- One of the few references in ancient Caprician literature making reference to the Noble House.

The Radiant remained in orbit over the next few weeks as shuttle missions from the ship to the surface were carried out. There was something strange about the readings from both the onboard ship's sensors and the ground crew temporary stations.

Weather conditions followed no known pattern and some spots were able to support some life whereas others were as barren as an ash moon.

It was a strange occurrance that the geological survey teams and scientists had not quite experienced first hand. And given this opportunity to match hard data collected in the field with the collected knowledge of scientists and observers of centuries past, it was just too good an opportunity to pass.


It was boring duty to soldiers and scientists of differring fields alike but sometimes boring was good. The Radiant was, after all, a new ship and a new class altogether and so Captain Surin took the time to go over the tweeks the engineers and technicians applied to boost the vessel's specified limits.

Sometimes to get more power to a lab for delicate work requiring active forcefields, or to task the damage control teams with mock lab accidents and simulated battle damage.

Not only response times but the actual function of the equipment designed to minimize damage and lock down or shut down hazardous areas in a hurry.

Some sensors had been bad from the factory and so the Engineering Department filed reports to the manufacturer and replaced what needed replacing with parts tested and approved.

All was quiet until the officer in charge of the sensors (newly tweeked) expressed confusion in a spot of space around the planet.

"Sir, I am detecting a strange anomaly in sector..."

"Show me." Surin interrupted, glad for the break in pace. Even a scientific mystery was welcome in this geologist's paradise.

He moved to the station and glanced at the readings, his features becoming as confused as the scanning officer's.

"What in the Clannus Prime's name is that?"



*


Lord Ducani stood up not believing the readings being shown. Ducani was not a real Lord and, as a matter of fact, used to be a member of Mescian Clan before the Invasion. His efforts during the war helped to minimize the damage done to the planet itself by insidious Yuuzhan Vong living technologies.

Now, he was head Geologist and was enjoying the wealth of data they were gathering, cataloguing and recording for posterity.

Already, several new minor elements were discovered that showed promising potential as an agricultural growth enhancer.

While he hated to contemplate any marketing advantages, he was realistic enough to know that a patent on such properties would bring more funding to his preferred field of research and make way for future geologists to expand their understanding of the building blocks of the galaxy one planet at a time.


So wrapped up he was in his thoughts that when the testing equipment beeped he walked over and, when he saw the readings, reset the machines to run the test again for he felt he had absent-mindedly entered the wrong starting figures.


The equipment beeped again and the same confusing results appeared again.


Trace amounts of refined metals were under the soil several hundred meters down. Metals of a refined nature seemed to indicate civilization once inhabited the area (if not the planet). The confusion came from the fact that the elements within the metal were elements not naturally found on the world.

Such readings indicated that someone had come from off world and built or crashed or some how unloaded the refined metals his equipment detected.

But the amounts were trace. So it was not a ship or a building that was discovered, not to mention the geological readings excluded the possibility of caverns in his location. Actually, caverns seemed rare on this world according to scans.

The planet, while pleasant enough now was not enough to support intelligent life so why anyone would put refined metals here in the first place was anyone's guess.

But what was really surprising was that while he could detect the elements comprising the refined metal readings, these were elements known to be unable to be refined together.


By rights, this metal should not exist.


He decided to call the ship when all hell broke out and a sudden rumble of the ground threw Ducani and his equipment to the ground violently. He turned to his colleagues and noted that the entire camp was not faring well.

The ground violently shook again and Ducani felt a bone snap.


There was no indication of tectonic movement!

"Sir, according to the planet's elliptic and rotation, the survey team is experiencing a massive and extraordinary environment change!"


Captain Surin snapped his fingers. "That's why the few survey reports differ about this world."

He turned to the Comm Officer, "Have the landing party brought up if it gets too bad down there. But it's Lord Ducani's call."


His mind went back to what he was working on. "Prepare to deploy the ASCA. We will do a pass of the fourth planet for delivery."


*


Lord Ducani was pushing his people as the Engineering Corps worked feverishly to drill the ground to get to whatever his sensors had detected. It was not very deep but he had an idea that whatever climate/environment change that happen regularly on this world had contributed to burying the object.

What made the task difficult was the hardening of the ground as the temperature began to rapidly drop. They were going to be looking at a long, harsh winter in the area soon and he wanted everything done before that happened.


"There!" cried the Corps leader. "We are finally getting through.."


"Careful! I don't want whatever it is damage..." Ducani started when someone shouted out "Sweet Clannus Prime!" and scrambled out of the ever widening hole.


"What is it?!" barked out the Corps leader but Ducani beat him to the hole and jumped down to get a better look. Bending down, he began to brush away the loose dirt clinging to a skeleton, complete with an array of refined metal weapons or tools... impliments at least that he creature seemed to die with.


And it was a creature.


A monster out of every Caprician nightmare.



It was a Yuuzhan Vong...



...and judging by what he saw of the impliments, not an unimportant one.





*



Capricia - World Council



"Analysis of the skeletal remains shows the Yuuzhan Vong was killed by slashrats, native to the world. Projections show the time of death to be somewhere between 40-60 years."


"So, are we sure that this planet was not the jump-off point to Capricia? We were invaded twice."


"No, we do not know if the planet or the system served as the invasion platform into our system. The Radiant is remaining in-system to conduct surveys of all planets with a mind to identifying Yuuzhan Vong technology."


"We do know that the Invaders attacked other worlds in the galaxy besides ours.."


"But they were repelled. Their main invasion was broken and their worldship
either destroyed or retreated. Reports on the subject are varied, incomplete
and sometimes downright contradictory."


"Better if it was destroyed."


"Hear, hear!"


"If not, we have to face the possibility that a third invasion is imminent."


"Why? If the Yuuzhan Vong were defeated everywhere they went, if they are not in the galaxy, why think they will come to Capricia? What makes our victory so outstanding?"


"The Yuuzhan Vong strategy, as Commonwealth Military Command has determined, seems to be a series of soft probes for recon or advance picket bases. Attack enmasse against their enemy smashing them utterly and suddenly their recon/picket bases are early warning systems for a counter attack against their holdings."


"It is folly to think they won't strike at us. Or that they cannot. If we, as we did after the First Invasion, do not realize the danger to us then we repeat the mistakes of old. And, quite frankly, we deserve whatever happens to us."


"Whether the Yuuzhan Vong attack or not, it is immaterial. The fact is, are we prepared to take on another invasion. Is the Commonwealth ready? If the invaders return, they will scout areas of space they already know as easy targets to achieve a relatively easy foothold once more on our galaxy. If they follow pattern, then they will arrive at Bimmiel first before looking our way.

I propose to build up a military presence on Bimmiel to both, prepare for any invasion into the Commonwealth and to deal with the very real threat of a

Yuuzhan Vong probe or invasion. Quite frankly, we take the war out of our
system and obliterate any interlopers."


"And if it is bypassed?"


"Then the Commonwealth have military assets to strike from the rear or employ them however they see fit. The point is, we have options in a time of war when the enemy will try like the devil to reduce our options."



InterSystems Congress



"So the Capricians want to sink a quadrillion credits onto... what is this thing again? A ... What the bloody hell is an Interfleet Anchorage?"


"The information is in your packet if you'd taken the time too.."


"So we are talking about creating a modular infrastructure that.."


"Speak bloody Basic, will you?"


"Very well. Simplistically speaking, you understand how the Galactic Coalition has divided themselves into territories based on the 2-D, 4 directional format? North, South, East, West.. Central..etc..?"


"Are you proposing that we adopt a similar..?"


"The Empire is divided into subsections called Protectorates that.."


"Are you saying we become more like the Empire?"


"I am saying, that the Commonwealth requires a depth that is does not currently have. A singular attack within our heartland and we fracture. Oh, we'll fight like the bloody dickens but with an infrastructure in shambles, it will be a losing battle. Especially against a determined enemy.

I point out the Yuuzhan Vong conquest of Capricia by way of example. In one shattering blow they reduced us to nothing. The only reason we survived the first invasion was by their grace. The second time, we had added depth to our defenses giving us options when they returned again to invade. Even then, we barely triumphed but the point is, we has military options even as the enemy hovered over our cities and their armies were in our fields."


"The old Commonwealth Union of Worlds was also divided into section.. I believe there were four 'Cornerstone Worlds' that were the pillars of your civilization back then?"


"Exactly. System MZX33291 is going to be the first of several military hubs spread throughout the Commonwealth. This is the essence of Project: Foundation."


"So, basically, we are keeping all our military units in one place to be attacked by an enemy?"


"This not a simple anchorage, a simple shipyard or other such space station factility. We are talking about an entire system dedicated to this InterFleet Anchorage. It will be an R&D Center, a construction/ship yard, repair yard, resupply and refueling depot, weapons production, training... and the bloodiest, most massive defense network ever constructed."


"The current project plan calls for five such areas spread throughout the Commonwealth."


"And our populated areas?"


"Currently, our civilian shipyards are expanding as our population is expanding and with Hapes entering the Commonwealth, our civilian interests and trade corporate entities can only grow. Therefore, our military shipyards and other facilities will be kept but to expand them in the face of our expanding civilian organizations will simply end in chaos. We need to act now to organize for future expansion in a way that will not hinder our economic and trade concerns."


"You do realize that you create targets?"


"Everything is a target. Things are still on the drawing board and this system is the prototype for the others. What goes wrong here will be corrected in others. Basically, we take something the size of the Imperial Fleet, pretend it is attacking a system and ask ourselves, 'what do we need to defend against it'?"


"You might try prayer?"


"In my experience, god helps those who help themselves. And therefore, we will help ourselves to the idea that if the Empire took every last ship they had and attacked, we would do our damndest to take as many of them down with us as possible."



"All of this because Capricia found Yuuzhan Vong bones on an empty world?"


"No. All of this because Capricia is reminded of the folly of overconfidence and arrogance. And because a complacent manner only gets you killed. Democracy and liberty are best served, gentlemen, ladies and beings, when we maintain our vigilance."


The retort was drowned out by applause.

Conscience governs the use of science

Bimmiel Anchorage



"I cannot believe the ISC approved the funding for this." Tyscio Korban looked at the plans that Leantre Vio showed him, having just met with Vinda corporation's construction department.


"It's not going to be paid for all in one go and it's not going to be completed in a year. Rush jobs always end up being junk jobs." the old man growled.

"Here, this is the foundation layer to the project.." Leantre thumbed through the pages and came up with one.


Tyscio whistled. "Hardlight eh?"


Leantre grinned, "The security measures of such a system will be confounding."


"But why are you letting me see this?"


Leantre thumbed through the pages and found the one he was looking for, "This is why."


Tyscio's eyebrows rose and looked at the old man seeing the stubborn ambition there. "You would resurrect this? I am not sure if Leia.."


The old man grinned, "We are talking to her brother about this."


"A return of the Jedi?"


Leantre snorted, "A return to some solid common sense where force users are concerned. Too long people with these extraordinary abilities have been living without direction, without help in coping with these abilities. And the current organizations created by these people are mere political tools."


"The Jedi Corps?"


"Even the Jedi Order...or the Jedi that used to belong to that order. They are off fighting political battles which, common sense dictates, does not necessarily elevate their position in comparison to such likes as the Sith."


"You disapprove of those Jedi aiding the Coalition in their fight against the Empire?"


"I am saying political definitions are not what their talents should be aimed at."


Tyscio frowned, "I am not sure I follow.."


"I am saying that perhaps a Jedi's abilities lend themselves to a different sort of responsibility than their traditional and, I might add, ineffectual use. I am saying that these great factions have not had their great epiphany. Most factions that see themselves as 'good' dislike or outright hate the Empire. They each feel themselves the best hope for the galaxy or the next Republic but they do not realize that they are pissing the ideals of the Republic away. They don't realize the Empire sees themselves as 'good' as well.


If I had to pick one government that was close..I would say the Galactic Coalition. But the Coalition has not quite integrated the various races and so face the same things that the Old Republic has. Rather than working out their problems, they encourage separatists. And what good is a Republic if it can legally divide itself?


But they may have learned from their mistakes because as far as rights are concerned, they are doing an admirable job of establishing the protected rights of sentient artificial intelligences."


"But we have sentient artifical intelligences as well.." Tyscio started, thinking about Hespante.


"We recognize and accept the individuality and right to existence of Simulacrums and humaniforms. But that is different than saying we'd be
willing to follow their lead in politics. What exactly is Hespante's legal status within the Commonwealth? These are merely questions and philosophical discussions that are permeating the Greater Commonwealth but Regrad's group has actually taken action!


And while our analysts thought Regrad's timing of his military action could have used a good dose of common sense, they feel his timing of this revolutionary ideal for the equality of all sentients is just the right message that will help to solidify the Coalition."


"What about the Kashan?"


"The Kashan?" Leantre smiled in response. "The Contegorian Confederation is closer to the Empire in spirit and action than anything I've seen in a while. And the irony is that they are probably not trying to be. They claim to be a democracy but have compulsory military service? That in itself is a giant red flag and believe me, it would not take much for them to become the Empire. Who cares if they eliminate the New Order or establish themselves outside of Coruscant?

They have already nurtured the seeds of their eventual slide into that which they hate."


"You paint a dark picture about them."


"Well, think about it. Think about their ire of the Empire. The Empire did attack their world. Then again, the Kashan did join a faction that has gone to war twice with the Empire and one would think that they entered into the Coalition with both eyes open."


"They wanted the benefits without the pain." Tyscio concluded.


"So they felt as if they were still the victim here but that stance ended the day that they, along with their Coalition friends, attacked Bilibringi. An unprovoked attack as devestating and viscious as what the Empire carried out at Metalorn. Then they leave the Coalition before any of the reparations and accountability could be metted out leaving their Coalition 'friends' to face the fate alone. As it turned out, Onyx did not fare so well.


So you have a faction that is militaristic, has next to no diplomatic credibility and, if rumor is to be believed, are experimenting with midichlorians."


"What? Why would..?"


"We don't really know and, for all we know, the rumor may just as well be false. I certainly hope it is.


You see, Tyscio, what we are doing in the Commonwealth is mating our
technological advances along with our philosophy. Just because we
can do a thing does not necessarily mean we should do that
thing."


"I am reminded of the Cloning Accords under discussion in the ISC."


Leantre wagged a finger at his fellow Caprician, "Exactly! The Old Republic, just before it's downfall, tacitly supported the creation of a slave race in the form of their Grand Army of the Republic. Clones that had no purpose other than to fight and die and who held no rights and no provisions of care should they become injured.


With our advancements in Simulacrum Technology, while typically comms
convey a visual caricature, we are moving farther by giving those representations a life and abilities of their own. An artificial intelligence in the manner of Hespante rather than droids or Deumum of the Imperium. And, if self aware, what rights ..what legal rights and provisions do we make for this new sentient? We are not that far behind Regrad in integration of all sentient rights."


"What does this have to do with the Kashan's possible research into
midichlorians?"


Leantre shrugged, "Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. What limits our
use of technology is our sense of right and wrong. Our conscience.

And we take these philosophical debates very seriously. Just because
something can be weaponized, should it be? A giant superlaser designed to mine raw ore from moons may just as well be turned into a planet-destroying spacestation. There are consequences to actions."


"We are a prime example.." Tyscio suddenly said. "Capricians, a hundred million generations ago, or however long, were a genetically designed race. And how long after the fall of our designers did we languish in Clan war after Clan war over identity? That is why family and Clan is so important to us for it gave us an identity after that fall."


The family is the most basic unit of any enterprise and there is nothing stronger on Capricia than family. I think that this is also shown in the Greater Commonwealth. Look at Mr. Vinda and his daughter. Look at the Hapans? We are like the Hapans, just without their usual backstabbing.."


Tyscio and Leantre chuckled at the joke thinking of the aborted rebellion of Relephon.


"Tyscio, the force user represents an extraordinarily natural ability and a great deal of power. And even though there are degress of strength within a force user's hierarchy, even the weakest represents an extraordinary ability above that of non-force users.

We have been monitoring your training with Leia Organa and most of what we have seen are exercises in focusing your mind, in attaining a measure of control over these inate abilities and we especially like the importance meditation takes in the Jedi Order mind frame and routine. What we did not approve of from the Old Jedi Order is their taking of children and their enslaving themselves to political ideology. Democracy is well and good but if everyone decided on mass suicide just because..? Democracy must be tempered with wisdom.


By taking and rearing children in an ascetic environment, those children grew up dispassionate and while that made their force prowess probably impressive, they also lost touch with the very same people and government they thought to protect. They felt no sense of loss even as the Republic and their Order was crumbling all around them. They removed their effectiveness where they could have done the most good by acting on Chancellor Palpatine's designs which turned the Jedi into a military organization of which they had neither the numbers or even the training. And as a result of the Clone Wars, many lost their lives and, perhaps more insidiously, they lost their way, their link to the wisdom of the force and, in the end, were caught totally unprepared for General Order 66."


"And now an entire generation has grown up without that collected wisdom and look at the mess the galaxy is in." Tyscio murmured. "The New Republic was led by Jedi Masters in war, Sith Empires militaristic in the extreme rose and fell, and is it also rumored that the Empire uses the Sith as an answer to the Jedi."


"Which dug them into a deep hole in itself," Leantre snorted, "which is probably what gave rise to the Jedi Corps. And the Contegorian Confederation, trying to steal the mantle of hope from the Coalition, now finds themselves force-user deficient."


The old man grinned, "Which leads me to believe the rumor about the midichlorians is true."


"Can they think that they can 'make force-users' by simply transplanting..."


"Who knows what they think. All I know is that we've got enough trouble with natural force users trying to cope with their abilities, who have had and lived with these abilities their entire life (even if not entirely understanding what was going on) without someone trying to cookie-cut force users out of those who don't have it."


"Why would non-force users want.."


"It's power, Tyscio. The ability to do something they cannot currently do? Who wouldn't? Perhaps it stems from a more insidious web by manipulating one's duty. Perhaps they don't want to be a force user but to be a part of some special military unit, they have to become one so it becomes attached to some sort of desire."


Tyscio's eyes narrowed. "The craving of that which was not given to you naturally may lead to the darkside."


"Hell, boy. Giving a non-force user powers they shouldn't rightfully have and have not lived with, never mind coped with, would lead to a darkside!"


Tyscio now understood the danger. "They are opening the doors and without adequate training.."

"IT'S NOT TRAINING, TYSCIO!" Leantre barked out. "What? Because one
learns how to wield a lightsaber and levitate their droid, that suddenly qualifies a person who has never had any remote experience with this sort of power for that power?! Sith are trained and are trained well! This is not about 'training'.


This is about responsibility! And just because a non-force users has shown themselves to be somewhat responsible in life, it is not a tacit qualification that they can handle the power of a god with similar responsibility!"


"It's like giving them command of their entire starfleet. Or command of their planet's defenses."


"Right! If an officer is not qualified for that level of responsibility, why would they think of handing them the power to influence minds? If...and I stress, if the Kashan are doing that, then the question we need to seriously ask ourselves is when these force users take over their command structure, and eventually, they will... Palpatine took years to do so... what are we going to do about it?"


"Bodies can be cloned that successfully use the force.." Tyscio pointed out.


"Bodies can be cloned that successfully channel the power of the force, boy. But according to the information we have, they have all gone nuts. And crazy force users made to order is something we do not want."


"What are we going to do?"


Leantre Vio sighed. "For now, keep our eyes and ears open. Vigilance. And carry on with our plan in meeting the needs of young and old force users to come to terms with the responsibility their power brings."


"This is something that they didn't ask for.."


"A force user does not have to use the force. He can forget he has it... and at best, it simply becomes some sort of precognition ability but if they do choose to use it, they must do so responsibly."


"And if they can't or are unwilling too?"


Leantre's eyes darkened. "Then perhaps they might need to be put down. They may not have wanted the abilities but if they are going to choose to use them and use them irresponsibly, then that makes them no better than criminals who would flaunt the law."


"But we do not execute every criminal. Actually, I think the Domain is the only..."


"You have a point, Tyscio, my boy. You do. But greater responsibility means greater accountability and we will have to tread very carefully. I never did like the story of the Jedi Order forgiving the Sith Master Gash Jiren...after all the pain and death he caused. But, conversly, I cannot discount the good the rehabilitated Gash Jiren, Jedi Master, did afterwards."


"The force does give a person, like a Jedi Master, that extra perception to determine earnestness and honesty."


"Well, you know better than I as I am not a force users. But Palpatine ran the show in front of many Jedi Masters and they were clouded."


"Just an example of haste making waste. If you are too distracted with actions, as they were, you lose sight of the big picture."


The former Regent of Capricia stabbed at the plans. "And the big picture for these Anchorages is that they are going to be more than just a shipyard, refueling depot...much more than mining, maintenance and construction."


The younger man stared, "You are building Cornerstones."


Leantre grinned, "We are building a galactic civilization!"