<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Aridia Cluster... Arcadia<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->




<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Aboard the Galactus...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




"..with the growing unrest developing, and with the breakdown of relations with the New Alliance, Republican officials are at an all time..."



"More bad news?" came an intrusion into the darkness that enveloped General Simon Kaine.


The General's black gloves rested on the armrest of his command chair silenting gazing out at the kaleidoscope of colors that made up the atmosphere of Arcadia. The planet had entered it's night cycle and it's shadow was cast into the already subdued lighting of Galactus' Command Deck. The mixture of dark gray and black that made up Kaine's uniform made him almost all but impossible to spot.

Without moving, his soft voice (disarming as it was) was cast to the intruder in the form of a command, though having a hint of question behind it.


"Tell me about Siennar District."


The man instantly stiffened, his mind racing wildly. Coming up (uncharacteristically) with no sufficient explanation his resolve crumbled.


"Isard is a fool." he finally said in a rather oblique way of answering. "Her grab for power nearly ruined the Empire's political position among the galactic factions.."


"..and you sought to put measures in place for her systematic removal?" came Kaine's ironic reply.


"Imperial Intelligence <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> is<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> becoming a powerful presence behind the Regency..."


"Ah.. the Regency.." Kaine whispered softly.


The man shifted uneasily. "I mean't the Imperial Government."

Then the intruder's eyes narrowed. "Believe it or not, General, Intelligence wields much power among the governing Moffs and it is only a matter of time before they exert that same control over the military. You may win our victories General but we control your destiny."


Kaine made no effort to sound impressed. In fact, he made to effort to respond at all except to continue to stare out the window at the planet.


As the silence dragged on, the intruder's eyes also looked at the planet. One he never knew about...one that was kept from Intelligence. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What else does this General hide? What else does the Empire hide?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> "Beautiful isn't it?"


At last, Kaine smiled at the attempt to push away silence.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> For in silence, are not all we are left with is questions?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"Siennar District was to have been the answer. With the defeat at Endor, the Empire's priorities had to be redirected to maintaining control over the stronger worlds of the Empire." Kaine said, answering his own question, knowing that the Intel man would test the scope of the General's knowledge before committing himself. A sound tactic.


The Intel man fired back, "Siennar couldn't prevent the fall of Coruscant to the New Republic.."


"Or to the Eternal Rogue Order of old because it was never activated." Kaine finished. "Palpatine's return from Byss saw the project fall into obscurity and it's use was never fully understood and therefore ignored."


The chair swivelled slightly to the man standing near the door. "Until now. Tell me, Ciscero, where did you first learn of Siennar?"


The Intelligence Operative thought a moment before answering. "Yaga Minor facility. I was there before the Rogue Empire took the world."


Kaine's eyes flashed. "And the facility?"


"Destroyed. The archives were transferred at Isard's command to an undisclosed location. Tell me, General, where did <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> you<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> hear of it?"


Kaine smiled slightly, his eyes fully appreciating the dancing of light playing on Arcadia's atmosphere.



He changed the subject. "But Why bring down Isard?"



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> This was a touchy subject for the Intel man..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"It's not so much that I desire to bring her down because she <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> does<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> serve the Empire well in certain capacities."


"Even fools have their place." came Kaine's philosophical remark.


"I want her level of power to be checked. Gormul, Julius and I are kept in check with proper, albeit rather loose, protocols. All our information gathered goes to Isard..or if in a hotspot, to the leading military commander on hand. She alone controls what the Empire sees and.."


"..and Information is power." Kaine again whispered.


"Yes."


"She orchestrated the assassination attempt on the New Republic alien Admiral didn't she?"


Ciscero's head turned sharply. "How did you find that out? Nobody knows that except..."


"..the Order of Golgotha, who were her lacky's in that failed attempt."


"It cost us dearly." the Intel man confirmed.


"Militarily and in the cost of our own civilian's lives, yes, I would agree. However, Intel's position was strengthened both here and abroad."


With one final look at the planet, Kaine stood and faced the Intelligence Officer.


"With all the fighting we've been doing, defending ourselves against treachery from outside and within, you might think that the military loses sight of the bigger picture."


Kaine touched a button on the armrest of his chair and a man was dragged in; someone Ciscero was unfamiliar with.


"With the military on alert, we've been too busy to really take note of the fact that we've not heard from the Regent for some time. The Regent's own eccentricities tended to leaving military matters in military hands. He merely expected (and rightly so) results. However, now we find as point of fact that Imperial Intelligence seems to have inserted themselves inbetween us and the Regent."


Ciscero smiled grimly, relaxing slightly when he realized the General had a grasp of what was going on. "Misinformation secures Intel's position."


"To the Regent, yes."


"In effect, what we have is a coup. Silent, without upset, and complete." Kaine turned to one of the men accompanying the soldiers and the prisoner.


"Captain, give the signal."


Ciscero recognized the man was Captain Quinn, of Kaine's old 256th from the Sotel Campaign. This recognition though paled when he saw the lights of the planets grow brighter and brighter. Emerging from Arcadia's atmosphere were thousands upon thousands of fighters. The <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Galactus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> changed position and from behind the planet an armada came into view. The gleaming spheres of the Attack Carriers and durasteel hulls of the ISDs in battle formation (being led by the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Victory<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->) impressed the Intel Officer.


And as the fleet's captains reported in, Ciscero began to realize that this army was Kaine's Command, in it's entirety, from Sotel.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> People he knew he could trust and who could trust him.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He turned to the prisoner. "He's not 256th is he?"


Kaine smiled a grim smile, acknowledging the intel man's alertness.


"He's a spy sent by Isard. In order to get to me he followed you. It seems your reigning Queen of intelligence does not quite trust you."


"She doesn't know about this area, does she?" Ciscero asked, a cold feeling coming over him. It wasn't healthy to have the Director of Imperial Intelligence question you.


"No.. and she's not going to. Execute him immediately." the General told the soldiers dragging the prisoner away, ignoring his pleas.


Ciscero again stiffened, almost shocked that the young and seemingly quiet General would go to such an extreme of action.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Who are you?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, his mind shouted. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Have you put on a veneer or has it been finally stripped away?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


And then Kaine turned sharply to face him.


"Make no mistake Ciscero. I do not condone treachery nor will I sit by and watch what we have fought hard to protect simply taken over by power-hungry meglomaniacs and opportunists."


"The military is acting then? There is to be another civil war?" Ciscero asked quietly.


"A war?" Kaine mimicked. "Hardly. It is time for the Empire to transcend the meddlesome weeds that have been rooted in our government for far too long."


"But why the fleet? Just use the planetary forces to purge the insurgent elements."


"Because Isard is only the small fish in the larger pond. The plan that Grand Admiral Hyfe, Grand Admiral Zell, General Ming and myself have been working on ever since Muunilist will finally come to fruition. And to start it, we need.."


"Siennar District." Ciscero marvelled.


"Watch closely, Intelligence Man. With this Campaign we wipe the chessboard clean. Let us see who controls destiny."

<!--EZCODE CENTER START--><!--EZCODE CENTER END-->



Ciscero stood on the dark command deck as Kaine turned back to the planet to watch the fighters meet back with the imperial capital ships.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Just who is this general?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> the Intel man wondered not for the first time.

The rather young man had come from an obscure background, followed by the remnants of an old Galactic Imperial Battlegroup designated 256th.

References were made to a planet Sotel, but Ciscero was unable to locate any reference.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Just as I probably wouldn't for Arcadia or Aridia..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He couldn't help but be impressed by the armada of ships that were starting to break up to exit the system on different vectors.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What plans are in place? What do they have to do with Siennar and what do they have to do with me?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Already he'd been shown more than was safe to see.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Does that make me expendable?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


*


Kaine could not tear his eyes from Arcadia. Too long it had been. Much too long.


After his mother was executed for his father's treachery he was sent here...

..a loose end to be neatly cleared up..


..a mere child of a fallen Senator's family...


..shamed when his father joined the rebellion..


It was his mother's voluntary sacrifice that stayed the execution arm against the child Simon Kaine.


But escape punishment he did not....


..he was sent to Arcadia..


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Might as well have been hell..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He hand went to a hanging necklace on his command chair. A necklace of tiny skulls..


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Worms...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, his mind thought in disgust and the past came flooding in:





<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "Simon?" came a small voice.. "Simon.. are you here?"

"Sssshhh" came an angry whisper. "keep your voice down!"

"what's happening?" said the small boy inching through the dirt to reach his companion.

Simon had stopped his climb, over the soft, powdery dirt and peered out for a brief second. His head quickly ducked back into the dirt, his eyes wide with panic.

"worms!" he whispered in fright.

His friend gasped and began to scramble away quickly.

"Tarin! No!" Simon hissed vehemently.. but panic had already taken his companion and the boy slid down the dirt hill ..to run and hide..

Little clouds of dust were appearing as the boy fled but quickly dissipated in a light breeze.

It wasn't long before he heard his friend's familiar voice crying aloud in hysterical panic.

"Simon!!!" Simon!!!" he stammered.. faster and faster his voice ran..

Simon gripped pockets of dirt and, shaking all over from fear, started to move to look over the hill.


They had Tarin. The worms had him!


A figure with glowing eyes moved closer to the wimpering Tarin, his gold robes fluttering in the breeze. The alien ran his fingers across the terrified boy's face, relishing his fright.

The alien took the boy's hand and drew him to a pool of water, still warm from weapons fire from his mighty vessels of war. As they drew nearer, the water began to move as if containing life.


The alien held Tarin over the water and the frightened child looked into the increasingly agitated water...


"simon..simon...simon...SIMON!" he screamed as the alien dropped him into the pool..


Simon's eyes tried to shut but couldn't. Frozen in fear, he looked at the alien laugh to himself and motion his soldiers onward.

The activity around the area lessened as darkness fell.. Soon, from his little hill he saw the massive ships of the aliens rise into the sky....

Sudden movement became evident as Simon looked down, he noticed long, black shapes slithering out of the pool. In the glitter of two full moons on the horizon, he noticed other pools of water, each with dark shapes slithering away..

His world belonged to the worms now.....and as the night progressed, heard in the distance, many screams and shouts as the worms found victims.

As the night continued onward Simon felt himself grow extremely tired, his exhaustion finally catching up with him. He sagged down into the powdery dust and fell asleep, his fear leaving him....

"Mother.." he murmered and began to cry silently until he fell asleep. His mind started to dream horrible dreams.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

“We called them worms.” Kaine started, as Ciscero’s eyes fell upon the old necklace of tiny skulls of creatures unknown. “Even now, I am not sure whether they were indigenous to Arcadia or not.”

His eyes hardened.

“There are so few of them now where once, there were millions.”

The General rounded his chair. “Pirates used to unload contraband on the planet, using the creatures as a natural protection. Small, stealthy, viscious… they were the perfect killers.”

“How did you come to be on this backwater planet?” the Intelligence Officer demanded, slightly appalled.

“I was 7 years old when I was brought to Arcadia. My father, you see, had gone and joined the Rebellion and upon those of us still living in the Empire came the Emperor’s wrath.”

Ciscero was too stunned to speak at the revelation. After several moments, he found his voice, “If your father was a rebel, then by martial law, your life is forfeit…as heir.”

“Yes.” Kaine answered.

“However, my mother interceded and resolutely accepted a voluntary execution for my father’s betrayal. It was the only way to save me in front of the Imperial Magistrate. It was the only recourse left to salvage our once good name, soiled by my father.”

“It is a wonder THAT recourse was left open and your entire family not destroyed to the grandparent’s line.”

“At the time, my mother’s father was one of the Senate members dismissed by the Emperor. Though, without political power, a former Senator still had connections. However, his son in laws political stance against the Empire ruined the old Senator after his daughter was executed. While I was spared the execution, as a boy I was sent to one of the orphanages. However, the company sponsoring the orphanage was a front and some Imperial clerk never bothered to check the back paperwork. We were, after all, the unclaimed young of indigents, criminals, and destitute.

We were being transported offworld to a supposedly new world that the orphanage had ‘relocated’ too. The children, including myself were dropped on Arcadia and left there to fend for ourselves.”

Ciscero’s eyes narrowed, thinking he’d found a line of inquiry about Arcadia when he got back to Intel’s database. “So then Arcadia was on the Imperial Registry?”

Kaine laughed, the attempt not lost on him. “There was no official registry of the planet. Even so, though, there were settlements. Almost feudal in structure was the planet’s economy with no real governing group.”

“So what happened?”

“What no one really realized would happen. Every twenty years, the worms spawn in massive numbers. The twentieth year came.. and the population soon found themselves prey to creatures they had viewed once as only a nuisance.”

“Surely shields and..”

“Contrary to popular belief, Ciscero, power for generators and such cannot be engaged indefinitely. Besides, there were so few technological advances that only a handful could get themselves such a shield. And then it was used to guard their horded holdings.”

The Intel man frowned. “But even then..”

“The worms were not all. Arcadia was invaded by a warlord of some kind. Someone with glowing eyes.”

“Chiss?”

Simon Kaine’s smile turned hard. “We shall see…”

After several moments of silence Ciscero offered, “That must have been hell on a kid.”

“It was…” was Kaine’s only response. “More than you know..”


****

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The wisps of winter were coming, he thought. He could already being to feel the wind turn brittle as he made his way slowly across the plain. He hated traveling in the open like this but with the ground turning hard and cold, the worms would be hard pressed to come out of their warm burrows.

In it’s natural state, the worm moved like any other snake, with tendrils here and there. The tendrils are the key. They allowed the worm to move much quicker (thus effecting a takeover of their prey before it had a chance to react). The creature was very intelligent though hampered by an inferior body. The serpent can evolve only so much before something drastic is necessary to keep pace with the higher organisms.

Simon clutched at his tattered garments as he moved on, his bare feet used to traveling on the hard ground by necessity. The planet’s gray dust clung to his skin and had started to cake on his feet from the morning mist. His whole body felt weary, but his eyes remained alert, one hand always on his blade.

For as long as he could remember, he had been struggling to stay alive, vaguely remembered his life before the worms. His parents, his mother taken from him. His father going away, deserting he and his mother as the old officials were so fond of telling him. And his friend, Tarin.

He briefly touched the little necklace of worm skulls.

Suddenly the composition of the ground changed to something far harder. He had come to a road. He smiled faintly. There could be no worms hiding under the road. As he traveled he noted several vehicles off to the sides of the road. Part of him burned with curiosity but he knew better than to leave the middle of the road. There was no telling how many worms could hide throughout such a machine. In some, as the sun rose, he could see the unmoving figures of the dead. The attack had been definitely swift catching many unawares.

Who would have thought that their planet’s broadcasts into space would bring to them the end of their way of life, limited and primitive as it was?

He stopped his musings to see a mark painted hastily on the road’s surface. Someone else was alive! he thought excitedly at first until reality set in. At least they were alive at the time of painting the mark. He touched it, already knowing that the paint was weathered and hard. It had been there a long time. The mark itself, though, called out to a distant part of his mind. It was a symbol.. representing a meaning.. a word.... Haven. His mind almost hurt from the strain of remembering that meaning. He hadn’t read in a good long while. There hadn’t been a need too.He knew that the name of the city that this road would eventually lead was not named Haven. Haven had sprung up after the invasion. Was it a city? Was it a settlement? Was it the last standing refuge for his people? Where their other Haven’s?

He walked on.. his goal nearing.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

One by one the ships exited the system, "Tendrils of the whole of the action" as Kaine had put it.


Classic feint? Misdirection?

What was the plan this time?

Ciscero wondered why Kaine was devulging his origins to the Intel man. Such actions could be taken as a sign of weakness, but Kaine was not weak... or was he?

He had yet to fail with any significance a task put before him but it seemed as if the general faced each task as if he was ready to fail.

Would the Imperial General fail now? Would Ciscero be implicated?

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Too many questions and no answers.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"One thing galactic education brings to us is the fact that no one system is self sufficient if part of a greater community. One must look for the focus points, foundation points, the "braces" if you will that hold the power in it's place.

Stresses within factions are the indicators of such "braces" and if one were to kick these out from under the faction, their power will fall."


"and Intel has given you those indicators?" Ciscero asked.


"Intel has given us the directions to look. But our own agents needed to locate the braces. We knew what we were looking for."


"Which is?"


"What Palpatine found.. What Grand Admiral Thrawn had found. What those attackers had found when they struck at Arcadia. Our 'brace'."


"Which was..." prodded Ciscero.

"On Arcadia? Water... With the New Republic, it's interdependency."


"Water?"


"Strangely enough, yes."


******

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> He was tiring. He had to find shelter soon..before night fell. The city of Hespas was quiet and erie as he moved silently through the deserted streets. Vehicles, long abandoned, were scattered everywhere. The shock of attack by the Chiss? caught them all unaware.

The attackers had laughed at their ingenuity in aiding the introduction of spawning "worm" zygotes into the main water sources of Arcadia. People were drinking the microscopic larvae without even knowing it. The living zygotes would then latch onto some subsystem of the body to nourish itself and grow. Most people died before the incubation was brought to full term.

The agricultural settlements were wiped out as their entire population became infected. Only the great cities remained, and their the scientists worked feverishly to stop the disease. The cities recycled their water in such a way that the zygotes would die before being passed though the system.

In the bodies of those who died in the agricultural areas, the zygotes grew into full larvae and hatched. Their snake-like bodies had adapted to moving across the ground and so soon they spread like rodents. And just like rodents, they were able to enter the cities.

Now the populations had to face a "rodent" that had the ability to kill and feed off of their flesh. Children were soon not left unattended...and families began to stay in groups.
Unfortunately, so did the larvae.

As the pitifully small military force struggled to maintain order and combat this creature, the attackers struck in force, shattered what little resistance there was. Any organized resistance scattered and the people panicked.

Simon saw a familiar structure and his tiring pace picked up a little more. He had come here with his friend Tarin several times before. Now the dark building lay silent and almost tomb-like. Simon entered and through a broken window, the falling sun’s rays fell on rows and rows of books. The old library smelled of dust and leather, with computer disks and discarded equipment thrown everywhere. One thing about this building that seemed oddly comforting to the small child was that a year of neglect had not compromised it’s integrity. No leakage of any kind was found. Books were important to those who became settlers in this forgotten world. "Windows of Imagination" his mother had once called reading...back when they were a family. Back before Arcadia.

His mother... he started to remember the song she would sing as he would climb into bed...and as he remembered it, his eyes started to get heavy.

Before he fell asleep, he wondered if there were any worms in the old building. His journey having taken it’s toll, he soon found himself asleep, lying on a pile of books and broken computer covers.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "Tendrils of the whole.."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


The Victory Star Destroyer Dauntless shadowed the small craft.


"Right where the General said they'd be, Sir." the tracking officer spoke.

"Pirates..." the large Captain grumbled, his disgust readily evident.

"How would the General know about pirates, Sir?" a young junior officer asked, as he checked the ship's targeting systems.


"Probably that Intel agent that hangs around him." someone ventured.

The Dauntless Captain allowed the speculation go around his ship. Excitement gripped them all for they knew some plan had been put into motion, but <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> what?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Sir, enemy ship is preparing for lightspeed!"

"Do we have them?"

"Extrapolating possible courses now. Shall we reveal ourselves?"

The Captain's hand closed into a fist but he shook his head.

"Negative, Helm. Hold."

"Hold?"

"We wait."

"For.. what, Sir?"

"You shall see, Ensign. You shall see."


From the shadow of the Victory Star Destroyer, the crew watched as the pirate vessel winked out of existence.


It was of Chiss design.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Elsewhere....Unknown Regions..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



"Charles?" intruded an older woman's voice. "Charles, are you finished? The <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Champion<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> will be here soon."


The man looked up from his scribbled notes and papers that swamped what passed as his work desk. The man was fifty-three and already, he'd seen things that most researchers had not dreamed of. The project leader, a woman ten years older than him, looked in consternation at the untidyness of her lead researcher.

"Great Wampas, Charles!" she exclaimed. "You've not even started to catalog the anomolies of the transmission spectrums eminating from the event horizons. How can we convince the budget board of continued funding if we have nothing new to present!"

"Martha, calm thyself." he said almost philosophically, not looking up. "The board for budget review does not meet for another three months. The data will be collected before the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Champion<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> arrives and I shall use those two months to sort through this mess and make sense of it."


And then he did look up and out the windows that surrounded what passed as an office. The seven constructs could be seen forming a circle of sorts around their position. He smiled to himself, amazed at the enormity of their project. To make sense of the insensible. Or at least that is what Orphrantez had called it before going home.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Nexus.

After all this time, we are finally leaving. And we haven't even scratched the surface!

The Ssi-Ruuk attack left things a horrible mess, simply horrible.

Especially with the fall of the Alliance.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He stared at one of the constructs. The one to Onyx had been shut down and had remained so. There was no pressing need for it to be open for the planetary governers had their own local worries now.


"How are the kids holding up?" he asked, taking their mind of the unpleasantness of their imminent departure. The "kids" were the many junior members of their project team that did the bulk of the sampling, reading, and scanning. Charles and Martha? They made sense of it all.


"Sad and yet excited. The thought of being considered a preiminent scientist for taking part in one of the few truly groundbreaking discoveries of a lifetime tends to put a sense of perspective back into our young ones."

Charles grinned, "Wealth, fame and riches eh?"

Martha waved her hand in disgust but turned to the communications equipment that had suddenly come to life.


The sound was attempting to break though waves of static but the Captain's (of the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Champion<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->) voice could be made out.



"..final approach... low orbit... shuttles ....by.. flashes...concern... investigate.."


"Captain," Martha said, toggling the transmitter, "Could your repeat?"


But static only answered.


"Solar flares most likely." Charles said but Martha shook her head.


Something was amiss.




**



The flotilla had entered the system at it's very edge as if coming in closer would tip off a enemy the Empire would just as soon not face.

However, the longer Ciscero stayed on the bridge of the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Galactus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, the more he came to the conclusion that there was, in fact, nothing in this system.

Even the powerful passive scanners of the mighty Reign Star Destroyer picked up the small freighter in orbit and scant else.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What is so important about the freighter?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Turning to Kaine, though, he saw the General intent on the ship floating there in front of him on the holographic projection.

"A large battle occured here." he mused.

Ciscero glanced at the display and saw that the General was correct. Wreckage and debris were scattered everywhere as they made a lazy, if elliptical, orbit around the gravity of nearby bodies.


"New Alliance..Duskhan League.. interesting... Ssi-Ruuk?.. hmm.. and a few Battle Dragons.."

As he read off the scanning analysis, he was surprised at the combination of ships involved.

"Did the fighting reach the surface?"

"We shall see shortly."


The fleet had continued their course on a stealth approach, their normal lighting reduced greatly to avoid visual identification.


Not that there was much of a chance for the freighter seemed to be the only thing there and was already moving past the terminus point curving to the other side of the planet.

The General suddenly stood, signalling the Comm. Officer to contact the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Victory<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->.

"Captain Chandler. The fleet is yours. Our operation begins."

"Yes sir."

Kaine turned to the Intel Agent. "Coming?"


"Wouldn't miss it," Ciscero grumbled and the two men exited the bridge.





**


Kaine and Ciscero were suited up in the armor typical of those around them, which, in themselves made the Intelligence Agent flash surprise at the General.

"Spartans?" he asked rather shocked. "The project was not to be off the drawing boards for another six months?"

Kaine smiled faintly. "Well, consider this a field test of sorts. Being systemwide transmission jamming."

Ciscero's interest was climbing an all time high for the Empire's vaunted Super Soldier was said to rival anything that their enemies could throw at them...including those damned sentient robots.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> As if..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The strange looking craft that the spartans were entereing were cylindrical with a cone nose pointing down.


"Strange delivery system, General." he mused, putting on his helmet. "Rapid descent?"


When the General merely nodded, he asked, "But how do you get these.. these dropships past the freighter. Surely they will warn whomever is on the planet and with the element of surprise lost.."


"We will not lose the element of surprise, Intel Man." Kaine said through the comm in his helmet, and his eyes flickered to the right. "In a matter of moments it will not matter what the freighter sees or doesn't see."

Ciscero's eyes also turned to catch a glance at what the General was looking at and he felt a coldness run through him.

Shivering inspite of himself, Ciscero nodded to the Inquisitor getting suited up.



**



<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Aboard the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Victory<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



"Insertion Teams report ready."


"Confirmation coming from the General's team."


"Topographical targets optimal."


Captain Chandler's eyes narrowed and he gave the command, "Ion weapons fire!"


And the entire flotilla began to fire their ion cannons at the atmosphere of the planet in front of them.


As slow as the fleet was moving, the barrage of ion fire would continue for some time. some of the ships, of course, were unable to maintain a continuous barrage but the effects would soon be felt.

"Ionizaton at 40%" someone reported.


The fleet came closer, the frieghter still on the other side of the planet.


"67%"


The fleet was coming ever closer..


"90%"



"Release Dropships!" Chandler ordered.


"Freighter coming around!" the Tracking Officer informed.



Sure enough, the Freighter had completed the orbit and was coming around once more.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> By now the Captain will have been noticing the flashes of light from the ion cannons.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"Ionizatoin of the planet's atmosphere at 100%!" came the call.


"Freighter powering it's weapons and shields! Attempting to send a mayday!"


"Confirm transmission block?" Chandler snapped.


"Confirmed Sir!"


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> It's too late you fools!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"Remove that rust bucket from my space gunner."


"Yes Sir." replied the weapons master with glee.


The calls of the freighter were drowned out by the crushing static and soon the calls stopped. Where the freighter once was, now only bits and pieces floated awaiting gravity to lay final claim to their remains.


"Inform the fleet to move to their assigned groups!" Chandler shouted at a soldier gaping at the wreckage.


The ionization prevented the freighter from calling the surface..


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> So far, so good..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



***



"I was never able to discern much from the seventh construct.." Charles was saying when one young scientist, a girl, pointed to the sky.


"Look!"

"Meteors?"

"They.. they look like escape pods of sorts."

"Did the Champion have to make an emergency evacuation?" one of the younger ones asked.

The thought did not really bother Charles, but he knew some of the young were really restless about getting home.


"Those aren't escape pods!" someone shouted.

"they're not?" another one asked dumbly.

By this time the cylinders pointing downward had seemed to sprout some sort of parachute slowing their powerless descent.

Soon there were many such parachutes being seen, all around the compound and beyond.

Before Martha could begin to ask another question, the group noticed even smaller cylinders break off from the whole and sticking into the ground.

The main cylinder touched the ground, burying itself slightly with a slow screwing motion. The sides came down and small groups of armoured soldiers came out.

"What the..?" someone started.

"Charles! The emergency beacon! Go!" Martha whispered and bravely went out to meet the the soldiers.

Charles had begun to slip away from the group toward the main office building noting that the soldiers were securing the constructs as well as the outer perimeter.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> There would be no escape.

No mad dash for the hills..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, Charles thought sardonically.



Martha walked directly upon a trio that seemed to be heading in the group's direction and began shouting at them in outrage.

Before she could get really going, though, she stopped in mid sentence seemingly frozen.

"Good work, Damien. The hag was going to get annoying."

The visor of one of the soldier's went up and the Inquistor's eyes seemed to bore into the project leader's for a few moments before he moved forward, the old woman dutifully (if unwillingly) following behind.

Soon the others were entranced and from their minds, the Inquisitor found the workings of their desperate (if helpless) plan.

"The building.. there!" he pointed and walked quickly in that direction.


Kaine and Ciscero followed closely and were just in time to witness Charles' hand poised over a button.

"Emergency Beacon.." Kaine muttered.

The man was straining as if he was putting his entire strength into forcing his hand down on top of it but could not. The Inquisitor smiled wolfishly.

"You want that button?" he taunted.

Kaine ignored the Inqisitor's games and moved outside, with the Intel agent in tow.


"Perimeter is secure, Sir. This location is ours."

"Very good. Inform the security detachment to bring down the Cebrax D200 series and install it on every construct. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal."

"Good." Kaine nodded approvingly. The automated defense systems would not only line every construct but would also soon encompass the compounds perimeter. A surface site equivalent to the famous internal weapons systems found on a Reign Class Destroyer, nothing would be able to get in unauthorized without getting shot.


He turned to see the Inqisitor coming along, followed dutifully by the unblinking group of scientists they had found. Fifteen in all.


"Can we use them?"


"Just ask, and they shall perform General." the Inqisitor replied.

"Has the alien Conclave been alerted?"

The Inquisitor shook his head.

"They don't know we are here."

Simon Kaine's smile became predatory.


"Excellent. Come, Ciscero. Time for your use."



***



"One hour, Captain." Chandler's exec officer informed.


"Very well." Inform the fleet to begin general offloading of stormtroopers. I want full legions on the surface in 20 minutes and ready to deploy. Send down the Technical Teams to the compound as well as support equipment."


"Prefab barracks sir?"


"Everything Ensign.. everything!"


"Aye Sir."


Turning to the BAC system and Fleet Comm, "Activate the Abolishers and have the dreadnaughts begin laying the mines. Deploy the fighters to the surface. I want the ground forces to be reinforced from the high points."

His eyes flickered away from the sight of moving vessels, and they seemed to smile at this Exec.


"We are on schedule."



****


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> But what the frell was the point of it all? Sure, the archeological structures were impressive in their own rights but all this fire power, the Spartans... The Spartans! no less to be employed against 15 harmless scientists?


What was going on here?


Has the General lost his mind?

What was important enough to draw that old space battle in orbit?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He, Kaine and four Spartans had reentered the compounds main building and had begun a long descent down a series of ramps that looked like something major used to be going on here a while back.


This was strange to find.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Especially on a scientific dig..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The markings were those a military faction might use.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> One in particular..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"TH- NE- LLIANC-"

They had reached the bottom and came to a small door. In no time at all, a Spartan had opened the supposedly secured door and what Ciscero saw took his breath away.

"Wha.. How? What planet IS this?" he demanded.

"I prefer to call it: Planet 002" Simon answered cryptically. "I require your skills in this Ciscero."

Turning to a Spartan. "What we are looking for is here. Be sure to reconnoiter this enter facility. This will be our base of operations for the next phase."


Ciscero stood up from his inspection of the machinery. "It'll work General but I can't just go about it haphazardly. I am going to need.."


Simon began instructing another Spartan soldier anticipating the Intel Agent's needs, "Bring the Inquisitor and his entourage here. I will require them as well."


The Spartan nodded and left.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Planet 002?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Planet 002..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


"These symbols are comprised of very intricate combinations. I doubt any one person could do it," the Lead Imperial Scientist spoke, when all had been unloaded and time allotted to go through the papers and material of the captured researchers.


"Could a droid do it?" Captain Chandler asked, standing in Uniform against the backdrop of Spartan soldiers lining the wall at silent attention.


"An astromech or similiar.. yes. I believe so. The calculations are made up of seemingly random base formulas. Only the most versatile of minds could really traverse the fields of quantum logic and mathematics."


The General turned to Damien, seated at a table with more of his kind.


Inquisitors all of them. Dressed regally in black, their presence here was no mistake.


A scientists mind tended to get focused on singular objects whilst blocking out all other concerns. They rarely saw or recognized those of more <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> flexible<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> constitution.


"Droids... or force users." he interrupted softly.


The Scientist stopped in mid-explanation and stared open mouthed at the General.


"You knew!" he accused. "You knew of the constructs before we started for this world. You knew and said nothing?"


The General ignored him for the small man soon would be lost in the research that had so captured the imaginations of his prisoners.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Damien's prisoners..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, he mentally corrected himself.


He turned an eye to the Inquisitor and the man in regal black nodded approvingly to the General as if he knew what Simon thought.


The Spartans followed the General out of the small building and out into a compound bustling with activity.


Stormtroopers were scattered everywhere, the occassional AT-AT pounding along the ground in the distance, maintaining a perimeter against the unknown.


He noted other members of The New Order's Inquistorium overseeing the work of the scientists that had lived on the planet for a brief moment of time. Their minds were under the complete control of the Inquisitors.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Yes, force users were very useful..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He would need to fill out a detailed report to Grand Admiral Hyfe and foward one to Grand Admiral Zell's retreat.


He stopped a moment to gaze out at the planet the Empire occupied at his order, remembering the aging Grand Admiral and their mission to Carida. He vaguely wondered what the old tactician was doing nowadays.


"The Empire resurges after the long night." he whispered to himself. "The plan is in motion, Zell. Piece by piece we shall soon regain our ascendancy in this galaxy of chaos."


Reflecting on the Grand Admiral's strategies, he mused that they tended to focus on a singular objective, the success fully relying on the Admiral's force of will to be fully realized. And what a will!

His gaze flickered to a spot in the sky in which direction lay the bright center of the galaxy.


"Soon.. old friend. Soon."


He noted that more defensive works were being placed around the constructs and the central obelisk that were left not very well tended by it's designers.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Of course, they had been attacked, promised defense...and then their would-be protectors fell from power. Why continue guarding something one knew nothing about.. especially if hostiles were in the area?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

In front and behind the contructs, mines were layed...even the constructs themselves having been rigged with explosives.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Just in case..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Even in his moment of greatest triumpth, there was always the spectre of defeat. Always.


The firing point defense system had been tested and was now fully operational leaving everything in the compoud covered. The still night air turned to wail as TIE Schimitars and Defenders roared overhead.


He went to the small office that he had taken over to glance at the holographic topographical layout of the planet when he found Ciscero sitting in his chair with his legs propped up on the desk.


"Finished?" Kaine asked wryly.


"Hardly," The Intel man responded. "The system needs to be rebooted. Your Inquisitors are brain draining the poor wench of a lady scientist to remove all the blocks and safeguards on the machines. It's tedious but we shall be able to proceed in about an hour."


Simon, nodded, pleased with the report.


The Intel man suddenly sat up, his legs swinging down. "What are those cylinders that were placed near those ruins?"


Kaine grinned. "Hyperspatial transmitter stations."


Ciscero's eyes narrowed. "To transmit eh? One thing bothered me as we assaulted the planet."


"And that was?" Kaine prodded, knowing that the Intel Agent's mind was starting to work beyond the "out of the loop" position he found himself in. Kaine approved for he tested the agent's perceptive ranges. By working the man against knowledge out of his league, he was gauge the mettle of Imperial Intelligence.


"Why did we have to ionize the atmosphere to block transmissions from the ship to the surface. There was only one civilian craft in orbit. Even after we knew this, we ionized the atmosphere. Even if there were legions of enemy soldier's on the planet, without the support of a navy, we could have bombarded them from orbit and saved ourselves the trouble of landing."


Kaine tilted his head. "More would have been involved than simply that.. but I take your meaning."


"So why the ionization? To block transmissions from the surface? We'd already jammed system-wide transmissions. So what danger would fifteen scientists hold to the grand Imperial Army?"


"There are dangers... and there are dangers." was Kaine's cryptic, if uninformative, reply.


"The only danger they could have posed was one to blow our secrecy. That has not happened."


"And now?"


"Now? Thousands of mines have been laid and our fleet stands ready. For what?... the next phase I believe. But what I want to know now..." Ciscero looked out a plexiglass window at the massive constructs outside forming a sort of circle and Kaine knew he had guessed the truth. "...is how you found this place?"


Kaine's eyes flashed, "Remember the story I was telling about the blue skinned man who had destroyed Arcadia by using the worms to fester in it's water supply?"


At Ciscero's nodd, Kaine continued. "Well, I never thought to see his kind again. The Empire rescued me and I returned into the fold but not before that damned race burned their pitiful existence into my soul."


Kaine leaned forward and nearly whispered, "Imagine my surprise when I found one during our takeover of Belkadan. After I had burned the rebels out of existance and thwarted the plans of our enemies, imagine my surprise at seeing a similar blue skinned infiltrator. Amidst torturing, he gave me a list of place's he'd been."

"He gave you Aridia, didn't he?"

The smile on Kaine's face told all. "And from there, I found the pirate's nest of them.. and the location to this place."


Ciscero wondered truly how long this plan had been simmering inside the General's mind.


"What's so important about this place?"


Kaine grinned a feral smile and turned to the constructs. "Must you ask that?"


Ciscero laughed out loud. "So what now?"


An eyebrow raised. "Now? We go to work."



****



Several groups of Spartans stood at the ready as the Inqisitors pushed the captured scientific team to their limits and put the calculations together in rapid succession.


One by one, the complex signals of the from the obelisk triggered each of the constructs into a flurry of activity. The Spartans were well out of range as the event horizons of each fluctuated, grew and then shrank back to a size to fit it's holding orifice.


Ciscero's eyes narrowed, pieces of the puzzle starting fall into place but question still coming forth.


"Where are the original inhabitants of this world? The caretakers? The Keepers? What the frell happened to everybody?!"


Simon watched as the cylinders were pushed through each construct except one and the system then shut down. Turning to Captain Chandler and the other military leaders wanting to catch a glimpse of the machine's in action he said, "Now .. we wait."


Turning to Ciscero he mused, "What happens to all displaced people Ciscero? They go home. This planet was overrun by The New Alliance and the former caretakers, having their science kept from them what else could they do? Barter for protection against the stronger? What do all weak fools do?"


Kaine sighed. "I didn't know the details of their operation here, but the captured records tell no lies here. The Alliance figured out what the very designers had forgotten and politics being what it was.. the Alliance bartered their knowledge for land."


"Ahh," Cicsero said. "The military bases being set up here and there, some only half finished in construction. It's like something happened.. something major.. I wonder why they were all abandoned so rapidly."


"Diplomats and fools, Ciscero. Something big did happen to them. Something they never thought possible. The fall of the New Alliance was long in the making. With higher level jobs being taken over by their fanatical use of droids in everyday life, the unrest of the common people was becoming evident. How can normal people compare to the efficiency of droids? Tell me Ciscero, what happens when Joe Somebody tries to get a job but finds he's placed under the watchful eye of a supervisor droid. By what standard would the droid measure their workers? It's a very complex psychology that drives us against the tyranny of aliens. People will endure great lengths under the tyrannical rule of their own kind, Ciscero, but put an alien..an android, in charge... and everything begins to fall apart."


"In a mechanized society, unemployment soars, crime climbs even despite the best attempts at quelling it...and what did the Alliance do? They put robots in charge of their policy enforcement organizations. Now their citizens were forced under the watchful eye of bloodless, emotionless machines."


Ciscero cringed at the thought. "They slit their own throats. If not for their dissolution, Revolution would have come."


"Without backing from the military coffers and with expenses of military expeditions growing, the dissolution of the New Alliance High Command left many without access to the public funds."


Ciscero finished the sentence, "..and without money, people leave."


"No more support ships, no resupply convoys, no funding for continued research and developement, what happens?"


"Presence fades."


"And so it has. Miltary bases abandoned without much thought.. there was no longer a government to be accountable too. The bureaucratic fools of the New Republic who took over the administration of the Alliance's former worlds didn't just pick up right away as if nothing happened. It takes time for bureaucracy to catch up to action so for a few weeks, perhaps months, all the planets of the New Alliance were self governed. The shutting down of the Alliance's policy of high level droid governing, Almania, Obroa-Skai, Wayland..all these looked to restoring order first among themselves and their populations."


"The inhabitants of this planet still do not know how to use their technology!" Ciscero snapped.


"It doesn't look that way or we'd have had more opposition. I had to catch the surface unwares, Ciscero. If someone had gotten away, who knows what we'd be facing now."


"Why didn't you activate that construct?", the Intel man asked pointing to the one unused.


Kaine actually smiled at that, "Because that one was shut down before we came...because the Alliance came here from somewhere."


"But that would have been secret yes?"


"Not to the researchers and scientists here! Ciscero, everything The New Alliance knew about this (his hand swept the entire planet), <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> these<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> people know. And now, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> we<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> know.. thanks to the Inquisitor's."


"But, General, why are they here in the first place?"


"Because they are scientists. Despite what they know (granted it's alot), they recognize that they do not know it all. If the government that was supporting their project (even if used for military purposes) falls, then what's the next step."


Ciscero snapped his fingers. "Private funding of the research!"


"Supplies, equipment and personnel all monetarily supported by private companies wishing to get their hands on a marketable technology.."


"ARLISS INDUSTRIES!!" Ciscero cried out, the dots finally connecting for him.


"Obroa-Skai provided the research and scientific impetus while Muunilist provided the financial backing however ambiguously."


"Arliss' daughter keeps you well informed." Ciscero eyed Kaine.


A shadow of a grin crossed the General's lips. "Be that as it may, Seamus himself alerted me to their donations."


"He's up to something."


"No doubt, but I've more important Jawas to fry."



**


"Signal coming in!" shouted the communications officer. The leaders comprising Sentinel's 2nd Division, the 256th, had already gone back to their vessels, preparing for action.


"Extrapolate!" Kaine ordered and the computers and astromechs crunched the numbers from the signals coming in to determine coordinates.


One by one, they listed on the screens and Kaine had the coordinates ran up the fleet, dividing into separate groups. Of the seven constructs, only two coordinates remained a mystery.


"We have them!" Simon said to noone in particular.


The Abolisher field came down for each group of vessels to enter hyperspace toward's their intended destinations.


A lone Interdictor cruiser began to set a course from Planet 002 using sublight engines.


"Reactivate the system..." Kaine ordered, as the captives were roused from a much needed rest by the Inquisitors. "..and shut down recievers. Send the autodestruct signal and silence the probes."


One by one.. each probe was destroyed.


The Abolisher fields were once more activated.



**



<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Planet's 003, 004, 006, and 007 respectively...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



Each individual operation was carried out to the letter. The small fleet would exit hyperspace at the edge of the mass shadow's influence.


As soon as the fleet was secured from hyperspace, Abolisher fields went up surrounding the system and system wide jamming commenced. The standard Imperial attack procedure was initiated and the Empire moved against worlds unaccustomed to the strength thrown at them.


The constructs on Planet 002 were activated once more and hundreds of Spartans poured through to coincide with the Fleet's arrival at the distant locations.


Only the action taken against Planet 005 was different. There, the Spartans waited.


For that was the "homeworld". The source of the designers.



<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Planet 005<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



The fleet followed the standard procedure of exiting hyperspace and jamming.


However, this planet was different. Boasting a population of millions, the Empire was going to be hardpressed to take and hold the planet until their mission was successfully completed.



For the succes of the mission, Kaine devised a plan that the Captain now put into practice.


Moving the Constrainer Interdiction Pickets past the homeworld's orbit, they closed the gap toward the system's sun until a certain point.


"Activate gravity well generators," the Captain ordered and the line of Interdictors cast their invisible forces outward, grappling toward the sun.


The fleet maintained the Interdiction Field for several hours, as the rest of the fleet ionized the planet's atmosphere blinding their sensors to the actions of the Imperial Forces.


"Sensor's have found a spike forming!" someone shouted. The Captain closed his eyes at the eagerness of the officer.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The bloody nip doesn't know what he's done.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"Signal the others." he ordered. "To us falls the duty. Good hunting."


The Comm. Officer frowned but said nothing as he relayed the message and was surprised as the rest of the captains ordered their vessels away... to take cover behind the planet.


"They wish us luck, sir."


"Forward!" the Captain of the remaining Interdictor ordered, acknowledging the signal with a nod, and the cruiser began to move closer to the sun.


"Maintain a lock on that spike,"


"Sir? I don't understand what is.."


The Captain turned to his Exec. and calmly ordered, "Remove safety mechanisms from the gravity generators."


"What??" some of the younger crewman shouted in surprise.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Kaine was smart to inform only the Captains.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The Executive Officer entered the code unlocking the safeties and alarms signalled throughout the ship.


and soon after...



..the Constrainer was no more as the mounting gravitational forces ripped it's tiny hull to shreds.



The conflicting gravitational forces drew on the "spike" that had registered on the Imperial vessel's scanning equipment..



.. and the sun flared.




The solar flare was enormous, raking it's devestating force across the planet...



With the jamming, the citizen's cries went unheard.


Kaine's plan had worked.


The planet fell silent and the Abolisher's activated their fields as the Constrainers powered down.


With the planet cut off, the Imperial Fleet fell upon it savagely.



On the surface of Planet 005, no one was alive to see the ancient construct come to life as it formed an ironically waterlike surface in stark contrast to the heat blasted structures surrounding it.


A figure appeared..


A Spartan.


And then, another.


and another.


and..

The Alleigance-class Super-Star Destroyer was a marvel of Imperial technology, and Colonel Telan Desaria enjoyed stepping onto one's bridge every time. He was fascinated with the perfection of the deck plating, the occassional flickering of amber and jade buttons on the consoles of so many officers and men,s ome in the crew pits, and some in the aft control corridor. Yes, to command this ship made one feel immensely proud. To command the ship and the ships attached to it made one feel invincible.

Such was the Intimidator, flagship of II Division, Brass Protectorate Fleet-an ASSD, and the command vessel for two defense legions of 'seemingly invincible' warships. Though, as Colonel Desaria stepped onto the bridge today, he could not help but feel apprehensious-though his face did not show it and he dared not display it for his crew.

The source of his misgivings were the mission they were to execute. Rather than leap in a system, they would be brought to the edge by an Interdictor of General Kaine's armada ( that made sense, for they did not want to be brought down by the Abolisher fields.) Then they would clear a planet world Desaria knew nothing about-<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> it is usually that way, though.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

" Colonel, Lieutenant Maxis from Navigation."

Desaria nodded, continuing his stride down the catwalk towars his command chair. When he arrived, an inter-ship comm channel was opened. " Yes, Lieutenant?"

" Sir, according to our calcaulations we should be within range of the gravity well in two minutes. We will revert to realspace at that time. Our intertial dampers will shoften any affect of being pulled into space."

" Thank you, Lieutenant." Desaria signalled an end to the transmission and ordered that the helmsman mark time and count it off.

As he did so, Desaria turned his chair aft to see Captain Vorran returning from the refresher, completely oblivious t what was going to take place. Only the Colonel knew what was happening.

One minute, thirty-three seconds later, the reversion began. Though his timing was off, the Lieutenant was corrct in that the dampers would save the crew any 'unpleasantnes.' And there it sat before them. Planet 002, a green and blue gem in the blakc fabric of viewable space. Not much to look at, given the distance, but Desaria had seen the briefing holos.

" Helmsman, bring us towards the planet, best possible speed. Fleet ops officer-order the rest of the Division to do likewise."

* * *

A while later, the IInd Division had arrived outside the gravity of the planet itself. The Colonel issued orders in a calm and authoritative fashion to break up into patrol groups, with patrol I being attached to the command group. as the fleet separated, they began to search the planet, suing passive and active sensors, and deploying dozens of probe droids-but they knew not for what they searched. All sensor reports, even they found nothing, were bunddled up and sent to the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Intimidator<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> for Desaria's perusal every fifteen minutes.

There were mines around the planet, some defensive and explosive, and some active and armed with laser cannon. It was all Desaria had not to give the order to destroy them all, sweeping the atmosphere with a titannic conflagration. Then, Desaria remembered the breifing he had received from Imperial Intelligence. The mines were Imperial. Desaria did not recognize the design, but his knowledge was sketchy- he had spent the majority of his career patrolling space lanes and interdicting pirates. He issued orders to avoid them, disable them if fired upon, but remember that they were designed by the Empire.

As the fleet broke up into patrol groups, they began sojoruning around the planet. One of the PGs passed the orbital body of 002. It was there that one of Desaria's Destroyers, the Reign SD <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Praetrorian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> found a small base on the asteroid moon of 002.

The report came in, Desaria could not help but snap into action. " Order three TIE squads to begin sweeping the base for life signs. If not, send down three Sentinels and take the base."

The crew, happy for an order to relay, complied with vigor. Though it was not a heated battle and every man did not have a job, they did their duty to their best ability. Within moments, the order had been received, the base scanned, and 120 stormtroopers bound for the base.

The Command Group/Patrol Group 1 continued its scanning, moving around the planet.

* * *

An hour later, after the moon base had been captured and all its contents brought aboard the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Praetorian<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> and placed under heavy guard, Desaria got another break. This one, was what he had been waiting for.

" Colonel, there is a small garrison base on the planet's surface. A Landing platform and three bunkers. There is life."

Desaria had been dreaming, a dangerous thing to do. But he was always able to send and receive orders, practically in his sleep. When he heard, he knew it was what he had been sent here to find-

-The Chiss

Now he had to prove it. " Flight Commander-Dispatch a flight of devils towards the planet. Have them commence stafing the base. If any fighters launch, move another two squadrons up and lure them towards the fleet. Fleet ops! I want the Dreadnaught Pirde of the Order ready to lock onto one of the Chiss craft as it passes."

" Sir, the ship will still have a crewman and weapons capabilities."

" I am aware of that..."

* * *

Four TIE Devils swooped down from a rideg above the base, which from a distance looked abandoned. As they passed, they did not even have to open fire, for two concealed laser turrets locked on and incinerated two of the TIEs, debris falling from the sky. The two remaining Devils juked from side to side and began a slow yaw to port as four 'Clawcraft' lanced out from below the landing pad. They had been ready.

Another of the Devils was destroyed at long range, but the other managed to make it into orbit. The Clawcraft closed and fired again, destroying the fourth. But now, two squadrons of vengeful computerized comrades hurled towards the Chiss. Outnumbered and now outflanked, the Chiss decided to fight. What the did not realize was that with every maneuver, the master puppeteers abaord the Str Destroyers were drawing them into a trap. As the Chiss craft closed with a lumbering Dreadnaught, it locked onto one with a powerful tractor beam. Slowly the fighting craft was brought towards the bay. As the craft moved closr, two small laser bolts struck the craft, each from a high powered sniper rifle, which piereced the thin armor and then, pierced the pilot. Resistance ceadeed and the craft was brought aboard. The remaining craft, leashes now off the Devils, were destoyed, their debirs also brought onto the small hangar bay of the Dreadnaught.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> An excellent day of hunting...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Orbit, Planet 002.... Enroute to the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Galactus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



"Ionization receding, General" a crewman said, making sense of the computer reports that were spit out from sensor readings.


"Good. The planet is now fully under the control of the Empire." was all he said.


Ciscero of Imperial Intelligence watched as the General quietly stared out the plexiglass port at the growing <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Galactus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> as the shuttle neared.


"You were never a Navy man were you?" he suddenly asked.

The General did not turn. "I did my usual stint all soldiers in training go through. You can't get anywhere without a ship. But no.. I was not a regular. My 'expertise' if you wish to call it that was directed mainly toward ground action."


"And yet now you command one of the most powerful fleets of the Empire.."


Simon smiled in spite of himself. "I answered the call of 'Necessity' during a dark time for the Empire." He turned.


"Make no illusions Ciscero. I was put rigorously through self education. I surrounded myself with those who knew their trade. Captain Chandler was of immense help and helped put things into perspective for me."


Ciscero was now openly curious, "What do you think of it?"


Kaine looked down in thought.. or in experience.


"The main difference in Fleet warfare is that one man may <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> not<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> make as much difference as he thinks."


His eyes went back to space. "Daaz Tzhan, Sergeant. Sotel 4th Company. Stormtrooper T25649. A big brute of man...loved farming, if I remember. Codgy as an old @#%$ but was good to have with you in a fight."

His smile grew nearly whistful and then dark, "It was during our last battle that my father was throwing everything he had at us. We had positioned ourselves on a penninsula and had dug in. Daaz held the last line when the rebels drove in with their last push. We were in desperate straits...We had to hold if our plan was to work.. and Sergeant Tzhan made that happen. We owe our victory to him. The line would have crumpled and scattered if he had not badgered and beat the men till their fears dare not make it on the field. Captain Chandler was able to bring his TIE Interceptors across the desert and pound my father's army from behind."


Kaine's eyes misted. "Tzhan died there and his presence has been missed."


"You are very protective of those of the 256th."


"They are my family. Their loyalty is unquestioned. We went through hell and back supporting each other. The faint of heart and weaklings were cropped from our group long ago."

The general's eyes seemed thoughtful, returning to the original subject, "In a Fleet action, though, it's not so much the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> individual<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> efforts that turn the tide but the efforts of a <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> team<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> of soldiers. A ship comprised of people doing their individual part to have the ship perform it's duty and turn the tide of conflict in our favor. If a ship is destroyed, we lose much more. I think that is what makes commanding a Fleet battle much more stressful. The fact that you cannot get into the trenches with your soldiers and fight alongside them. I stand here amost impotent on the bridge of a powerful warship watching as masses of people die with each hull breach. <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> I<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> have to be the one to maintain the overall picture of the plan as other's carry out singular designs."


"Like Colonel Desaria? Captain Vorran?" Ciscero prompted as the shuttle was landing in the hanger of the Reign Class Star Destroyer.


Kaine nodded. "And Captain Chandler. All the Captains of the fleet have bits of the whole.. each has a 'tendril' which is critical to the overall mission."


"Which seems to be going well so far."


"Only because we've remained purposefully ambiguous and kept an Intel blackout on this entire operation from the start. This does not and cannot always happen. Right now, only a handful outside the fleet really knows where the First Legion of the Second Sentinel Division really is."

Ciscero laughed, "Yes, in attempting to track you, I found the that the military manifests listed the fleet in port at Muunilist."

Simon nodded, chuckling slightly, "I knew you'd try to find me enroute to Arcadia which is why I had soldiers intercept you and bring you aboard my ship before we made the jump to the Aridia Cluster."


"Was I..<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> am<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> I a tendril too?"

"After what you've seen on the planet's surface, do you even need to ask?"

Ciscero chuckled slightly at that and the two men, followed by Spartans, descended the ramp onto the landing bay of the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Galactus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->. Several levels later, the group of men entered a rather large room where the high ranking officials of the Brass Protectorate and Sentinel Fleets respectively situated around a rather large smooth black table. All members were standing, Kaine disliking seats during such important briefings. He felt it kept the men alert.

As he and Ciscero took their places in the empty spots around the table, the Spartans shut and sealed the door stationing themselves outside.


"Colonel Desaria. I am pleased to make your aquaintance. I fear I only know you by reputation. Captain Vorran. Captains.." Kaine nodded to those comprising Desaria's forces.

Simon turned to his own acknowledging Captain Chandler and
others and took time to introduce to the Colonel a man simply known as Ciscero.


"Now that we are all here. I feel it is time to expound on what our operation has been about and what your contributions in men and material are being spent on."

His even gaze raked across every man in the room.

"Gentlemen, what I am about to inform you is considered Classified at the highest priority. Violaters will be shot without mercy."

The group shifted a bit uncomfortably but Simon's lips spread with an ironic smile. "I say this because the information is of an extremely sensitive nature and I wish to make sure that fact is impressed on each and every one of you."


His hand went to a button and a holographic projection of a planet came into view as the lights automatically darkened. The planet seemed almost inhospitable with large stretches of wastelands marking the surface.

"I think it would be wise to start at the beginning to better understand our action here, our motivation, the need for secrecy and most importantly, the necessity of it."

General Kaine turned to the hologram.

"This is <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Gree<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, homeworld to a race of the same name and capital of what was once the Gree Enclave. The data is still coming in and most of this just found out from capturned scientists. However, suffice to say, that many hundreds of thousands of years ago this race of beings were at the pinnacle of their technological advancements; a technology that the Empire has yet to match in it's advancement."

Several people shifted.

"One of their greatest achievements was that of the hypergate, a portal that allows one to travel from one planet to another, crossing great distances without the use of starships. But, being aliens, their society and civilization collapsed leaving them only their technology which they no longer understand nor could they maintain. The gates became nothing more than mere religious icons."

Kaine stared at the others, as the image expanded and changed to show <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Gree<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> as well as several other systems.


"The rest is conjecture but we do know that The New Alliance came to this world, managed to get the gate system to work and was bartering this information to the Enclave for land. Documents were found on this world to support the conclusion that the Alliance was considering taking the planet we are orbiting in payment for this knowledge. There are numerous unfinished military and scientific bases all over the planet, a testament to show how quickly and suddenly the Alliance fell."


"I does appear, though, that the Alliance, though using the hypergate system did not know everything there was to know about Gree technology. When their government collapsed, all military support for this project suddenly dried up. At to be honest, no one seemed to care. At least no one in the New Republic (who were busy attacking Dantooine at the time) seemed to care and those who did: scientists, geologists, anthropologists, and researchers.. these were forced to find alternate sources of funding to continue investigating and uncovering the secrets of the Gree. Grants were issued and funded by private companies, one of them being Arliss Industries' own Interplanetary Expeditions, Inc. These types of companies are always on the lookout for new technologies to introduce to their contractors, in Arliss' case, the Imperial Military. Seamus Arliss, Executive Director of Arliss Industries, learned of this expedition and forwarded the scientists' funding proposal to me.

While these scientists talk of curing galactic hunger or some nonesense like that, the practical designs for warfare this technology offers was too important to pass up. All information about this proposal was censured and a plan was put into motion to capture this world we are now orbiting.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Planet 002<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->. It seems that the Gree Enclave are very protective of their worlds and forced any who would contact them to come to this planet. When the Alliance came here, they took over the duties of being the mediators between outsiders and the Gree."


A Captain from Desaria's group spoke up. "But why the haste?"


Kaine nodded approvingly. "Two reasons. One: because of a plan that Grand Admiral Zell thought up and has now been put into play. The technology of the Gree would make for an even smoother operation of that plan on a practical level. And two: Because another group of people were getting very close to the technology. The action on Belkadan led me to a pirate base near a planet I had been on as a boy...A planet near the Gree Enclave. The pirates were Chiss.."


And the group murmured at that.

"Even then, when I was a boy, they were expanding, though not on a unified front. I destroyed that Chiss base after Belkadan, but that base <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> had<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> to come from somewhere.

From their databanks, I learned of a Chiss staging area in this part of the Unknown Regions. A planet named <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Freughte<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, which we will discuss of later.

As it turns out, from data found at the base, these Chiss also had records of a raid conducted on a world being inhabited by the New Alliance. Now there is topographical data regarding this world but no known location. The records hint that the Chiss raid was conducted directly from Freughte."


Kaine then looked to Colonel Desaria.


"I've seen the report of the Chiss base you found. It was still manned, though lightly. That tells us how close the Chiss were to this place. How close they were to the hypergates."


Chandler drew the conclusion. "So we beat them to it."


"Exactly, Captain."


Kaine's attention turned back the hologram of the planets.


"Now that we know how we found this place and the reason for coming (and quickly), let me briefly run down what has happened so far."


<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Planet 002: Asation<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


A blue green planet near Gree was highlighted.


"Imperial Forces gained control of the planet with total surprise acheived. The compound is , in actuality, a city named Satikan. This is the Central Nexus system of the entire Gree hypergate network. Gree is not reached unless it is from Satikan.

Due to Asation's importance, this was the world of choice for the scientific parties and this was the world that Arliss Industries made us aware of.

Therefore, we have now secured Satikan from attack both from orbit and through the gates."


Chandler spoke up. "So then these gates could be activated offworld?"

"Correct. We believe that is how the Alliance originally came to this world. The captured Scientific Team identified a gate to a world known as Onyx. <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Onyx<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> was one of the last worlds taken by the Gree Enclave before their own technology was forgotten.

Research tends to suggest this world in the Chiss records and the world the scientific team alluded to with Gate Number 2 are one and the same. However, the gate seems to have been shut down on our end and with the fall of the Alliance, the research team just didn't reactivate it.

Whatever the case, Phase I of the operation was to take Satikan and the research Team by surprise. Phase II was to secure both the planet as well as Satikan and the constructs, or hypergates. With these things accomplished by the 256th, Brass Protectorate was to reinforce our position and make sure the planet held no surprises. As it turned out, it held a small Chiss base.

Phase III called for the activation of the system."


Vorran spoke up, "How could we activate the system if the Imperial scientists brought here do not know how to interpret, much less operate, the gates?"


"Our scientists are not the ones operating the gates. Our scientists are learning but it is moving slowly. Using our Inquisitor Damien and his brood, Phase II: taking the research team was handled very efficiently. The scientists are firmly under our control."

"With the Nexus of Seven gates, we needed to know where they went. From the records and computers left here, we found that <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Planet 003: Te Hasa<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Planet 004: Malanose<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Planet 005: Gree<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, and <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Planet 006: Licha In<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> were connected by way of the hypergates."



"But we didn't know their galactic coordinates."


"So once we activated the system, we sent hyperspacial transmitters to the destinations via the gates. When we received telemetry, we knew the coordinates to send our ships. And that is where most of Sentinel II operated and were."


Ciscero looked questioningly at Kaine. "Were?"

The General nodded. "At this moment (save for Gree) Te Hasa, Malanose, and Licha In have been secured and the fleets are now returning here. Our interdictor will meet each incoming fleet."

"If we aren't holding the planets, then..." another Captain asked.

"The hypergates were the important thing. Each fleet was to locate the gates on the world they came too and retreive them."


"You are going to set up the retrieved gates elsewhere and use the Nexus system to activate them yes?" Desaria asked.

Kaine nodded, "Very good Colonel."


"But it may be months before our people can figure out..." started one Captain.

"..and fifteen scientists hardly is reassuring." another interrupted.


"Fifteen researches does seem like a small number. However, that was the number here alone. We did not count those offworld on Licha In, Te Hasa, and Malanose. We have currently 55 scientists under our control and they are on their way back with the fleet."


"What of Gree?"


"Ahh yes, the world that spawned the technology in the first place. They too were sent a fleet but while we are going to remove their gate, we are going to hold the planet."


"Gree is rumored to have millions! And they are situated in only a few areas. Heavy concentrations.. so heavy that I do not think the entire Imperial Army could control."

Kaine smiled at the logistics.

"Sixty million to be precise. Unfortunately, Gree experienced a natural tragedy with their sun which reduced their population immensely. I don't think their hypergate is the main thing on their minds right now. That fleet is remaining with Spartan support and we will continue with that support until I am satisfied."


Kaine spread his palms out.

"So there you have it. In twelve hours, the Sentinel Division II Fleet arrives with three hypergates and one to follow. We have taken Asation and Gree for the glory of the Empire."


"So what remains now?"


"An enemy faction is growing ever closer to us, here in the Unknown Regions. We must quell their advance by taking their staging area.. their planet from which they are expanding on our sector.

Freughte."


He turned tot he Colonel of the Brass Protectorate Fleet.


"That is our next mission. Protect our new planetary aquisitions by delivering a preemptive strike against the Chiss world. With luck, they will be too surprised at our callous murder of them to put up a decent resistance."


"Any questions?"

Desaria stroked his chin as the other officers removed themselves from the briefing room. His commanders went first, then Kaine's the two milling about and talking as if they were two factions at a family reunion that had not seen each other for years. With an amused smile, Desaria stood, and moved towards the podium, bowing to the General.

" Yes, Colonel?"

" An excellent briefing, sir."

" Thank you. You know what we must do know?"

" I do. I was wondering if we might speak." He glanced at Ciscero, ever weary of Intelligence agents, his former executive officer having been 'transferred' by them. " Alone."

Kaine agreed, almost shrugging off the Intelligence agent. The Colonet hit a button on the wall, and two stepped into the corridor which ran along the starboard side of the hull, just above the gundecks. The floor below was transparisteel so one could see the deck below,-the windows to the left were made of the same. Planet 002 looked <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> interesting<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->.

When they had walked about twenty meters down the corridor, which one could walk two thousand, Kaine asked," Yes, Colonel?"

" Sir, I mean no dispresect, but isn't attacking the Chiss a little dangerous. The way I see it, there are three possible scenarioes, only one of which is good, since we know so little about them. A-Grand Admiral Thrawn would have been the nest they had, the pinnacle of their tactical evolution. No one was, is, or will be better than he. B-Thrawn was average. There were some worse, but, thee were some better. And, there were many that were just as good as he. C-he was the bottom of the barrel. All of the Chiss possess an inherent ability for tactical and strategic thinking. Their best fleet commander could take us into an asteroid field and whip four SSDs with a Carrack Cruiser. "

Kaine thought of the young Colonel's summation and turned to gaze into space, above the horizon of 002, Asation.

"Colonel, Tell me, when you first joined the Imperial Navy, did you know all there was to know about warfare? Did you know all there was to know about tactics?"

A slow smile spread across the General's lips. "So, then, did you simply stay home and never venture out into space because you didn't know enough?"

Before the Colonel could answer, Simon took a datapad and keyed in a sequence of numbers. A hazy picture of a Vlyx battlecruiser was seen. "This is a New Republic warship, Colonel. I know this because the Empire faced these things during their treacherous attacks on Dantooine and Muunilist. This picture was taken by a probe in the Unknown Regions. Tell me, Colonel, why is the New Republic here? Tell me, Colonel, why could we not track this vessel? Where is it being supplied? We know that the New Alliance's government fell and that the New Republic has assumed control over some of their worlds. With the New Alliance equipment on this planet below, how far did the Alliance stretch it's influence here? How deeply entrenched in the Unknown Regions is the Republic?"

Simon turned to Desaria. "That's just it, Colonel. We do not know," he almost whispered. "We know that the Chiss exist in this part of the galaxy but what is their strength? What is their numbers? Have they had contact with the Republic? You worry about fighting Chiss, imagine if the Republic swings a great number of Chiss to their misguided cause? Do we wait then to test our mettle against Chiss tactics?"

The General's voice grew hard. "You ask good questions, Colonel. Smart ones and I admire that. No one should blindly follow, especially where one's men are on the line but consider this:

A small pirate base near Arcadia was being supplied by materials from Freughte. Records were found in storage facilities left on the planet below indicating that Chiss from Freughte undertook raids against an Alliance world called Onyx. Why only two squadrons of fighter craft? The small Chiss base your people found here. It suggests that Freughte was expending these small amounts of forces because that's ALL it could afford to expend. That suggests that this Chiss world is acting independently from the whole.

Tell me, Colonel. How would you like to face the Chiss to test your soldiers and tactics? When the Chiss are divided or when they are united?

Colonel Desaria, Freughte is cut off. It's meager forces that have been expended we have crushed. Our soldiers will engage the Chiss on that world. Our soldiers will learn how they fight. Our soldiers will learn to know what to expect with Chiss tactics.

We know nothing of this region! You've stated this. Let's use this opportunity open to us to learn. We can only learn their tactics and our soldiers can only learn experience by engaging them. On their surface are Chiss schools of thought, histories, schools of war. We shall seize these and take them back to the Empire. We shall merge their knowledge with our strategic analysts so we are prepared. However great or small their knowledge of the surrounding area is, it is bound to be much more extensive than what we have have now.

How many other factions are entrenched in this region?

So we shall assault Freughte. Grand Admiral Thrawn was the best we've known. To assume that he will always be the best is shortsighted. Was he a mediocre Chiss strategist? Maybe he was. Maybe he wasn't. Whatever the case, even the best strategist is only as good as the material he has to work with. All evidence points to Freughte not having a fraction of the support Thrawn had with the Empire. You say that all Chiss possess this 'inherent' ability of tactical genius? I tell you I don't care if their children can command an Interdictor Cruiser. Only one devises the overall strategy. Only one devises the overall fleet actions and so it will only be that one we shall face... the only one that truly matters."

A wry smile crossed Kaine's lips. "If Thrawn was a mediocre Chiss, then I would expect nothing less of the best Chiss Fleet Commander to defeat four SSD's with a Carrack in an asteriod field. But would Chiss' best be spent on a fringe world? Or would he remain with the Chiss government proper and defend it?"

He put a hand on Desaria's shoulder. "You have the advantage of surprise. You have the advantage of having enough ships to strike hard very quickly. The Victory is due to return from Te Hasa soon. Their hypergate will be transferred to your fleet. You will also be assigned an Inquisitor and five Alliance scientists. If you can get the gate onto Freughte's surface, then we can activate it and send you the Spartans for ground support."

His wry smile turned feral. "I assure you, Desaria, the Chiss will not be expecting that. Once we've gained control of their planetary defenses (if any) then we shall blast their ships with their own guns."

"We are nearly blind in this space and we are trying frantically to catch up with knowledge we should have already. Help us get it. Help the Empire gain experience fighting these Chiss. Help us pull open the shades of mystery that surround this race. Help us to succeed."


Only when Colonel Desaria nodded did Kaine's hand leave his shoulder.

"Good luck, Colonel.. and good hunting."


The two men saluted and Kaine departed.

***

When the 'dignitaries' had left the Intimidator, Colonel Desaria brought his fleet into a delta formation, and began moving to the edge of the Abolisher fields and the system. When they would arrive, they would leap and arrive at Freughte, and lay siege to the Chiss. The officers were hopeful, though Desaria was not the only one retiscent about engaging another Thrawn...

But, he thought, nothing would stop him from doing his duty, either. Not Thrawn, or a thousand Thrawns...