"Mr. President..?" His aid said as he awoke.

Blurry and dark as he opened his eyes, the room seemed full of reporters and senators who were probably hoping he didn't make it out of his coma.

For three weeks he had been twitching and trying to move. Lately he had managed to speak and doctors were so impressed they must have invited half of the galactic press to watch his 'miraculous' recovery during his stay at Oasis Medical. Shameless as it was, he couldn't fault them for the free advertising.


It was hard thinking about his accident. It was painful as well.

The woman standing next to him, a Skya Norden, who had most likely assumed control of everything in his name. He had only hoped she hadn't run them into the ground.

"Y-Yes Skya?" He spoke trying to get out a full sentence, but to no avail.

"We haven't got alot of time, sir. We need to get you moving." She said wearily. It seemed like Skya was trying not to let the reporters see what she was saying.

"What do you mean?" Kirvas asked bewildered.

She quickly walked over to the grouping of people and ushered them away. Saying something about his being taken into custody. Kirvas moved to reach over to grab his black rimmed glasses, but to his dumbfounded suprise he was bound to the bed. His eyes rolled in his head as he got a sudden headache.

Things weren't looking good for him.

Once the people were gone, only Skya and two guards standing outside the door were left.

"You've been framed for Viktor's crimes."

Kirvas immeadiatley forced himself to sit up.

"What?!"

"He's got you pinned for everything, sir. And his got Imperial help." She voiced her concern well, but Kirvas was very observant.

"Why are you helping me Skya? Why are you even allowed near me if I'm under investigation?"

"I-I had to. If I didn't, then.. well he would have had me killed. He had half of your cabinet murdered." She admitted.

Kirvas closed his eyes and tried not to seem to pushed off the edge. Skya quickly loosened his restraints nad quickly got himself free. Rubbing his wrists and eyes he sat up slowly, trying not to be overcome by his dizziness.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Your convoy was rocked by an explosion as you passed through the Narrows in downtown Oasis. It originated from one of Viktor's men no doubt, but he was marked as a martyr after Viktor took control and framed you." She explained.

"Your left arm was replaced." She uttered in a low whisper.

Kirvas lifted his arm quickly and examined it. He heard no mechanical sounds and it didn't feel that much different, but it felt a little off. He couldn't quite feel the touch anymore. It felt like more of a pinch in his upper arm rather than an actual muscular response. He just shook his head in disbelief.

"And how long was I out?"

He questioned frantically as he grabbed his black-rimmed glassess of the side table, quickly dispensing with his near blindness.

"Eleven months."


"The dissendents quickly turned much of Oasis into a warzone and since you've been in a coma, General Viktor has been desperately trying to destroy the remnants of your Legionnaires. They remain loyal, but the much of the Oasis militia has taken arms against them. The city is being destroyed, many residents have been caught in the crossfire and innocents continue to die daily. But the General just blames your men, saying the are psychotic and unbalanced like you."

"Who is leading the Legion? Colonel Bast?" Kirvas asked trying to get ahold of everything.

Skya gave Kirvas a look of uncertainty. That was something he didn't like. Part of his observant nature.


"No--he's been killed. As far as I can tell Roman has been directing the Legionnaires now."


"I---" Kirvas began speaking, but was interrupted by the guards who stormed in at the notice of his awakening.


"President Kirvas Tann you are under arrest for war crimes and crimes against the people of Corvin Alliance."


"You will be brought before the senate for trial. Come with us." The second guard demanded.

Panic.

If he went with them, there was no guaruntee they were honest and followed the law, then again they could just be overwhelmed by Viktor's men and he would be killed either way. He knew going with them was not a smart idea for survival, but then what choice did he have. He was no martial artist nor did he even have a blaster.

"Mr. President, please come willingly." The first guard pleaded.

Well he had his answer. They were good-hearted. But he still had no assurity of safety.


A canister smashed through the clear doorways behind the guards. Troopers came rushing in. Kirvas smiled faintly as he saw the red and silver uniforms. The very same of his legionnaires. The lead, his blaster rifle drain fired a shot at each guard and they fell, saberdarts in their backs.

As Kirvas saw the man's face he smiled a little bigger.

"Roman." He said softly.


"Come on, sir. We have to move you." Roman replied grabbing him on the shoulder.

A legionnaire behind Roman turned his muzzle toward Skya and fired a dart in her chest, despite her protests. Through the smoke they moved quickly and before he knew it, Kirvas found himself inside a starwell.. moving toward an exit and staring at a speeder waiting for them at the end of the hallway through the large hangar bay.

Freedom.

... After three pain staking weeks Kirvas Tann showed signs that he would make a full recovery thanks to Doctors of the Galactically reknowned Oasis Medical Centre. Nurses and doctors as well as armed guards and press from major news publications joined Kirvas Tann and his former aid Skya Norden as he awoke on the nineteenth day of his physical therapy when doctor's said he should be able to speak, move, and walk. Although most were able to go untested as he was restrained in order to prevent escape.

Only a short time after he awoke did his former aid say he needed time to recover further and ushered press and medical staff from the room. A short time later Legionnaires, distinctly identified by their red and silver uniforms stormed the wing of Oasis Medical he was being kept in and retreated to an unknown location. However unrelative to their style, they left all witnesses alive simply knocking them unconscious for a short time via the use of saber darts laced with a chemical.

President Viktor was available for comment earlier and had only to say: "Kirvas Tann is a terrorist that will be captured and brought to trail. Justice will be served." Alius Viktor has been victim to Legionnaire attacks for almost the entire time Tann has been in a coma. Which is ironic, considering he once led the Legion during his tenure as Supreme Commander.

- INS

"And your telling me that he's managed to escape custody?" Circe asked redundantly.

"Yes, he has avoided all efforts made by Alius Viktor." Admiral Terrix said.

"Admiral if I can be frank, I want to know why the hell the Empire even cares about some cluster of planets in the midst of civil war. Is it that good for public relations?" He questioned bluntly.

Terrix had always been a man who spoke 'off the record'.

"The Corvin Alliance has full control over a rather large galaxy's supply of bota. As the Empire slowly swells and settles they are looking to open new systems of trade."

"And is this ordeal necessary? I mean, sir, sending a battle fleet into the sector in order to capture a bunch of rebels?"

"No, you are to capture control of the Corvin Alliance." Terrix said.

"The direct motivation behind this plan is to either gain control of the bota farms or to destroy them." Terrix continued.

Bota was very valuable. Used to make weapons, fuel, and even a few medicines. But was it worth as much as the Empire was preparing to risk, Circe was quite unsure.

"Sir, destroying those farms would ignite the planet for decades. It would be uninhabitable."

"Exactly. And when the fires clear the Empire would be there to claim the bota storages underground." Terrix answered.

"Now, capture, kill, or exhonerate Kirvas Tann. Just do it fast, Captain."

"I will Admiral. Davian out." Circe declared.

"Gloria Imperium." Terrix said before ending the conversation and cutting the transmission.

Circe leaned back. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before turning to Lieutenant Brody.

"Chart a course for Tann's last known location --"

"--Sydney." Brody answered interrupting.

Circe scowled at him then rubbed his eyes.

"Just plot the damn course Lieutenant." Circe demanded.

"Yes, s-sir."





Brilliant was the only was to describe Sydney. Or as it meant in the locals ancestor's language: 'where the worlds collide'. The massive ring world of DP213 came so close to DP212 it was like they almost touched, they were clearly visible from one another's skyline.

Circe marveled at the orange skyline.

But he was drawn back to reality quickly as a frozen gust of wind caught his open trenchcoat and chilled his legs. He had been determined to keep the cold out as his breath shown in the air. He was still shivered despite the permacoat covering him. He tightened the black cloth around his body and looked down as the stormtroopers marched from the landing troop shuttles.

He continued walking down a much more luxurious Lamba-class shuttle bay and stepped to the bridge that stood over the open hangar bay in which the stormtroopers were collecting in various patterns and formations.

Long two-by-twos.

Wide six-by-eights.

And of course twelve-by-six.

They finally finished loading. Circe was to directly command these troops. He was not at all excited considering the whether conditions. He turned to Lieutenant Brody who had elected to stay behind aboard the Skullprey.

Circe wasn't surprised. Brody was a terrible commander. A good learner and historian, he would do better to watch and learn from afar.

"Inform Captain Radim that he was control of the fleet."

Circe said to Brody who nodded in response before stepping back into the shuttle.

As the Lamba speed away, Sergeant Zule approached in his armor marked with blue.

"Sir, the squads are formed up and awaiting orders." He spoke with a mechanical voice.

"Good." Circe began. "I need to meet with President Viktor, for now have them march into Sydney's Rustic District and spread out for a search pattern. I'm not asking for any other result than he's not there Sergeant."

"Yes, sir." He replied.

"Oh and Sergeant." Circe said stopping Zule before he marched off. "You have a liscence to kill everyone in your way, but that doesn't mean you have too. Restrain any troublemakers. Use of force is as a final solution, do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

Kirvas' eyes darted back and forth as he watched Roman signal to his small group of troops. The legionaires were the best trained soldiers this side of the galaxy.

But a handfull of soldiers can't do it all.

Especially against an army, one that had at it's head a man who had committed wicked acts in his tenure as Commander-in-Chief, and framed Kirvas for it.

As he pulled his suit tighter, trying to keep out some of the fierce cold air, he looked at what Sydney had fallen prey to.

Rubble lined the streets, holes pressed in the wall of buildings, collapsed rooms. The civil war that had gone on between the dissidents and Kirvas. He never imagined what the war would do to the civilians. He just pressed the military bills, and hoped that he could avert as much death as possible.

Viktor had made sure that never happened when he decided to murder prisoners of war.

The moved lightly as they passed through the corridors.

Roman had given Kirvas a blaster pistol and he had been holding it tightly in his left hand and his arm thrown around a legionaires shoulder, trying to keep his balance.

His body still wasn't its old self. Eleven standard months in a coma will do that to you muscles.

They reached the end of their destination and Roman ushered Kirvas into the entrance of a massive gold covered dome building. He recognised it from images of his youthful senate days.

The old capitol building. Something his predecessor had replaced.

"The old capitol?" Kirvas said as they entered into it.

The red felted interior, with Oasis wood benches, complete with collapsing roof and damaged walls.

"Where Viktor least expects us. Beside his men haven't been in this area since the war ended."

"The war hasn't ended Roman.. it's only been postponed..." Kirvas retorted reluctantly.

"Sir, the entire Alliance is looking for you." Roman said after a short pause.

"I know, I'm wanted for war crimes."

Kirvas sat on an aging bench trying to make sense.

"I have to know, sir. What happened?" Roman asked.

"I had intelligence do reports on the murders that were being carried out in the seventh ward in Oasis. After the reports came to me, I ordered Viktor be arrested, but there had to be a leak in the security bureau." Kirvas answered.

"He got to you?"

"Why do you think I've been in a coma for the past year." Kirvas snapped back.

Roman shook his head and took a seat, taking of his silver helmet covering his long blonde hair.

"It's worse, sir." Roman said.


Kirvas felt a cold wind brush his neck.

"Your wife was killed shortly before your recovery began. She tried to get you out of Viktor's custody, by kidnapping you." Roman said. "..and died in the process of escaping."

Kirvas looked up. He hadn't even thought about why she hadn't been at the medical centre. His blue eyes welled up with tears behind his glasses. He pulled them off and wiped his eyes.

"Sir?"


"I need to take to these Imperials. And fast before Viktor puts any ideas in their heads.." Kirvas said sucking it up.

"Are you okay?" Roman questioned trying to help.

Kirvas couldn't help, but want to move on. Viktor was the one thing on his mind.

"Can you get me close enough to their Captain, Roman?" Kirvas asked ignoring Roman's question.

"Sir, I can try...but I think you need worry about---"

"--DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO WORRY ABOUT!" Kirvas shouted.


The ex-President calmed himself... and stood up walking over to a turn over table.

"Yes, sir." He replied and marched out.


Kirvas kick the table as hard as he could and fell forward into the wall, punching cracks into the softer cover material.