The Hapan Consortium had lived even in the days of the Old Republic in perfect solitude and isolation, without interfering with the rest of the galactic cycle, without the oppurtunity to truly take steps into the larger galaxy. It was as if they were their own galaxy in and of itself, totally remaining secluded, yet not ignorant, of the happenings of the politics therein.

They had witnessed the rise of Palpatine's New Order, and its fall. They had witnessed the New Republic grow and prosper, and they had witnessed the Rogue Empire rise up and begin its soverignty of the galaxy. They witnessed the Titanic Wars of the Republic and Imperialistic New Order, and yet remained isolated.

When the rogue Emily Montague came and certified her position as Queen Mother, then swiftly passed it down to Chisaii Kyufou...it had torn the Cluster into a peril unforeseen. A conflict that was never seen before in the normally peaceful cluster.

A civil war had begun...a revolution. Those supporting Chisaii, had taken up arms against those demanding freedom from her ways. There was not much...tyrannical propaganda raising from Kyufou, but it seemed they did not want this strange outsider running their fate...especially with the closing conflict.

Thus the worlds of Charuba, Kletinar, and Maire versus Gallinore, Arabath, and Sceliarius, possibly even Hapes itself. The civil war would determine who controlled the Hapes Cluster...was the Queen Mother really in power?

Power to he (or she) who had the competence to rule. And now, with Chisaii betraying the Rogue Empire and sealing her fate with her little glorious government...its side was obvious.


**************************************************


The prominading ball that was proclaimed by the emperor in the great celebration hall of Imperial Palace was filled with humans and aliens alike, all cascading a contageous excitement and cheer for the occurance. Of course, none of them knew what it was for except the five representatives and the emperor himself.

His glowing crimson eyes flourished throughout the rest of the room, catching sight of several of the persons who had wanted nothing more than to reach the emperor for an interview. The PeFauna at his sides casted a feverishly dubious glow on the crowd to see to it none would harm their unrivaled master.

"Any sign of them yet?" he asked as he peered through the crowd, hoping to catch at least a glimpse of his diplomatic envoys.

"No sir," the filtered, and deep voided defender responded at his side. "But we shall continue to look."

A flotilla of dancers suddenly poured onto the dance floor as the latest jizz song flared up by the friendly Biths who had offered to assist the Rogue Empire with their music as the Alliance attempted to gain soverignty for the empire at Clak'dor VII.

His eyes fell onto a small group of five people, conversing with several Ryns as to something he could not make out from the distance at his throne. The Force told him there were no hostile intentions at this ceremony, so he decided to shrug and stand.

Making his way to the people, they finally turned their heads to him and smiled, seemingly pleased he left his royal guard at his throne.

"Your majesty Fearsons," the leading looking one said with a gruff tone. He had not shaved in days, and it was apparent in his scruffy-like beard. As he bowed, it appeared he had not...bathed either. "I am so honored you would meet with us scraffigans."

Fearsons simply smiled his charming smile and nodded his head. "The honor is all mine Ambassador. Tell me, what brings you all the way here from Hapes? We're not even on the same side of the galaxy," the emperor chortled as a good bit of the crowd around him joined in their laughter.

"Well seeing as you are the soverign of the galaxy thus far..."

Fearsons felt a blush form on his cheeks...he was not quite the soverign yet.

"I regret to inform you that Hapes is in a state of civil war."

He suddenly felt his emotions sink, the Hapan never warred, ever. The Force told him something was seriously wrong. But then again...that traitor Kyufou <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> was<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> the new queen mother.

"I see...and you are from...?"

"The rebels, sire."

"I see...why should I support you, over the Hapan Consortium?" Fearsons asked interrogatively. This is where the rebel ambassador felt a lump form in his throat.

"Believe me sire, we are in need of you...we are the just."

Fearsons pondered it for a moment...he did not want to just jump into a civil war with no true reason to do so. But then again...

"What would the Rogue Empire receive in return? Pardon me if it sounds selfish," he said suddenly, and it seemed to surprise all around him. The rebel's lips moved back into a straight line, then peeled into a lucious smile.

"We wish to condone and become that of your soverignty."

Fearsons' eyes lit up suddenly as he looked at them. "Wouldn't there be a bit of...contraversy to Rogue Imperial involvement for a soverign bribery?"

"There is no bribery...we have known the Rogue Empire has had its eye on the Hapes Star Cluster...this would work perfectly."

This made the emperor think for a moment, pondering the whole situation with keen thought. "I'll tell you what...I shall go over it with my commanders, and then I will get back to you...in the mean time a Frigate will arrive in your star system to mediate."

"Charubah?" Captain Sevear asked with apprehension in his voice in response to the comms officer who reported the current brief of news in orders. He brought a hand up to his wrinkling forehead and scratched, seeking his mind for reasonings. "The Hapan Charubah?"

"That'd be the one sir," the comms officer said over the captain's chamber's radio. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Why?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Did he give a reasoning?"

"Negative sir, apparently we'll meet with an envoy half where there to explain th situation."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> This isn't right...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

The <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Nebulan<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class C Frigate <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> was only fresh out of the factory, and had never seen true combat...though those on it were those transferred from the downed <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Imperial<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Star Destroyer <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Air Pirate<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->.

"Ok then, I guess we'll have to set the coordinates for the Hapan System, try to avoid Hapes itself...we aren't on the best of terms with them."

"Yes sir."



****************************************************


As the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> tilted away from the hyperspace vector it had strode in on, it seemed like the planet itself was in glee of its arrival. According to the commander of the previous Hapan Nova Battle Cruiser they had docked with...they were going to assist in a rebellion, trying to free them from the rest of the Hapan Consortium.

Usually the Rogue Empire had not condoned to the assistance of rebellions, but this time it seemed to be only proper. Of course...Captain Sevear didn't quite know why.

"Sir we're nearing the Charubah system of space as we speak," the vice of the ship, Lt. Commander Fileda, reported eagerly.

"Thank you," the captain said with a smile.

He watched through the transparisteel viewport, watching as the envoy of Hapan Rebel TIE Interceptors moved around to escort the craft in.

Several of the Frigate's own TIE Fighters moved out to form a sputtering pattern of defense around the Rogue Imperial craft. They could never be too careful...especially around rebels.

"Attention Rebel craft, escort us into Charubah, and we shall seek asylum, preparing our strategies of uprising," Sevear reported until finally the Frigate, looking like a Nova Battle Cruiser in and of itself, was pulled into one of the dry docks of the rebel planet.

Charubah was a beautiful world with ebony and scarlet features raying beautiful shots of hazing light outward in an ominous, yet welcoming glow. The Frigate <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> was welcomed with open arms to the Nova Battle Cruisers and Hapan Battle Dragons that the Charubahn Rebels had in their arsenal. It certainly wasn't much, but it was enough to impress small organizations.

Captain Sevear felt a tinge of worry bellow in his system as he watched the cruisers surround the Frigate somewhat clumsily. The weapons seemed to be deactivated, but he was yet afraid that something was wrong. As much as logic informed him that there was no reason to attack the Frigate, Sevear was always uneasy around rebels, especially those rebelling from the Hapan Consortium.

He watched hideously as the spherical Battle Dragons encircled the ship with all their might, and yet he knew nothing of them, he had never studied Hapan history. But from what he understood, they were armed to the teeth.

His eyes dazzled over to the comms officer in her small corner, fiddling with nobs and buttons on the Rogue Imperial console. "Lt. Ariaju, patch me up a link with the Batlte Dragon <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Infurious<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->."

"Yes sir," she responded, brushing some hair out of her face as she said so. After a moment or two of pause, there was a small hum, and the life size figure of the Hapan Battle Commander appeared in front of the captain.

"Greetings Commander," Sevear hailed dignantly. There was a brief nod from the commander.

"Greetings Captain Sevear, I am Commander Bel'Jo of the Hapan Resistance, I am honored to have you here, a Rogue Imperial Frigate does wonders for morale, especially at diminishing the enemy's," the Hapan Commander said cheerfully and excitedly. Sevear felt a ping of pain as he thought that he had to break the news and tarnish the man's excitement.

"Well Commander Bel'Jo, I regret to inform you, we are not here to 'liberate' you just yet." The disappointment hit the commander instantly, and it was obvious in his facial tones.

"Oh?"

"Yes Commander, you see, until we get a full detail and scale of the situation, we are only here to mediate hostilities between you two."

"I see....well then you will see plenty of action." This time it was the captain's turn to become confused.

"Oh?" he asked inquisitively.

"Aye, the Consortium are not tolerating rebellion, just yesterday we took three ship losses," Bel'Jo said sadly.

"I see, what was the provocation?"

As much as it seemed to pain the commander, Sevear was quite interesed in war stories, especially of defense against hopeless odds. "Well you see...we were on a diplomatic mission to get a few other planets to uprise as well, and it turned out the Consortium got a whiff of what we were doing, and sent in Battle Dragons and three TIE Defenders...they handed our asses to us, pardon my slang."

"I see...well then, we'll base ourselves around Charubah," said Sevear. "Ok then, Captain Sevear, out."

The hologram dispersed out, and he sighed sadly. Most civil wars were very quiet with tiny pings of action, but the way the commander described it, the Consortium were fighting in a painful war that demanded the crush of the rebellion.

"Get battle stations at alert, we're going to move around the system and figure out what's going on, get TIE Interceptors out on a preliminary patrol...do not fire unless fired upon."

True enough, there were three TIE Defenders patrolling Deep Space around Charubah, possibly the mightiest fighters in the Consortium Fleet. There were also a good two or three Nova Battle Cruisers and two Battle Dragons, though smaller than the rebel fleet it was no doubt far more prestigeous and well trained, with a brand new paintjob adorning the beautiful Battle Dragons.

Captain Sevear looked around the well staffed <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Nebulan<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class C, or Class-B2 Frigate and watched the eyes staring right back at him. A Frigate on a mediation mission was never of easiest circumstances, especially if the Consortium were anti-Rogue Imperial...by the time they signaled help, they would no doubt be destroyed by the time the signal reached hom.

"Attention Rogue Imperial Frigate <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, you are intruding in Consortium Space, and you shall turn and flee at once, do not mettle in Queen Mother Affairs!" the captain of the dragon <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Che'Tar<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> ordered with a blanketing demand.

There were a few rapid blinks from the Rogue Imperial captain, he was quite surprised at the sudden aggression from normally peaceful isolationists.

Seeing as there was already a message uplink, he did not bother asking for a patch. "Attention, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Che'Tar<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, this is the Frigate <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, we are here under direct orders of the emperor, cease any hostilities toward the Rogue Empire at once."

"Negative, this is a Queen Mother issue, leave this space at once or be destroyed."

Sevear's eyes went wide suddenly, to leave would be a sign of weakness, and the rebellion would be in shambles, if they did not leave, it would appear to be aggression.

He turned his head to the battle control officers, gritting his teeth together angrily. "Charge the laser batteries, prepare for combat vectors," he shouted, without missing a beat.

"Weapons charging sir."

Battle dragons and Novas, especially in this quantity, would easily take down the Rogue Imperial Frigate, but at least they could take down a Nova, maybe two.

Sevear gulped his fear down, and gripped the comm link once again. "Attention Consortium craft, this is your last chance, cease hostilities or we will fire."

His eyes suddenly went wide as green turbo lasers seered from the battle dragons directly toward the infrastructure, and before any countermeasures could be taken, or anyone could even react, the slow moving lasers smashed into the hull, eating away at the shields destructively.

"Weapons charged?" Sevear shouted as he regained his balance from the sudden blast.

"Aye sir!" the helmsman yelled back. Sevear groped his hands around the railing leaning toward the transparisteel viewport, his eyes glued on the ships moving around him.

"Fire!"

Green lasers shot back in turn from the Rogue Imperial Frigate, slowly moving back at the Battle Dragons, eating away at its shields as well. More blasts shot back in retaliation, only to be returned by the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->.

"Shield read out?"

"Seventy percent."

"Sithspawn!" Sevear cursed as his knuckles turnd white from lack of blood.

"TIE Defenders inbound sir," the helsman reported, his eyes equally glued onto the console screen.

"You're serious?!" Sevear demanded with great concern.

"Roger sir, TIE Interceptors attempting to intercept."

The TIE Defenders were obviously well more put out to battle a Frigate than TIE Defenders were, and with smoothe teeth clenching onto his bottom lip, Sevear knew that there would be little hopes of survival.

"Laser batteries concentrate on defenders, turbo lasers on the enemy novas, they're getting too close and can fire too frequently."

Another series of blasts rang against the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->.

"Twenty percent," cried the helmsman.

"Fire!"

More green turbo lasers shot back from the Frigate, slowly but painfully smashing against the first enemy Nova Battlecruiser.

"Report on enemy shields."

"Dragon One is at ninety percent, Nova One is at forty."

"Concentrate on Dragon One."

"Yes sir."

As the bellied shots rang from either sides in unison, casualties began to ring up on the deck of the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> to those who were unfortunate enough to be hit full on by explosions or raining nova-like blasts.

The bridge's power constantly flickered off and on, sparks raining down from the ceiling. The TIE Defenders were nearing, and Sevear felt his gut drop suddenly. As the smaller and faster lasers hit one of the TIE Defenders, it appeared the shields withstood the attack beautifully.

"Ok thrust engines, twenty percent from cannon power, port it at ninety degrees, yaw and pitch need to be adjust accumatively."

"Aye sir."

The frigate attempted to rotate itself at a ninety degree angle, transversing the shields appropriately in a defensive posture. The engines of the Frigate attempted to shields itself to defend from "blind spot" attacks.

Turbo lasers shot again at the Nova, and it seemed to decimate the Consortium battleship, causing it to lose its bridge like it was nothing. Starting a chain reaction throughout the ship, it finally sent nova-like explosions throughout the structure, and it ended its days.

"Attention Rogue Imperial Frigate <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, have it your way, we will be back," the radio flared, and the Consortium craft turned to flee. Letting out the breath he didn't realize he was holding, Sevear let go of the cold railing, he spun to face the helmsman once again.

"Dispatch rescue shuttles," he ordered without even thinking about the damage. "Pick up anyone who survived."

"Yes sir," the helmsman responded.

"What's the damage assesment?"

"Twenty percent weapons offline, external life support off line, hyperdrive offline, shields teetering at nine percent, sublight drive at twelve percent. Weapons failing, comms failing, forty casualties."

Sevear exitted out his sigh and nodded his head as the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Lambda<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Shuttles moved out to pick up the survivors. Obviously the Consortium craft were not expecting to cause casualties...but how were they supposed to respond?

"Send out a distress signal to our <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Provider<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Repair Ship, have him come out here for repairing."

"Yes sir."

With quivering hands, Captain Sevear took the drink of Tukelian Whiskey toward his mouth, drinking the first few sips with hesitancy. He was still shooken up from the sudden outrageous attack by the Hapan Consortium, and it showed in his demeanor. Weapons had flared only a half an hour ago, killing almost a hundred good people because one admiral disapproved of mediation. Two TIE Interceptors had been destroyed, one of the pilots dying in the process.

His quarters were eased to accomodate him and at least four other guests, but it appeared he would be the only one resting there. With Bith Jizz tunes flaring over his radios, he tried to soothe himself, trying to calm from the battle. It had been a long time since he'd fought, since the Battle of Yaga Minor, and even then his Lancer Frigate only destroyed two Y-Wings.

The thought that he was responsible for the deaths of so many personnel haunted him, he felt as though their ghosts would curse him with the guilt panging into his side.

However, now his ship was drifting aimleslly into space, with no hyperdrive and a failing sublight drive, they had to somehow survive until the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Provider<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-Class Repair Ship arrived to fix them enough to get them out and into mediation again.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> We need more fire power...a single Frigate is nothing compared to these Battle Dragons.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Watching the transparisteel viewport that was placed considerately to watch for any potential enemies that could hit near his quarters. He hoped to the Force that there would be no one coming, his ship was in awful condition, it could not possibly repel another Consortium attack.



*****************************************************



The air around Longhorn Base was crisp and polluted from the constant hailing of bombs and laser shots from both sides continued to exchange, breaking only for mere hours at a time. For days the battle had raged in victory of neither side, but only recently the Consorts as they were called began their final aggression against the forces of Hapan Rebels.

With TIE Advanced newly produced from the factory and just barely reaching the rebel base in time, with their mass array of bombs pouring down onto the upriser's base, setting most of the forest around them on fire and destroying the last two AT-ST's they had.

More laser blasts shot down onto the rebel base, killing off several of the infantry trying to run for cover, and though the sky was thick with ash and soot, blasts were returned, trying desperately to destroy the two TIE Advanced.

Unfortunately, with the Rogue Empire distracted with their Frigate nearly destroyed in space, they could not assist the rebels in the ferocious assault on their poor base, and thus it was being completely routed out.

It seemed...it would only be a matter of time.

The debriefing had taken its wear on the pilots, and Lt. Childs of the 97th Fighter Squadron had found his relief in the prestigeous <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor's<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> welcoming tavern. He sat on the bar stool sipping down whatever troubles he'd had, reeling away the memories of his lost comrade. Of course it seemed childish that he was trying to drown out his sorrows...but he decided it was time to take a childish resort...he was never allowed that oppurtunity.

Despite the bartender's suggestions of stopping, he decided not to, against his better judgement. A Sullustan Red Eye as was called his current refinement, Gamma 11, as was his designation, threw the glass back down on the bartop.

"Hey man you'll get over it," the bartender tried to soothe, to no avail.

"I don't care..." the pilot grimaced with a tentuative stroke of the glass. He watched as the barmaid refilled the drink. He hissed a sudden cry of discontent and looked around the small, cerluean lit room.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I could've saved him...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Closing time!" the bartender suddenly yelled, much to the grief of those in the bar. There was no better way for one to spend their time on the ship, what with the whole paralysis and all, morale needed to remain high, it could be a long time before they got any help. And a fighter raid could concur at any second.

Lt. Childs marched down the decks away from the bar, heading toward one of the barracks installed in the frigate. The <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> was a great craft, and fresh out of the factory too, but its most recent attempt at quelling a rebellion had proven its lack of capabilities at mediation missions.

What did the Hapan have in store for the Rogue Imperial Frigate? How long were they to wait for some unseen predicament?

He sighed as he reached his barrack, 119A. There was one more empty bunk now...and it was indeed a treagedy. He sighed with discontent, peering at the empty locker that was once Seatora'Depoartoae'Valeorpae, the only Chiss fighter pilot in the Rogue Imperial Navy.

Jaina C. H. Solo-Darklighter---an old ally of TRE---was leaned back in the captain's chair of her YT-1300, the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Millennium Jade Falcon<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> (or MJF, for short). She jumped to her feet groggily and grabbed up her com, who's loud beeping and squelching had taken her from her nap in the first place:

"Yeah yeah yeah, Captain Darklighter here. What d'ya what?"

A crisp, military style voice replied, " Jaina Solo-Darklighter? This is the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->. A TRE ship in the Hapes Cluster, in need of your help, Ma'am. Our emperor, Fearsons, has said you were the one to contact in time of crisis. Our hyperdrive has become faulty and we are in need of another. Can you deliever one to us?"

At the mention of Fearsons, Jai smirked...<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Fearsons needs my help, eh? Well well well...why not?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, she thought.
"Ok, kid...I'll be there ASAP."

The voice on the other end said a good luck and cut transmission. Jai set down her com and set course for the nearest HyperDrive merchant.

------------------------------------------------------------

After aquiring the lastest in HD's for frigates like the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, Jai aimed her MJF to the Hapes Cluster...

It didn't take long to happen upon the coordinates of the Nebulan-Class C Frigate, and getting permission to land took mere seconds. Jai docked and immedatly had 10 masculine beings---all alien except one that might have been a half-breed---board her ship and take the HD out and away, she guessed to be installed...

Jaina stepped out of the MJF and into the HangarBay. As she watched the 10 men/males haul the hyderdrive across the hangar-bays, a young, human, female lieutenant approached her, clipboard in hand, "There a good looking bunch, arent they?"

Jaina turned to her and raised an eyebrow, "Uh yeah, I guess...if you like that non-humanoid relationship."

It was now the lieutenant's turn to give Jai a look, "I beg your pardon...oh..you thought...!!!", the young woman laughed lightly. "No Ma'am, I didn't mean it that way. I was complimenting you on your squad. They look like a bunch of brave, strong guys. They ought to be a fine special-ops squadron."

Jai smirked and clasped her hands behind her back, "My squad, eh?"

"Oh yes, Ma'am. You and your ship and the Disruptor Squad have been re-commisioned. Your all part of TRE agian.", she smiled and handed Jaina the clipboard she was holding---which gave the formalities of it all.

"I see.", Solo-Darklighter commented looking over the decree, signed by Fearsons' own hand. "And who might you be, by the way?"

The young woman came to attention and clicked her heels together, giveing a perfect salute, and stateing in a firm crisp tone, "Lieutenant Miranda X'ihi, 2nd class. Your personal aide for your stay aboard the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->. Reporting for duty, Commander Darklighter."

Jaine laughed, "At ease, kid. If your gonna be my aide, you've gotta ease off on the formalities. And the name's Jaina or Jai...but if ya got to, just call me Commander."

Miranda nodded.

Jai continued, "All right then, kid. What's first on my agenda?"

"Well," The young woman checked her datapad, "Your mission from Emperor Fearsons is to deliver the HD..which you've done. Next is to install it, then escort or guide the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> safely to Charubah."

Jai sighed and sighed and rolled up her sleeves, stepping back up in her ship to grab her toolbelt, "We best get to work then..."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Later on...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Jai found out only 5 of the alledged squad really turned out to be Disruptors. The 5 consisted of a half-breed, a chiss, a rodian, a twi'lek, and a zabrak. All of which could speak basic---broken and heavily accented---but basic, none the less. They had all come from rather gray backgrounds, and Jai liked it that way...seeing as she had too.
Therefore, as they all installed the new hypderdrive into the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->'s matinence level, the group sounded more and more like old drinking buddies by the minute.

When the 5 "men" and Jai emerged back up from matinence and up to the bridge, the well-dressed, firmly pressed Captain of the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> C&H<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> didn't know wheter or not to let a bunch of oil-stained, smudge-covered scoundrils run his ship through Hapen territory...but an explination from Lt. Miranda and a showing of ID cards and dog-tags wavered him to release commander for a bit.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Jai clasped her oil-slicked hands behind her and stood in a military fashion. She set coordinates for a straight shot to Charubah...a risky situation, but Jai had a plan if interference came up. And with the luck the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> had had so far, it---of course---did...right as they came out of hyperdrive...

"This is the Charubah Space Patrol, state your business, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->."

The whole bridge cringed and all eyes were on Jaina, who just had a cool expression on her face..she replied over the bridge's com: "This is the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> C&H<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->'s temporary captain, Patrol. Jaina Darklighter. Our business is this: this craft's hyperdrive went out and me and my men had to install a not-so-great one to get us to the nearest planet...which just happened to be here...in order for us to purchase a sutible HD for this hunk of junk."
None of that was true, of course...but lieing certainly wasnt past Jai.

A lethal moment of silence ensued...everyone held thier breath on the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> C&H<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->...everyone except Jaina.
"<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Courage and Honor<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, you have permission to land. Welcome to Charubah."

With that Jai cut com transmisson and gave the astonished captian back command with a cocky, "told-ya-so" smirk...

"We don't stand a damn chance!" Major Cretain yelled at the top of his lungs, trying to pitch his voice above the blasters' loud, panging shots to Colonel Hagime'Delalt. The remaining of the defending Rebel infantry were burying themselves in the last surviving trench as the Hapan forces advanced menacingly.

The once beautiful forest of Charubah was now up in flames, and what could have been declared a glorious habitat for all of nature was now tossed dirt, desperately mangled barricades, and destroyed emplacements.

Dark, black soil replaced green grass, blood pools replaced streams, and piles of corpses replaced trees.

Colonel Hagime'Delalt grabbed the major and held his face close to his own. "Listen to me Major, we have to hold out just a while longer, we can make it, we'll get some repulsor tank back ups soon."

"We can't wait that damn long!" the major screamed back. The 27 year old man's face was downed with blood and dirt, and desperation was protrayed in his eyes. The Hapan Rebels were forced to promote even the youngest in their ranks to officers due to the mass amount of deaths in such short times.

The distinct roar of Twin Ion Engines was amplified over the base of the Hapan Rebels, and the petrifying horror of the reconciliation of the TIE Advanced was well seen.

"They're back! Hit the deck!" the colonel screamed, throwing the younger soldiers on the ground and climbing atop them. An uncountable series of bombs whistled out of the TIEs, smashing into the ground and blowing shrapnel and hordes of soil upward.

Screams amplified over the laser blasts, indicating the deaths of several more good soldiers.

The colonel, grabbing his out-dated E-11 BlasTech rifle, leapt to the edge of the trench and unload what was left in his power pack with awesome intensity toward the hidden soldiers, knowing somewhere he'd killed something.
e i
It seemed there would be no hope for the rebellion.

However, just as the final thoughts of surrender began reeling into his mind, the colonel saw the TIE Advanced erupt in flames, and the Consortium suddenly give full flight. As the hoots and hollers began appearing, the colonel peered up to see what had caused the destruction...the Rogue Empire had arrived.