and slid down the trunk of the tree to sit in the dirt. The tears finally fell and her shoulders shook with each silent sob.

She would never be normal...

The Shadowy rider pulled up on his swoop. Third, not bad figuing one was a force user and the other a cheater. He took off his helmet to reveal himslef, Ki Adi.
"So this is how you entertain yourself?" Ki said in a hushed tone. He went over to the man and touched his head. The pain subsided. "Go put that in some bacta before the buring becomes real." The man quickly got to his feat and ran off. He glared at the crowd. Ki Adi put his helmet back on and mounted his swoop. He rode off after his daughter. Concealing himself to seem just like someone one who cared. Someone Judzyia didn't know. A few miles down he caught up to her, fast runner. He rode up next to her and stopped. In a muffled voice he said, "Would you like a lift?" It was a caring tone.

Recollections...

He hadn't always been evil. It was strange how things had turned out, all things considered. He had been good, then bad, then good, then bad. Well, that in itself was a total simplification. And nothing about Lupercus was simple...

15 years ago.

Wesley Windom Price was one of a very special breed, born into a position that very few men in the Consortium were able to claim membership to. He was a Watcher. The definition of a Watcher was simple. They were the best intelligence agents in the Consortium, but their job wasn't pivotal to External Affairs, the Navy, or any other branch of the Monarchy. It was simply to watch.

Or more specifically, in their eyes, to babysit.

He walked with long purposeful strides towards a small data entry point in a fairly non-descript part of the palace and plugged in a small datapad. The uploading took only a second and then he was gone, lost in the deep hallways that made the Per'Agthra one of the most beautiful places in the galaxy.

Elsewhere, in the council chambers, another datapad beeped.

>>>Data access detected.
>>>Scanning..........................................
>>>User WWP0342 authorised.
>>>Begining file transfer ........................................................................
............................................................................................................
................................................................ download completed.

>>>Accessing report WWP0432 Alpha Zulu Golf.
>>>Report subject, Chume'Dai II

Subject has fallen in with a small crowd of similar juveniles, all with parental links to the Ni'Korish. While this could be coincidental, it is the opinion of this Watcher that action must be taken to prevent any subversion of the second Chume'Dai. This action need not be overt but must reallign him to the standards set by the primary Chume'Dai.

If no action is taken, his potential for problems is exponential, much moreso than the Chume'Dai himself.

>>>End report WWP0432 Alpha Zulu Golf.
>>>Diseminate relevant information? Y/N? Y
>>>Forwarding report CC:Council Members..........................................
..................................................... message sent.

/logoff

>>>Have a nice day!


Elsewhere, on Hapes.

Tevarii giggled as Lupercus pushed her back, the teenage girl stumbling slightly before landing against the wall. She pulled him onto her, their lips meeting hungrily, completely oblivious to those around him. They continued for a minute before there was a slight squeel, Tevarii pushing the boy away to allow her to look at her chrono.

"You're such a punk! We're gonna be late to the gathering!"

Lupercus laughed, sneaking in another kiss. She accepted it, before pulling away.

"Who cares? We have one every week, and its not like we'd be missing anything new!"

He reached in to kiss her again but she ducked him, making down the alley clutching Lupercus' hand. He followed semi reluctantly, but spoke up quickly.

"Well, at least i still get a good view from back here!"

She laughed but refused to take the bait as she continued to drag him down the alley. Half way down she stopped and stepped into a hidden alcove. It was dark and could barely fit a full grown person, so Lupercus took advantage and was quick to find her lips again. She didn't fight, but her hand pressed against the wall and with a slight force push, lifted the hidden lever to allow them enterance. Using the gravity of not having something behind her, she pulled Lupercus inside.

"Ok, lets go."

The alcove opened up into a tiny downward spiriling staircase, dullglow lamps barely lighting the route they walked. The stairs ended after only a few moments to reveal a large chamber. Couches, holoprojectors and other paraphanalia lay around and all were in use by the other teenagers that surrounded them.

"Yo, Angel!"

Lupercus spun around to see Spike running towards him, his hair once again a different colour.

"Bleach blonde? Dude, thats not cool!"

His hair was the worst kind of bleached and he'd slicked it back to keep the hair from his eyes. Behind him trailed Drusilla, her eyes for now fully awake and focused on him and Tevarii.

"Shut it man. Dru likes it, don't ya baby?"

Dru floated up and stopped in front of the pair, her hand reaching up to scratch the nape of Spikes neck.

"If Spikes happy with it, I'm happy with it."

Lupercus laughed.

"Hah, well you two are the only ones! I need some shades 'cause i think i'm about to go blind!"

They all laughed but Spike jumped forward play tackling Lupercus over the couch behind him. They continued to play wrestle while Dru and Tevarii talked.

"So Darla, whats been happening in your neck of the woods?"

Tevarii took a moment to respond, forgetting as she had a number of times before that these people, their friends, didn't know their real names.

"Absolutely nothing. Angels as horny as usual. Heh, we barely made it on time, again!"

The girls laughed having become close friends ever since they met. Spike and Lupercus had done just the same because they were all in the same boat. Tevarii and Lupercus had infact introduced the others, who quickly became more than just friends. They talked amongst themselves, finding a set of unused couches to camp on while they waited for Angrix to arrive.

Angrix was older than all of them, just. He was also the leader of this pack, as it were, but even though he ruled, noone seemed to notice or care. To them, this was just a kickass place to makeout, meet friends and learn survival tips for the 3921st millenium. To him, this was his job, his project. That which provided him with his livelihood.

Angrix was a card carrying member of the Ni'Korish, and this, was one of their training grounds.

Present Day, Coruscants lower levels.



The sith moved with stealth that belied his human origins, his eyes entirely closed despite the fact he was running near full pelt through darkened streets. Any sane man would not have been moving blindly at such a pace or even moving blindly at all in Coruscants lower regions, but this 'man' had a supreme purpose.

Greed.

Master Lupercus will reward me greatly for capturing his countrymen...

The Sith, Rannor, pressed on as he followed his mark, a Royal Intelligence agent from the Consortium whose secret identity had been betrayed by Rannors Master as he fled the cluster. He had been tracking him, since he was now recognised as a key intel agent, for over 3 months and as a result had uncovered and ruined numerous RInt operations.

And never once did he stop to think that he himself might be at risk.

Ahead he could sense the mark make a left turn, moving deeper towards what the mark had mentally indicated was a safehouse for Hapan operatives at Imperial Centre. Mirroring the Hapan, Rannor started to move left across the darkened alley when suddenly his senses caught something wrong. He opened his eyes, but too late.

To his right a flash of bluey white followed by a command.

"STOP!"

And so he did. From the location of the laserblast a number of figures stepped out, two being significantly taller than the rest. Dull gunmetal gleamed in the flourescent lights as they approached the increasingly scared and confused Sith.

"Face me."

Rannor, a look of terror spreading across his face, did so. In front of him stood 3 men followed closely by a pair of what appeared to be 8 foot cyborgs. Had Rannor been one of Lupercus' original Sith, Hapan expatriots all, he would have identifed them as the shock troops of the Queen Mother.

"Pass me your weapons."

His breathe passing between his lips in panicked gasps, Rannor further shocked himself by doing as he was ordered. Almost as if he were watching a holofilm, Rannor produced his blaster, unclipped his sabre and threw it at their feet. Then, in an act that would have broken even the most hardened criminal across the galaxy, he reached down and pulled from his boots, left to right in turn, his hidden dagger and blaster. They too then landed at the groups feet.

"Excellent, now come with us."

They walked off down the end of the alley and Rannor obeyed, increasingly confused at his actions. In the back of his mind, Rannor was screaming bloody murder and, through some confused sense of duty, continued to moniter the mark. It had stopped now, and his thoughts screamed pride in victory. Trailing the party a metre behind Rannor could only sense the distance between him and the mark grow smaller and smaller until they were face to face.

Then, with only a few words from the mark, Rannor told him everything.


1 day later, Hapes.



Provost Zakharov moved with a gentle grace that belied both his age and his calling. At over 65 standard years, he was truly an old man, but his mind was as sharp as ever. A pereniel scientist turned devoted aide, he had lead the Chume'Dai through his entire career, staving off war with all but one the Consortiums enemies. And, thanks in large part to his diplomatic efforts, he had ensured that the war was won in a single battle.

As he wandered down the sunlit halls of the Per'Agthra Zakharovs mind drifted back to that week many years ago, perhaps spurned on by the peice of lasarla that he was enjoying.

Perhaps, were more numbers commited, the entire enemy fleet could have been captured...

He shook his head to the negative.

No, the entire fleet was captured baring only one enemy ship, and it was done without loss. And the political powerplay that lead to Danoz's alliance and subsequint joining with the Consortium was more successful that i could have hoped.

Not that the enemy gave much challenge...

He pondered momentarily on the enemy, led even now the CEO Raktus, before dismissing it. IDTech was none of his concern, and what was currently his concern was delievery of his report to the Crowned Prince.

And the Queen Mother.

He momentarily chastised himself, for such a public mistake could have seen him executed in the Hapes long past. Under the last Queen Mother, Vessana, he would never have forgotten that it was Ereneda that ruled, but since her death, Dakkon had ruled almost entirely.

And it was only thanks to their revolution that had allowed the Prince, and males in general, to act on the same plane of existance as the stronger sex.

He smiled at the thought in melancoly as he made his way to the massive oaken doors that lead to the Queens chambers. Pushing open the doors, he entered to find the pair asleep, their legs intwined underneith the silken sheets. He was about to announce his presence when it was annouced for him, a cooing emerging from the corner of the room.

Turning, the Provost saw Dakarius standing up in his cot, bracing himself by the sides. Immediately a smile sprung to Zakharovs face, causing the Chume'Da to giggle inanely. He bounced up and down in excitement before falling, his face registering apparent shock at his inability to hold himself up. Suddenly another noise was heard, this time one of panic as Dakarius landed, waking his sister.

Immediately Sorsha burst into tears, the toddler annoyed at being disturbed.

Instantly Provost Zakharov heard Dakkon swing out of bed, now well awake, his intrinisic force link to his children having woke him even before the crying started. Only a second later, Jasmine too was awake.

"Whats the news?"

Dakkon was all business as he swept Sorsha from the cot where her brother and sister now sat, both fully awake. It took only a few moments for Dakkon to calm the child, being able to communicate with it on a level far eclipsing that of most parents.

"I have the report on our foreign postings."

His accentuation of the word 'foreign' was more than enough to indicate to the Chume'Dai what his aide was talking about. He nodded for the man to continue.

"All posts have been established. Operation Cleansing Hand has been successful, netting 16 enemy operatives of identified classes. A further 2 had to be eliminated due to incompatability with our techniques.

Additionally, 8 were netted of outside our parameters..."

Dakkon grimaced, displeased that others had cottoned on to the endeavour.

"And?"

"All additional captures were simply coincidences, and had no idea of the depth of what they had discovered. The numbers are as follows;

3 Imperial Intelligence agents, 1 Vinda Corp Intelligence liason, 1 Bothan possibly of the spynet, 1 Coalition member and finally 2 Black Hand operatives.

They have been captured, but information has not been extracted as per your explicit orders."

Dakkon nodded, musing on the situation, before looking to his wife. She too was thinking, and answered the mental question immediately.

"Why leave such valuable resources to waste? Extract all information possible and then tie up the loose ends."

Zakharov mentally nodded his approval. Ereneda was only as ruthless as necessary, and such an action in this case was entirely necessary.

"Of course Jasmine, i must agree. Zakharov?"

He nodded his ascent, and the orders would be completed within the hour.

"Now your highness', onto the planets. Firstly, in Coalition Space.

Rodia is, as it always has been, established. The completion of this operation results in a total personel list of nearly a thousand, on planet at least.

Mon Calamari and Ando have had a 20 man mission established on each, 2 seperate teams. Bimmisaari has also, and it was here that the GC agent was captured.

A religious order, the Observers, have been penetrated, the standard mission created, on Almania.

Every planet claiming VC alliegence has been linked, the nature of the CSA allows us easy access.

ORS has been completed also, in Bakura, Endor, Ison, Tatooine and Af'El. As per your specifications, normal mission size has been doubled on these planets.

Bothawui and Kothlis have also been completed, as well as Hargeeva and all Major Imperial worlds.

One key report has already been returned."

Dakkons eyes immediately grew concerned, and he nodded for the man to continue.

"On a number of VC worlds, our agents have reported Hapan technology in use. The report was vague, but it is in the naval area, and we can only assume this means Battle Dragons..."

Dakkon almost cursed, but caught himself as Sorsha shifted on his shoulder. To his left Dakarius caught his fathers confusion and grinned.

"Have an emmissary dispatched, i want this cleared up. And have the interrogations reports to me ASAP."

Zakharov turned to the Queen Mother as the Crowned Prince turned back to the cot to place Sorsha in with Yana and Dakarius. She smiled and dismissed him, the closing of the oaken doors leaving the family alone, for now.

Scooping Dakarius up, Dakkon turned back to his wife.

"You know, this is only the begining? Increasing our awareness of galactic events will only lead to more conflict."

Jasmine nodded, rising to play with the once again cooing Chume'Da who sat in her husbands arms.

"Of course, but the Cluster will never again be left truly isolated, not like the wrath virus, and not like the 'New Empire'.

We may stand alone, but we won't be beaten again."

Terephon, hidden in the Transitory Mists, Hapes Cluster.

Necronium smiled idly as the matte-black warships begun to marshal in front of him. Moving rapidly, the 3 Wasps formed up in a long line abreast formation while the Beta Cruiser that was their support drifted along a vaguely starboard course that would take it to its jump point for the strike on Dreena.

“Captain? Our fighters are prepared and our signal is active. We’re good to go…”

Ahead of him a pair of stolen Miy’Tils zapped past his vision, their formation scraggly at best. Hell, the pilots were nothing but wannabes, their skills being easily eclipsed by any green recruit in the Consortium Navy.

But that hasn’t stopped them being damn useful to me…

The pirate captain smiled, jagged and malformed teeth turning his grin into more of a jackelesque deathshead. Everything had gone his way since the rise of the New Empire, and today would be no different.

Looking around him, he couldn’t help but smile more.

Who would have thought that after all these years, it was still possible to find an old Trade Federation Battleship just drifting in space…

2 years before.

“This thing is @#%$ enormous!”

Isstal marveled at the massive hulk as it sat in the drifting darkness that was the shadow of Enith IV, one of the many uncolonised worlds in the Transitory Mists region of the Cluster. Already the groups resident techo-dude, Rikker, was fast at work, analysing and detailing the craft while meanwhile trying to patch into its external computer net.

“- Manufacturer: Hoersch-Kessel Drive, Inc.
- Length: 3170 meter
- Speed: 10MGLT
- Crew: 1500 droid starfighters, 50 C9979 landing ships, 550 MTTs, 6250 AATs, and 1500 troop carriers
- Weapons: 42 quad laser emplacements
- Shields/Armor: Titanium reinforced hull
- Special Features: Transmission tower antennas with 16500 km broadcast range”

He stumbled for a moment as the others heard his computers beep in a way they had come to know as good.

“And… Its completely empty! Here, listen to this;

‘DNAS-0104589A, creating ship input, as programmed.
Yesterday saw problems with our antenna array result in 500 starfighters, one third of our compliment, lost when moving to engage the first ships we sited since entering the unknown Ionic Anomaly. Ship sighted was of an unknown double hulled design with its hull painted red. Markings were unidentifiable, although the crew must have been of a high skill level, as 3.4567 standard minutes later, when the antennae were fixed, only 17 of our fighters remained unharmed. A further 80 were identified as having been disabled and were useless. Although the activation allowed our fighters to reengage, the results of the resulting engagement were desultory. The 17 fighters were destroyed by approximately 40 enemy fighters, of which there were 2 designs, one larger, one smaller, although both were larger than the Scarabs.

The repairs that took place were only ad hoc, and do not look set to hold. It is the estimate of this functionary that were the main antenna to fail again, internal systems would be hard pressed to maintain any real sort of control of the rest of the ship. As such, were both primary AND secondary carrier signals interrupted and with no short range carrier link able to be established (which at this stage is 100% certain), the result would mean the entire shutdown of the ship. Since no slaving system has been incorporated in this early model craft, I have initiated ship lockdown that will engage itself if no data is input into the computer for a 24 hour period. Obviously this leaves a large margin for error since each computer engages the main computer at least 20 times a second, but I thought it relevant to do so as a necessary emergency precaution.

Glory to the Federation…



Corpus Amendium:

Since my next report is not due for 4 days and this one has not been sent yet (a direct result of the Ionic Anomaly) I am adding an amendment to the body of this report. Secondary Carrier signal failed while running a standard system diagnostic as a result of the Primary’s failure. It appears that the Ionic Storm has permanently damaged our antennae and the relevant support systems. With the death of our Neimodian crew members as a result of a coolant leak into the dining hall, I remain the ranking officer aboard the Colossus and am forced to report the ship is in serious danger. The Primary’s intermitant signal is nowhere near constant enough to maintain the full crew. As such I have deactivated 90% of our troop and vehicle compliment, back to ‘off the shelf’ stages so that their storage will not damage their key components. While this means the droids must be reprogrammed and are currently blank, protocol wise, the damage resultant from leaving them active cumulatively increases with each day in this anomaly.

Corpus Amendium II:

Primary Signal has failed.

Secondary Signal has failed.

All auxileries are at maximum capacity, and failing.

Repair droids estimate repair time at 2.674 standard hours.

Repair droids carrier free duration is 2.500 standard hours.

Ship lockdown will be instituted in 26.500 standard hours.

As a result, I will send all droids to full deactivated state, pending retrieval as a result of this report arriving.

Dated: …”

He looked up, a sense of awe evident across his face.

“This is dated almost decades before the rise of Palpatine. This is Clone War era stuff. If I’ve got my dates right, this ship was an original production run of the ships used to blockade Naboo…”

The others were equally awed, but Necro was quick to move on.

“Gimme tech readouts, I wanna know whats aboard. It sounds to me like this is an entire ship waiting to be taken… And its perfect for us.”

He looked around the cockpit of the sole Waspship in which they sat. A sad and lonely ship for a group of kinda sorta pirates. Rikker nodded, taping away at his screen.

“The Scarab starfighter was one of the first orders for Xi Char Cathedral Factories by the Trade Federation's Armaments Committee. The Scarab is one of the earlier predecessors to the Trade Federation's highly successful droid starfighter.
The Trade Federation's main Space/Air/Ground attack starfighter before the Battle of Naboo, the XS.009 variable geometry "Scarab" light starfighter first saw action during the frequent pirate raids near Teyr nearly fifteen years ago. It fared well enough against pirate starfighters and tanks to be officially adopted by the Trade Federation as their main space supremacy weapon. Though it is not as agile as the new SPDF-1 Self-propelled Battle Droid Starfighter it's greater armor thickness and shields makes it a force to reckon with.
The first XS.000 series of scarab fighters had been designed to be flown by a living being; however the latest variant the .009 production version can be flown by an organic or by the Trade Federation's pilot doid's. The Trade Federation has recently been experimenting with a new variant of the scarab that has its own droid brain installed instead of a cockpit. It was one of the earlier attempts at automated space combat vessels, and many of its designs (and even some of its parts) were ported directly to the droid starfighter. The .009's most common weapon configuration is two retractable double heavy blasters, but it can be easily modified to suit particular missions.
- Manufacturer: Xi Char Cathedral factories, XS.009 variable geometry light starfighter "Scarab"
- Length: 5.3 Meter long
- Speed: 11,300 kph
- Crew: 1 permanent droid brain
- Weapons: 2 double heavy blasters (standard)
- Shields/Armor: Light alloy armoured hull
- Special Features: Solid fuel

and we also have the other half of

The lethal starfigher produced by the Trade Federation in massive numbers for use in space and atmospheric combat.
This high efficient starfighter does not require a pilot like many of the Trade Federation's craft. Actually the whole craft is a complex droid that also receives its commands from the Droid Control Ship. Even though it is a small craft, it carries four blaster cannons and two energy torpedo launchers. It is also extremely fast and agile. During planetary occupations, the droid can transform into a walking configuration in order to patrol captured sites.
- Manufacturer: Xi Char cathedral factories, Charros IV
- Length: 3.6 Meter long
- Speed: ???
- Crew: 1 permanent droid brain
- Weapons: 4 blaster cannons and 2 energy torpedo launchers
- Shields/Armor: Light alloy armoured hull
- Special Features: Solid fuel


Also, it would appear that as well as the thousand odd fighters, its full compliment of AAT and MTTs, along with droids, are lying fallow. We only have to activate them…”

Necro smiled. Truly it was a brilliant day…

Present time.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a massive swarm of fighters appeared. Reeling, Necro called from a readout.

“It’s the Raiders, everything is ready…”

He breathed a sigh of relief as his elite troops arrived. Although typically an Assault Fighter, the Droid Fighter was also more than apt at ground combat. As they approached from Terephons surface to board the massive carrier, Necro couldn’t help but smile.

The CSS Ironhide, orbiting Dreena.



Although only a new member of the Galactic Confederacy, the newest in fact, Dreena already had an armed escort. In fact, it already had a large standing army, although its training was the equivalent of an armed militia, as well as an ad hoc unit of star fighters. That, along with the fact that it also housed the massive Palace of the Divine, capital and seat of power for the ill fated ‘Divine Order’, made it a highly prized possession in this galactic region. Sadly, although it was a part of the Rim Worlds, that galactic region remained ‘cluster space’, inherently Hapan and fiercely loyal towards the Consortium that had protected it for thousands upon thousands of years. But the Divine Order had changed all that, at least on this planet. The rising of a dual monarchy had caused outrage which was quickly suppressed by the rival Queen Mothers supporters, although her distinct absence (having been captured in a Consortium special operation) from galactic politics had allowed the Order to quickly falter, leaving the cluster with one planet that was surprisingly non-committal about its allegiances. Not caring for how it was protected, so long as it was, the people of Dreena quickly opted to join the non aligned Galactic Confederacy but were quick to forget to mention the fact that they were pretty much overrun through piracy.

Hence, they allowed a naval support facility to be established on planet, using The Divine Orders previous military facilities, and thusly the CSS Ironhide was on station. The bulky Carrack Cruiser was slightly modified to allow, instead of TIE/lns, a pair of TIE Defenders coupled with a pair of old Interceptors.

All in all, the planet of Dreena was quite well defended. A modern warship at its front, with a Confederate Victory Class on call for reinforcement should the circumstances require as well as the Divine Order Defence Force in assistance. Newly refurbished was the blockade runner Will of the Divine, the first vessel to be built under the upstart Queen Mother. It had disappeared following her disappearance, only to reappear in the hands of her head agent, the Hand of the Divine. Known to few as Jaiden Lazarus, he would later join the New Republic and be a key figure in the destruction of the New Empire, but amongst those of Dreena, he was the Queens Hand, first and only. Due to the relative weaknesses of the Dreenan planetary body, it had taken almost a year for the ship to be combat capable, but now that it was, it was their pride and joy.

Assisting the heavily rebuilt CR-90 Corvette was the Divine StarCorps, incorporating 20 odd fighters of various ages and designs. Predominating the corps were 3 Miy’Tils, R-41s and JumpMasters, 1 Hetrinar, 2 Y Wings, 2 TIE Bombers, 2 Z-95s, 1 Skipspray, 2 X Wings and a prototype model A Wing. Supplementing them was a gift of 4 TIE/lns from the Confederacy, now obsolete as a result of the Carrack upgrade program of which the Ironhide was a proud graduate.

This random assortment of fighters had been previously held back against the pirates raids, since it was long considered that the swarm of droid pirates that had ravaged the planet for a year now would more than overwhelm them, should they be commited to Dreenas defence.



They were right.

Deep Space, near Dreena.







The massive battleship reverted from hyperspace, seeming to appear out of the very fabric of space time. Aboard, Necro smiled to himself as another week of raids was wound up. A number of freighters had been captured in this relatively lawless area of space, including one that was destined for Dreena. On board the pirates had found markings indicating the ship was a member of a 'galactic confederacy'.

The crew had laughed at that, their time and travels showing such groups sprung up almost weekly across the galaxy.

Even more luckily, it had arms and equipment enough to properly arm a company, more than sufficient to help Necros men for a long while. Interestingly, those weapons were the arms support of a troop transport that was not 1 hour behind its compatriot bearing the 132nd Confederate Guard Regiment.

Little did he know it, but he'd just eliminated the last line of defence that stood between him and conquest of Dreena.


Drinking idly, he watched through his view panel as the ship lined up and prepared to jump to hyperspace. They were alone this time, the other ships having been sent one scouting missions for riper targets.


(i'll finish this later, cause its a peicea crap)