**

During the Coalition-Sovereignty War: Means to an End...


The dangers of entering the system were not so much in the physical aspects of wreckage, but the gravity shadows cuased by those physical dangers themselves. While the system was relatively clear of hazard to even the most green pilot, the hyperspace view of things was a disruptive tangle of shadow and unpassable entry. It was with technology that this could be bypassed. The Dameun Hyperdrive was a breakthrough, while it couldnt pass through the actual gravity mass of the object itself, it was able to pass through the surrounding shadow cuased by the object. This method of travel reduced an excrutiatingly long travel of multiple jumps and entry corridors into a clear cut path of direct travel.

It was such that they had gotten this far, orbiting the Gas Giant known as Endor itself, opposite of the small forest moon bearing the same name. They were not keeping a synchronous orbit to the planet, though, they held steady and allowed the moons abnormaly quick orbit to take it to them. They were a full ready combat initiative, shields raised, weapons powered, Interdictors ready, all secondary systems ready.

Five of the Ghosts stood out against the backdrop of space, above and below them were two by two layers of Ghouls. A Reaper, Liege and Banshee lone sat behind this wall, as onlookers in a game of chess. There were other ships in the system, but they were cleverly hiding in range, masking themselves in the natural terrain....


.....Two of the Ghosts moved into a course heading to land on the surface near the location of the planetary defense weapon, as the two phages engaged into operation, their own pulsars seeming unesscesary against the dead shield generator as they began their descent into the populated areas of the world, the military population.





Taken From New World Order: Devil in the Dark...


Groder Stu was a rather rotund person with scraggly hair and a jolly face. And yet it was because of talents like his that the Empire was what it was today.


And just what was the Empire?


Ask anyone and get a different answer. The irony of battering away at antiquated notions of morality by an organization dead set on the destruction or domination of everything that stands in it's path.


Just not as directly as before.



Simon Kaine had seen to that and perhaps he had found the key. A way to keep people off balance as the Empire expanded beyond even what Palpatine envisioned.


Turn their religions, their moralities and notions agains them.


In a game of my word verses your word, who really comes out on top?



Groder saw the rising of Arliss Towers as the transported changed direction and headed for the greatest monument to greed in ages.


He wondered just what game would be played here?


He did not work for private citizens but Mr. Seamus Arliss had generously paid for the use of his time and so Groder allowed passage to be booked.


Now, excitement ran through the man, not because he'd be seeing the Queen Bitch of the Galaxy, Jenice Arliss but because he'd be meeting someone with "New Order" Clearance.


It was a level played on by relatively a few and there were no references to it though there were hints.


With the removal of Simon Kaine as Grand Marshall, INS had been blindsided. The new Emperor, Hyfe, began a series of actions that increased his visibility within the Imperial Hierarchy and INS was eating it up.


The Second Emperor since Palpatine.


But why remove Kaine as Grand Marshall? Was there something going on that they did not know about?

When he queried Simon Kaine in their military database, he saw that Kaine was still Supreme Commander of Imperial Military Forces so Kaine's actual power had not changed.

But that was not the perception. Many felt that the former Grand Marshall had angered the Emperor and might be slated for execution.


But that was stupid.


Why destroy one of the greatest military minds of our generation on a whim?



There was something else going on. Groder felt it. And he knew it was also going unnoticed by INS with the rise of the Empire's second emperor.


Such feints were common with Kaine, leaving one not knowing where to turn or what to believe.


When Kaine goes to ground, you know something is going to happen.


Something major!








The metal object had been floating, enmeshed in the gas giant's ionizing atmosphere, a holdover from Emperor Palpatine's grand but futile trap for the Rebellion: The Second Death Star.

Rendered inoperable, it floated there unhindered.





"Grapplers are in place, Commander."


The Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces, Simon Kaine turned at the order and moved over towards the scanning pit.

The final voyage of the Galactus before it's refit was to take place had led Kaine around the various parts of the Empire on a tour of it's defense platforms, stations, troop commands and fleets. Given the outcome of the war, morale was at an all time high and it looked to remain that way for a while.

The Dragon destruction wrought to Endor was something of a concern however as the planet had passed to the New Order. Already medical ships and clone warriors were being sent into the chaos generated by the Phage. Still, initial analysis proved encouraging as Bhindi Drayson's warfleets ringed the world in an electromagnetic field of ionized particles.

With Endor under quarantine and containment achieved, it wouldn't be long until Sovereignty survivors as welll as the first contact teams could be retrieved.

The Galactus was about to leave the area in Bhind's capable hands when her scanners picked up an anomaly inside the orbit of Endor, the gas giant.

The readings coming back from the advance patrol drew Kaine's attention and as he stared at the grappling monitor at what they had, a slow smile formed.


This would change everything!

Captain Thorton..."

I am not in the mood for this

"Captain Thor..."

"Damn it corporal," he shouted, "This is the 3rd time today" he screamed bitterly. "Get back to your station and do your job instead of bothering me."

"But sir..." he said, interrupted before he could finish.

"NOW!," he screamed, not caring if anyone overheard, which was probably for the best, because several of the nearer crewers were looking over at him and the young officer, muttering among themselves in soft voices. As Kach looked at them each in turn they turned back to their duties.



They might obey him, or even admire him, but they did not respect him. He could see how unnerved the officers were, being ordered around by a former smuggler. He could see the crewers, muttering among themselves about his frequent outbursts whenever they thought he wasn't looking.



But in turn, he didn't respect them back. They were always trying to stretch the rules, and the lieutenants below him always seemed incapable of any independent thought, having to ask him about every little thing happening on the ship and around it.



He had always had an anger management problem, but this was ridiculous. Two or Three times a day he'd blow his top at some slow witted lieutenant or corporal because they couldn't do a simple task. Ask your superiors, not me, he'd always thought.

In the beginning he'd made a futile attempt to conceal his anger, but it was a lost cause. Four days after arriving on the Akagi he'd lost control when some unlucky deck officer asked if they should upgrade the navicomputer with the coordinate of some unknown star or something. It didn't really matter.

Why did I even bother responding to the draft order?

It's not like they would send a bounty hunter after him, at least, not a professional. And any amateur that happened to come by him he could easily dispatch.

It went far deeper. He was out trying to find his place in the Universe, and it just felt right. He didn't understand why he, a former smuggler, would join the Faction that was hardest on smugglers.



A feeling that told him "This, This is what you are searching for." He didn't know why, but when he had a feeling like this, he knew better than to ignore it, they were usually right.

Up on the bridge status monitors, a pending light turned yellow next to a 30-second countdown, now slowly descending, as the six carriers and four cruisers in his little flotilla departed into hyperspace.

29...28...27...

Maybe they would get it right this time.

And to what purpose? What did it matter to the crews? Only himself and the captains of the other 5 cruisers knew just what the point of these exercises were.

Besides, what were the odds? This was the fourth attempt of the day, and the closest they had managed to jump to the 40 Kilometers specified by high command had been 20 too far out. In the 6 weeks they'd been training they'd only hit the 40-klick mark 5 times.

19...18...17

By now, the starfields of realspace had changed into the blue hue of hyperspace. He'd always liked hyperspace. In it you were completely isolated from the rest of the galaxy. It was as close to peace as you could get. No holo-broadcast news alerts, no damn subordinates...

3...2...1...

All around the Akagi, the blue fires of hyperspace turned to starlines, and the starlines to stars as it returned to realspace. And, in a parade ground perfect re-entry, the Zukaku, Hokaku, Hiryu, Soryu, and Kaya all reverted to realspace in a flanking diamond formation.

On the Center status consul, the flotilla registered 37.2 klicks away from the target asteroid.

Against all odds they had done it.

"Perfect," he said softly while trying to hide a smile. "Launch fighters, use attack pattern Zeta."

Zeta, the attack strategy that had been invented just for the upcoming campaign.



Up ahead of the Akagi, a symmetrical cloud of TIE Defenders and Interceptors spread out, behind them, the fleets TIE Bombers spreading out in a Rotte formation that would give them the ability to support each other.

Amateurs

True, but you could almost see the effort.

"Mithel," he said as calmly as possible, "Prepare me a ship so I can observe the attack."

"Yes sir," he replied. "Would you like one of our shuttles, or perhaps you would like to take out your own ship this time?"

At the words own ship, Kach felt a pang of guilt. He hadn't taken he Stormhawk out since he arrived on the Akagi. He had to pull alot of strings to get allowed to keep it on board, but in the end they allowed him. But the higher ups in the fleet command didn't see why he wanted it on board.

They'll just never understand.

That ship, as any smuggler would say about his or her own, was so much more. For more than a decade of his 32 years it had been his home. And, as any smuggler would once again say, that ship was a part of him nothing else would fill. In hyperspace her drives would sing him to sleep, and on at least 3 occasions she had fired before he had pressed the triggers.

He felt a pang of guilt

"No, Lieutenant," he said,"Give me one of the TIE Defenders."

Inside, the Lieutenant must have been suprised, because for a brief moment his eyes got wider before he could suppress the gesture. But after his outburst earlier, he knew better than to argue.

"It will be done sir," he said submissively, motioning the Captain towards one of the Turbolifts on the near side of the bridge and stepping away. It's operator had already stepped into it when he arrived.

The young man worked obediently and silently, entering the operating code of the lift and the destination number of the bay where his TIE Defender should be warming up as he rode towards the carriers massive hangers.

Ah, now here was a man he could respect.

He did exactly what he was ordered to without questioning them, as miniscule as his duties were, and he did it silently. Then, finished, he stood at a tension in the corner opposite Kach.

The doors opened, and as he walked out the solder voiced a courtesy "Good Day sir," to the captain, without a hint of even wanting to talk.



And, possibly the only person on this ship he truly respected.

30 seconds later, his ships ion drives screaming, his TIE Defender rocketed into space.

* * *

Nes Toyer didn't know why the fighter crews had to be at their stations. This was the fourth try today at a close proximity jump, and only 5 of many had been successful.

Now for four hours him and the Black Knights had been stuck in their cramped TIE Defender cockpits, sitting silently waiting for launch orders.



Twice he had turned down promotions to the flight operations officer on some Star Destroyer or heavy cruiser. He just couldn't see why they would want to leave the intrusting and exciting jobs like flying just to sit at a desk all day. The pay wasn't all that better until you reached a high rank like Captain or Colonel.




And as if to answer his non-existent prayer, a voice came on the com-link.

"All squadrons," the flight controller said, voice distorted by the nearby magnetic air lock, "Prepare to launch on my mark"



"All right, let's go, all squadrons launch now."

"Acknowledged," he replied, pushing his TIE Defenders throttles forward. "Black Squadron, let's go," he ordered as his fighter shot out of the bay...

...and into the vaccume of space. Shooting through the air lock, around him he could see the first of the 400 fighters emerging from the carriers, Some close enough to see the pilots heads turning in the cockpits, others so far away they appeared to be mere pinpricks of light. Behind the vanguard of fighters, the wing of TIE Bombers the ships carried formed up.

Up ahead, a pair of Ferro class medium cruisers were in a position where they could conceivably jam an enemies communications or deal with any light cruisers or corvettes a target might have protecting it.

So long ago...

His first assignment had been on a Ferro. Even though he had been flying Twenty some year old TIE Fighters, it had still been a valuable experience, learning to master flying.

His next assignment had been on an Imperial Star Destroyer, model III. This was his first chance to use a Defender, and in several actions he managed to be promoted to wing commander.

His skills must have caught someone's attention, because his next assignment was on a carrier stuck training for some unknown mission.

He didn't know whether it was good or bad.

Now, for six weeks they had been training to jump to just 40 klicks from a target, and nobody had a damned clue what it was.



Behind the cloud of ships, a loan TIE Defender emerged from the bays. A straggler.

Those who fall behind are left behind.

Just one of the maxims and philosophies drilled into him and every other cadet at the academy, though this was one he didn't believe in. He just never understood, what made a comrade so unworthy as to be left to a certain death because they were simply a little behind.

Brass...

"Sir," a voice crackled over the radio, "Should we slow down for him?"

"No," he replied. "Those who fall behind, are left behind."


* * *

Kach had always really hated these TIE Fighter pressure suits. It wasn't that they were itchy and uncomfortable, that he could live with, but the fact that the eyepieces restricted your view to a 30-degree chunk of what’s ahead of you.



He hated the restrictions it placed on his senses. He had gone so far to avoid conditions like this to not even wear sunshades on desert planets, preferring to grin and bare it.

He hated it, losing all his perifial vision and having to move his head instead of his eyes to see something.

Below him, bombers made an attack run on an atmosphere dome before turning off to the next target. What 15 minutes before had been a fully functional and modern mining facility was now a smoking ruin.

I may not respect them, but I have to admire their work.

True, true, but just how much of a role did luck play, as opposed to precisian and discipline?

In life, he had learned to three things. How to fight, how to fuck, and that the only one who could help you consistantly was yourself. Thus, over time, he had withdrawn inward, preferring to rely on himself as opposed to another. The only other person he had really trusted was Jesh, and now Jesh was presumed dead.

Damn it, life wasn't fair. Well, maybe that was rule number four. The Galaxy is against you. But it really didn't matter, what was past was gone, and dwelling on the future is pointless. Once the first shot is fired, even the best plan becomes useless.

He had made several attempts at one time or another to sit down and think about these kinds of things, and during a brief 3 weeks on Triffis during his soul searching he even considered writing a book on the meaning of life to himself.

Naturally, nothing had come of it. He was a man of action, not a philosopher, though he did enjoy discussing and thinking about the subject.

Crash! his left Radiator panel struck an antenna to his left, putting him into a flat spin. It was no problem to correct, but it show just how deep in though he had been. The fighters were already halfway to the ship, leaving him alone over the wasteland asteroid.

"Sir, are you returning," came the agitating voice of the flight controller. The same man he had released his anger on an hour ago.

"Yes, hold on." he said to shut him up.

A place where he could be alone, with no damn subordinates...

Λ

INTERIM

Undisclosed Self-Sustained Research Station...


Kaine looked at the transmission of the research scientist has the other man went through his report. With a source of funding from the reparations due to the execution of the war with the Coalition and the new defunct Outer Rim Sovereignty, the holds of the Galactus were filled with the requested specialized equipment to unlock the secrets of an even more secret government.

The man on the holographic projection was talking. "See, look at this. An armoured plate of a typical destroyer, when both particle and standard laser are applied.. note the result..."

The weaponry tore at the plating and eventually began to warp the plating into the familiar slag of durasteel that Kaine had seen all to often in space combat.

"Now, from the plating from a Reign Class Destroyer.."


And the same amount of firepower against a much thicker and many layered plate.

Nothing seemed to happen at first and then the outer layer began to peel away, the destructive energies beginning to be focussed on the second layer of the RSD plate.

The weapon setup suddenly began to overload and it's emergency shut-off failsafe activated stopping the weapons beams.

"There is no mistaking the defensive armoured technology on an RSD is well above the standard of an ISD. And even if weight were not an issue in spaceflight, mass is."

Before Kaine could interrupt, the man went on. "Now look at a plating using the principles taken from our sample."

Another particle/turbolaser combination opened up on the third plate, about the same thickness as the first ISD standard plating.

Just as it had with the first, the metal began to peel away but it seemed the entire plate began to shift and when the weapon cycled down, Kaine saw that whatever hole in the armor would have been displayed, in its place was a smooth, slightly discolored armour plate.

"Nano-technology." Kaine murmured in disgust. Evidently the containing missile's construction had the same make-up as the deadly bio-engineered weapon inside. There was word that the Coalition was coming up with their own bioweapon using the micronized machinery, but as he looked at the imaging of the metal moving to cover over the damage done in the last test, the scientist spoke up again.

"It's almost as if the inclusion of these machines makes the armor more.. more... malleable." he finally said groping for the correct descriptive term.

"From the reports, it seems that these nanomachines canabalize other portions of the plate to reconstruct what is vaporized by the assaulting weaponry." Kaine observed. "Against the conventional weaponry of turbolasers it would give the craft or object that much more life in combat."

The scientist nodded as if encouraged by the Imperial Leader's observation and hoping it would lead to more funding of his ideas and concepts.

"However, use ionizing energy against his .. malleable armor." Kaine ordered and the scientists' eyes fell.

The test was set up and as the third sample was again blasted, this time with an ion weapon, the machines that comprised the armour of the plate suddenly could not hold cohesion as the assaulting energies rendered the operating nanomachines inert. Without any type of energy field, the bonding capabilities were lost and it was as if the entire plate became a plate of sand as small particles of metal fell off as quickly as dry sand dropped in gravity.

Soon there was no third sample to speak of and Simon Kaine smiled.

"Show me the other properties we've seen.." he ordered.

NOW

Grand Moff Azrael Zell, truth be told was old. He was nearing the seventieth year of his life and, for the life of him, could not remember when he felt more alive. He was one of the few living beings who had experienced the entire spectrum of galactic history from the old Republic onward.

He remembered being recruited into the old Republican Military, later distinguishing himself as an Imperial officer and becoming instrumental in the Empire's rise from it's second capital on Bastion and it's return to Coruscant. He'd been involved in conflict after conflict to varying degrees and, it was during one such older conflict he found that he simply 'loved it'.

He was powerful, ruthless, shrewd and not a little viscious. One never knew where they stood with regards to the 'Old Man' and mostly, no one wanted to find out.

The Grand Moff had a reputation of promiscuity unmatched by any creative character dreamt of in science-fictional history and it was a reputation he delighted to wear proudly. Men looked at him with envy for he was a 'man's man' and women were either scared that he might be drawn to them (married or not, young or not) or intrigued, wondering if they would be the one to capture the heart of this powerful man.

Their Emperor, Daemon Hyfe, was once a junior officer to Zell and Zell did not fear to remind their dear Emperor of it on the rare times the two clashed. For the most part, both men shared singular goals that were self serving and a contempt for anything denying them those goals. Were Hyfe to fall, Zell naturally thought himself the Heir to the Empire (along with Kaine, Lupercus, Gevel, Drayson and probably the new Sith Leader Jas).

There were not many people who could earn both his respect and contempt but Supreme Commander Kaine was one. He too was a quick rising junior officer who now had complete control over the entire Empire's armed forces. As long as Kaine worked in line with Zell's goals, the Grand Moff didn't care what rank Simon held. But then, it was Simon who had given Hyfe the Regency from Exceron. It was Simon who set up the Emergency Government, in the form of the now secretive Bastion Conclave. A way to replace the 'current leadership' if it proved too ...what? Un-Imperial?

Officially it was stated if an enemy tried to cut off the Imperial head as they had done with Palpatine, there was a measure in place in the form of Praetor Gevel and his Praetorian Guard. It was ironic the GC was boasting of an organization with the same name but as always, who really cared what the GC did?

He was considered more retired than active but a man of Zell's position did not just retire. He just left the desk dealing responsibilities to those below him and if they didn't work out, he'd get others to replace them.


And so he found himself in space once more, aboard the Venerator Class Command Ship Resolute, to check on the progress of a particular escort carrier group in secret training exercises and preparations.

For what the escort group did not know. For that matter, hardly anyone knew.

Kaine was a cagey bastard when in the middle of one of his operations. It was something he could get away with however given the success he had with Endgame in taking Corsucant. Caught his own Imperial government off guard as well as other factions as well.


The Venerator's TAC (Tactical Analysis Consol) showed the former Grand Admiral the training techniques the escort group were engaged in.

"What the fuck?" Zell commented, muttering. "Someone probably screwed up instructions to Captain Thorton!"

"Sir?" the Captain of the Resolute asked not sure what Zell was talking about as he glanced at the TAC as well.

"Uloh, look at this approach! Just look at it!"

"Zukaku, Hokaku, Hiryu, Soryu, and Kaya all in a flanking diamond formation?" Captain Uloh commented.

"Not that!" snapped Zell. "Their proximity to the asteriod!"

He turned, "Get me Captain Thorton now!"

"Maybe Captain Thorton is the problem?" Uloh remarked thoughtfully.

"Not bloody likely!" shot back Zell. "I've read his reports. Follows orders better than a protocol droid with a restrictor plate!"

"Sometimes following orders so perfectly doesn't leave much room for ... creativity?"

The Grand Moff glowered at the Resolute's Captain. "Don't you have a fucking fuel efficiency report to fill out?" he asked and the Captain took the cue to leave.

"Kaine was right!" Zell muttered under his breath. "We have to retrain our soldiers in fighting techniques they aren't used too..."

Louder: "Have Captain Thorton come over to the Resolute. As commander of this Escort Group, he'll need to be in on this meeting with Kaine!"

The officers jumped to carry out his orders and the encrypted transmission went out to Thorton's flagship.

"Sir..." Mthel said quietly, as if trying to be overheard.


Oh boy, twice in one day...

"Yes, Mthel" he said, trying to stay calm. He had felt very good after his breif but pleasent flight, and was not in the mood to ruin it over some stupid officer.

"Sir, new orders from fleet command have come in for you." he spoke quietly, handing him the printout, "Grand Admiral Zell wants you to come to the Resolute to speak to both him and Suprime Commander Kaine."

"Alright, prepair the Stormhawk and a 4 TIE Defender escort."

"Yes sir," he spoke solemnly, clearly pleased he didn't get yelled at.

Wow. He just didn't feel like himself today. Maybe it was because he hadn't slept in 18 hours. It didn't really matter. Around the bridge everyone seemed in a good mood.

"Leutinant, get me lift 2413." The one he'd used earlier today.

This wasn't the Minors anymore, now he was swimming with the big fishs.


* * *


Just what was there to talk about? He had followed the orders to the letter, not even trying to jazz them up with a few tricks or ideas of his own. If they'd let him holo-shroud or cloak just one ship, imagine the havoc he could cause.

Oh well, just take it as it comes.

It was easly a 12hr jump to the Resolute's positon. Better get some sleep.

Captain Thorton's shuttle had arrived and the younger man was lead into the room serving as Grand Moff Zell's office. There were datapads spread out on a table, and small holographic projections of the galaxy floating here and there and Supreme Commander Kaine on the screen facing Zell.

Captain Thorton stood stiffly at attention at the sight of two of the most powerful military leaders of the Empire until Zell waved him over.

"None of that now, Kach." Zell growled out absently. "You look like shit," he mentioned absently as the Captain approached. Punching a button,"Yeoman, get some food up here for the Captain and I."


The layout of information was a bit confusing but as Zell motioned Kach to a nearby seat, Zell spoke to the screen at the Supreme Commander. Kach remained silent realizing that what he was seeing was something most officers did not see in the fleet.

"Kaine, the hyperroutes suggested are not viable. There is no way to funnel that many ships at that distance to accomplish what we need."

Kaine grinned slightly onscreen and pulled up a holographic data projection, "Azrael, while the overall operation is large in scope, we are not going to present our enemies with the opportunity they are looking for. Since reconstruction, their main military arsenal is divided into four distinct groups and if you note the shipping movements here and here, it seems there is something big going on."

"That area is pretty remote." Zell shot back, not liking the information of an enemy trying to outsneak the Empire.

"All the more reason for them to move there. In light of our probes, in light of information regarding a big speech coming up, I think we can safely assume just where they are heading."

"There is no way they can accomplish that!" Zell shot out.

"There are ways. There are strategies that could be implimented but we have definitely more options which is what we are taking advantage of now. Is the Captain there?"

Zell nodded absently and Kach Thorton moved into view.

"Good morning, Captain." Kaine's voice was deceptively soft. "As you may have surmised, we are planning something surprising for a few of our enemies. It is a plan that has been in the works for the better part of two years and it is a plan that you, Captain, are going to play a major role in."


"Captain Thorton," Zell spoke up as Kaine went silent, "I have been monitoring your training and quite frankly, it will not work."

"Sir?" Captain Thorton asked confused.

Kaine spoke up, "It follows the correct protocols for standard deployment but we are looking for something," he paused, "innovative."

"Captain, let me walk you through it." Zell started but then fell silent as the Yeoman entered with a rather light meal. The Grand Moff continued after she left. Noting Captain Thorton's reaction to the rather lovely girl, Zell grinned. "The perks of rank, Captain. The perks of rank."

His mood turned serious, "Now to your exercises. Just what the hell are you trying to do?"

Thorton, going red at the tone Zell took, said defensively, "We are trying to jump as close to a target as possible, then release fighters and decimate it before the shields are up or at least put a couple of fighters under the screen that can knock the generators out."

"Stop." Zell said. "First of all, there is no fucking way you will be able to jump a carrier close enough, launch fighters quickly enough to be of any use. Standard planetary sensor nets are set to detect capitals emerging from hyperspace. Newer systems try to detect hyperspacial terminus locales so jumping a fleet outside a planet's mass shadow is a good way to be detected unless you begin jamming. And once a system is jammed, the game is up anyway. We are looking for something a bit more subtle."

Kaine spoke up, "Do you know exactly what you are trying to accomplish, Captain?"

Thorton replied, "Not exactly, sir. My orders were to jump 40 Kilometers from a target, launch fighters, and blow the piece of crap to hell."

Zell looked incredulous, "Those were your orders?"

Kaine laughed softly, "Those orders are somewhat inaccurate. Suffice to say, that you will not be able to jump a massive fleet of capital warships to your target location for a strike as typical space-warfare tradition demands. What you will do is deliver massive waves of fighters on target. The target will be outside a planetary shield envelopement so forget about the planet.

The key is surprise. Deliver hundreds of fighters to provide the first punch eliminating defensive screens and use hundreds of bombers to deliver the knockout punch.

To move that many fighters quickly, a key will be to have them hyperspace worthy."


Captain Thorton looked almost overwhelmed. "Sir, there are going to be logistic problems. For one, damaged units need a base of resupply or..."

"Your carrier fleet will be outside the system at predetermined coordinates. But what we want is one, total, final devestating blow."

Thorton's mind was racing. "But how do we cross the mass shadow. I know that the fighter profile is much smaller and we could probably move across the area unchecked but with the numbers you are talking about and what I will need to ensure total target destruction leaves the odds of any movement going unnoticed low."

"Captain, we have that covered." Zell said confidently and the Captain could only cast a bewildered look at the two military strategists.

"Sir, excuse me but... how?"


And Zell told him.

Heading back to the Akagi on the Stormhawk, Kach lay down on his bunk to reflect on what had just happened on the Resolute not even an hour before.

He was well aware that he got to see something most people never even dream about, a Grand Admiral and the Supreme Commander in the same room! Even meeting one would be a huge honor for many people, to see them casually discussing strategy in a command room? Unprecedented.

He really didn't see what he was doing wrong. With the resources he had been given, that was the best attack he could come up with, and that was no mean feat. When there's less than 6 months between your conscription and being promoted to Captain you have to have a knack for doing the impossible with nothing. But Zell and Kaine cut his plan to pieces and then told him just how he was going to do it.

He had to admit it was a fine plan, combat tested at least once before as far as he knew. But he wasn't an astrophysicist, and until they explained it to him there was no way he ever would have understood just what was going on, let alone thought of it himself.

They had also told him that his offensive fighters needed to be hyperspace worthy. Thus returning to the fleet with him and his escort were 2 transports filled with TIE Devils and TIE Defenders. The TIE Devils would replace some of the Interceptors in the fleet for defensive duty, but the TIE Defenders would replace most of the Interceptors since their hyperdrive gave them a quick strike ability, an ability that would be valuable in the upcoming campaign. Also with them was a pair of Interdictor Pickets, the key to the whole plan.

But ships and a plan weren't all he had. He had also received a deadline, and it was nearer than he had hoped. The upcoming training would be amazingly rushed. He just hoped it would be enough.

With his return to the fleet, the training had become at least twice as intense as before, though now it concentrated on the fighters. The formations of TIE Defenders routinely practiced hyperspace microjumps to very near planetary bodies, so near there was no margin of error. Already several pilots managed to get themselves killed by putting in the entry/exit commands just a little bit off.

But they were necessary losses. There would be no room for error during the attack itself. While it pained him that he had lost 4 perfectly good pilots, he realized it was just something he would just have to accept.

But if anything, the moving of the training priorities away from capital ships and instead onto fighters meant that the crews were much happier. This combined with him learning to manage his anger better made it a much more pleasant experience for them.

He was busy every day, from when he woke up to the time he went to sleep. Most of it he spent watching holo-vids of the fighter attacks and jumps, looking for problems with the attacks and then pointing them out to the pilots during their debriefings. The little bit of free time he had was not spent on recreation. Rather, it was spent out flying himself.

There was an explanation for that. Not too long after his return, he had realized something. While the bridge crews of a ship is perfectly willing to accept an officers orders, that’s their job; but the fighter crews are not. The more cocky pilots believe they are superior to the stingy, by the book officers that overlook them. While these kind feelings are normal for fighter crews everywhere, these were not something he wanted to allow. He knew that their cockiness would get them in trouble during the attack itself.


He was a pilot himself, contrary to common knowledge, and he was most certainly not a by the book officer with a spotless background. Rather, he was a former smuggler who had taken part in the destruction of at least 3 Imperial convoys, and the only reason he wasn't executed was because he was a fast thinker; a skill useful in combat. With piloting skills honed by years of dodging tariff collecting vessels and patrolships, he could certainly fly with the best of them, and that was exactly what he had done.

About four days ago, he had went out for the second time to observe them first hand, and after becoming board from hours of just watching them, he had ordered the wings leader to dogfight with him, lasers on training levels, of course.

It had been a good fight, each scoring numerous points, but Kach had been the only one able to dish enough out for his opponent to be considered dead in space. For the next two hours, he had dogfighted anyone who thought he could best him, only getting "shot down" once when a full squadron of fighters ganged up on him.

The results were immediate. During the debriefing after the flight, he noticed a sense of respect combined with awe radiating from the men he had been flying with less than an hour before. Now, cockiness and disobeying orders were no longer a problem. These were men who would follow him to the death if necessary, which was good, because he planned on personally leading the attack, though his superiors would have a fit if they knew. However, after weighing the risks he had deemed it necessary since the carriers would not actually enter the battle and he wanted to be able to get the feel and understanding of the engagement you could only get from being present.

He had only told the Akagi's Captain, the man who would succeed him if he was gone. He trusted him, and he was a good second in command, but he wouldn't put it by him to report him to fleet command.

But oh well, whatever happened, happened.

INS: An Emergency Report

The collected crowd of reporters and observers waited with growing excitement as the emergency session had been called by the Imperial High Command. Such sessions that were handled by the High Command usually involved military conflict of some sort and so the gazes were curious, questioning and downright paranoid.


Simon Kaine, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces, walked out and everyone rose. Kaine's public presence had been extremely limited as of late but what startled the crowd most was that he was not alone. To his side also walked Grand Moff Azrael Zell wearing a bitter, scowling and angry expression. The Supreme Commander's expression, though calm, seemed tired.

The audience shifted uncomfortably and sat as Kaine's voice rang out over them, his gloved hands holding a datapad of perhaps a recent report.

"As of 1800 hours, Imperial Center local time, Prime Minister Regrad, of the New Galactic Coalition, in an address to his own political leaders...."

Kaine's voice seemed to stop, as if continuing to speak further were something disgusting to contemplate. The audience grew fearful.

As usual, Azrael Zell had no such inhibitions and his strong voice rang out, "..declared fucking war on the entire fucking galaxy!"

The noise level in the room suddenly grew exponentially as the news began to sink in. "War?", "Crazy", "Alien", "Crazy Alien War!" were harsh whispers buzzing around as well as "preparations?" and "what the fuck?" (which started a rumor about Theren Gevel being in the audience somewhere but was later disregarded).

Kaine looked over, his look of disgust turning to one of amusement at the words Zell spat out. "The Address was intercepted by the Ministry of Information's.."

"..shit detectors!" Zell interupted, drawing a laugh from somewhere.

"...Holonet detection devices and the signal was immediately disseminated and routed to INS. Given the inflamatory nature of this particular government's leader's views, we wanted to avoid the spread of panic or worry among our citizens. We want you to prepare yourselves for this statement is not pretty and, given our last major encounter with them a few years ago, fearful.

We are going to break this transmission down simply to explain what is happening so I ask that you hold your questions until the end:

A holonet projection suddenly appeared before Simon Kaine and Azrael Zell, both moving to either side of the transmission leaving the visual in the center.

It looked somewhat hazy at first but then the image clarified...

Regrad - Prime Minister of the New Galactic Coalition - ascended the last few steps to the podium erected on a jutting platform before a vast crowd

"Gentlebeings of the galaxy. I come before you today as Regrad, Prime Minister of the New Galactic Coalition, to speak of the Coalition for which I stand, the galaxy in which we live, and the vision for which we fight. It is a vision for the Coalition, a vision for the galaxy, a hope I hold dearly in these dark days."

The image stopped and the crowd shifted nervously.

"I am stopping this to show that what he says next is not directed just at us. He is taking the entirety of the galaxy into his..."

"..grand fucking vision!" snapped Zell.

"That." Kaine stated afterward seemingly to agree.

The image continued:

"I forsee a day that may come where the galaxy is no longer fractured, where war no longer wracks its' worlds and persecution no longer hounds its' people. I have a vision of a galaxy not simply united and not simply no longer at war - I have a vision of a galaxy at peace! A galaxy not just free of the wars of soldiers, but of the wars of races, of beliefs, of rulers against the ruled and of Order against Freedom.

"I believe this vision can come to pass, and even in these darkening days with war ever-present on the horizon, I believe there is still hope to see this vision in our galaxy. There is still a hope in the Coalition, still a hope in the galaxy, and still a hope in it's people that we can achieve what has for more than forty years been denied - the birthright of every sentient in the galaxy, the rights to freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness irregardless of species, gender, belief, heritage, creed or faith."

"Then perhaps he should stop hating on the Empire and practice what he preaches, the fucking hypocrite!" Zell snarled. "As I recall, it was their fucking hatred of us that landed the attack on Corellia in the first place! Now he's fucking telling everyone how they should think!?"

He turned to Kaine, "I bet you after he talks about his wonderland where everyone thinks the same and is experiencing this fucking liberty drinking Coalition juju juice he does a 180 on us. US! Tell me I am wrong!"

Kaine merely shrugged and the statement continued.

"Even now hope endures for this vison, with the dark shadows of continued strife and pain circling ever closer, with the tempting promises of a New Order that will bring with it peace and fraternity - but that temptation must not be heeded! What they bring is exactly what is promised, Order without freedom, Order, without liberty, Order without the pursuit of happiness and Order without peace. The masters of the New Order lash out and rage and bite, but in the end, for all their rhetorical claims and their elaborate promises that submitting to Order will lead to a better life for all, all they offer is Order, and it is a cold and heartless Order that believes in nothing but it's own survival. For the citizens of the galaxy to submit now is to betray everything that we know is right, that we have known from the Republics that is right - it is to betray ourselves, and submit to the easier road, the quicker road, but we will not find what we seek there."

Kaine looked out over the audience. "The Empire is tempting because what it offers is real. Not some pie-in-the-sky vision of utopia. We deal with real world problems and real world solutions. Granted it's not a perfect system but then no system ever is." Kaine's eyes hardened. "And if anyone says otherwise, they are simply fooling themselves."

"How many times have we heard how evil the Empire was? How evil the Emperor was and how all would be so happy and jolly once he was dead? The insurgents of that time killed Palpatine. They splintered the Empire into a shadow of its former glory."

Kaine's harsh voice called out to a still audience, "WHERE IS THEIR UTOPIA?

Where was this grand realization of liberty?"


Kaine's voice became hard, "First came the New Republic who said, 'let's kill the Empire and Palpatine, then we can live in happiness and joy!' They created a Civil War that killed untold billions! Then came the New Empire who also promised a utopian dream after the Empire was killed but brought the Wrath Virus and again! Billions died!

Now comes the New Coalition..."

Kaine looked up and said dryly, "Guess what they promise if our Emperor and Empire is killed?"

"After all these fanatics have come and killed and burned and died, we come back and keep coming back to stem the tide of bloodshed and establish something safe for our citizens and their families. And the Prime Minister dare to call us 'cold and heartless'? It is fanatics like these that constantly make the Empire think and act on it's survival!"

"If we put a fucking battlefleet over his head let's see how soon they start thinking about their fucking survival!" Zell commented.


Simon went quiet waving Zell's comment aside. "What concerns me is this statement right here: betray everything that we know is right.. As I stated in an earlier briefing, just after the Coalition's last great announcement that incidently was their declaration of war, Right and Wrong are religious distinctions. And given his use of the term 'vision', this whole Address becomes one of a most disturbing nature. Religious Zealotry disguising itself with moralistic intent. What he is doing is outlining that the galaxy's entire code of morality should be based on the Azguard philosophy.

Anything not agreeing with their philosophy and religion is therefore classified as "wrong"."

Zell growled, "I don't know about you but I don't want some Azguard religious nut telling me what I should think! Do you?"



"It is easier to say these things, however, than it is to act. It is easy to say that there is a vision for the galaxy, to say that there is still hope in the hearts of it's citizens, but it is far harder to act on it and even continued resistance is painful. As the people suffer and the galaxy is torn apart from within, we must stay strong and stand together again, for only through our rejection of the temptations of Order shall we overcome, and find ourselves once more in the light of Peace.

"There are those who doubt my words, and there are others in whose hearts my words will sow doubt - I ask of you, if there is any doubt of any kind in your hearts, seek the truth out of your own accord. Seek it in the ruins of the planet Dubrillion, that dared to stand independant of the Empire and was reduced to ashes, survivors fleeing to the city of New Dubrillion on Rattatak. Seek it in the wreckage that still orbits the world of Tynna after the Empire tried to storm it and claim it from it's soverign place in the Coalition by force, only to be driven back bloodily with many unnecessary losses on both sides. Seek it at Roche, where the Verpine were terrorized and coerced by Imperial armed forces who thought nothing of firing on their asteroid homes to try and steer them away from their own decisions. Seek it at Bimmisari, where the Empire unleased new weapons of war on the defenders for no other reason than to spread death and mayhem. Seek the truth, and in finding it, face your doubts and consider what truth still remains in the New Order and it's promises."


"You'll notice he never mentioned any of the worlds his race, fueled by their wacked out religious beliefs, brutally attacked in the last war. Where the fuck was their high minded righteous rhetoric then? Perhaps they could look at the death and mayhem their own fucking beliefs brought out? But perhaps they do not value life like we do.." Zell purred.


Kaine frowned, "What do you mean?"

Zell grinned a shark's grin. "I remember a discussion with one of those buggers about their value of life. In fact, I have the fucker's response right here..."

On the audio speakers the harsh alien voice of an Azguard was heard with a computer translating in cold monotone.

"What is it worth to an Azguard? Just as much as it can give to the greater good of the race. I would see myself and ten Kin die without a second thought to save my general, if I thought by saving him he would be able to go on and do more towards victory then we who died."

Zell cupped his ear with his hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't get that. You were saying something about unnecessary losses and respect for life? What?

Fucking hypocrites!"



"There are yet other terrors that lurk in this galaxy, from the terrorist cells of the Union to the harsh and isolationist Black Dragon Empire to even a new race of strange and enigmatic conquerors who wiped out the people of Kiyar and the Coalition relief effort of that world. Against so many terrors and their suffering, what hope can there be? What vision can stand against such numberless hordes of horror?"


Kaine raised an eyebrow and looked to Zell who in turn gave an incredulous glance at the audience.

"Who the fuck is the Union?"

Kaine sighed. "Apparently, it might be the group behind the GLF attacks. It's nice that our partnership in combatting terrorism yielded such cooperation!" Kaine's voice was sarcastic.

"That information could have helped save numerous lives. I wonder how many months the Coalition and Regrad simply sat on it. Were they trying to teach us a lesson?" He leaned forward. "It makes one wonder just how much value they place on human life if any? Did they share this info with any other galactic government who suffered from these cowardly GLF attacks or did they just think Imperials weren't worth it?"


Zell placed his hand on the podium and his voice rang out deeply, "They are trying to divide us but it makes you wonder just what kind of Coalition one would run too?"


"The truth is, however, that it is we who outnumber them. This vision that I speak of, a vision of a free and united galaxy, of peace and cooperation, is one shared in the hearts of people from every walk of life on every world where life exists and people live. It is in the hearts of the subjects of the Empire and the hearts of those subjected by the Black Dragons. It is the same vision that has been followed by good people since the first civilization rose. Our numbers are countless, our strength infinite, our vision on the cusp of reality. The only thing that stands in the way of this galaxy of peace are the masters of Order, wether it be the New Order of the Empire or the religious orders of the Black Dragons or any other Order that proffesses the interests of the people and yet pits good people against each other."


"You don't fucking hear us calling the Coalition evil bastards!"

Kaine's eyes narrowed, "Remember this phrase: a vision of a free and united galaxy. Remember it well."


"This is where the action behind my words comes from. This is where we win this vision of peace and fellowship. This place, in the hearts of all, where the desire for those things denied by Order, is where the battle is to be fought for the heart of the galaxy. I ask, nay I plead of you throughout the galaxy, to join this battle of spirit, to reject the Order and embrace instead a vision of what once was, of what could be, of a peace of nations and societies, of a freedom of spirit and mind. Do not bend to the will of Order, do not bow to the wrath of Order, find your strength instead in the hope of a vision, a vision of a galaxy united not by strength of arms or force of will, but by this vision that we share, by this desire for peace and for freedom."


"These Azguards have a problem with order. They feel, apparently, that any society dedicated to organized, ordered government is evil. They are asking for anarchy, to throw off government. To what? Should they throw off civil and social programs? Should our nationalized healthcare also be thrown off or is that suddenly 'ok'?

But what is really fearsome is that they feel everyone shares their religious visions, their 'respect' for life, their love of anarchy, and their desire to bring Coalition rule throughout the galaxy as shown in the next statements."


"With this battlecry, shall I rally the Coalition. We have rebuilt our nations, we have regained our strength slowly and methodically. Where war had ravaged, we have healed. Where tragedy had befallen, we have lifted spirits. United in heart and mind, I shall not rest until the galaxy is free to take up it's vision and it's people free to follow it. We will not bow to the aggressions of Order nor to it's threats of war. We will not bend to it's will nor it's agenda. Here shall the line be drawn where we shall say 'Not one step further!' and take back the galaxy, take back the people, from these masters of Order that have ensnared it."

Kaine looked out over the audience, "So they are marshalling their strength. They are gathering their forces. They have been allowed to rebuild by us only to turn on us once more. To treacherously strike once more. But their ambition is not only the Empire this time. It is subtle but it is there!"

I shall not rest until the galaxy is free to take up it's vision

"Apparently the galaxy's vision and the Azguard vision are one and the same. Why it has to be a Coalition vision and not a Hapes one I don't know. Why it couldn't be a Commonwealth vision or even a Jedi vision for that matter.. No they mean to wipe all different visions away in lieu of their own.

They have drawn the battlelines once more and the Coalition is being gathered. The question then is, who will they strike first?

Commonwealth?
Hapes?
The New Order?
The Dragons?
Naboo?

It is the same arrogance they accuse us of. Of believing all peoples of the galaxy should believe the same as we do."


"In the fading light of this long day, shall follow a terrible darkness. Through this darkness we shall have to percivere, and it cannot be done alone. The hope for this vision lies in the hearts of everyone in the galaxy, and only through your rising shall the hope outlast the dark night of Order. But it is a finite night! For ever day, for every hour, for every minute that passess, it becomes closer to that glorious time when the Order is rejected and a new dawn of peace shall fall upon all the people of the galaxy. I call on everyone, from the tribes of Rattatak to the officials of Coruscant, from the nobles of Corellia to the soldiers of Azguard, from the bankers of Munnilist to the artists of Mon Calamari, I call on you all to look within yourselves and look across the galaxy and look to the Order and finally look to the vision - the vision that you all know well, for it is the vision you find in your heart - and decide what must be done in this galaxy. For my part, I shall return to my own vision, and I shall labour every hour sent to me to make it come to pass, a galaxy of freedom, of liberty, of fellowship, and of Peace. Good night."


"And there is his call to war. Any government in this galaxy should feel threatened by this call to Jihad. A Coalition religious war bent on hatred of everything they do not consider right is not what I wanted to hear about when I woke up this morning. I don't think any non-Coalition government official and military leader did.

This hatred of ordered government...

This Coalition seems too dark in some misguided attempt at revenge..."

Kaine's voice trailed off.


"I don't know where the fuck these Azguards get off telling us how to think and live. Sure, there are some freedoms we do not allow. You are not free to commit murder! You are not free to rape! You are not free to commit treason! Order prevents anarchy and criminal activities.

But I also know you can't reason with an Azguard."


The audience shifted, alarmed.

"While I overheard that little bit about their lack of respect for their own lives (you think they'll respect yours?), I also got a clip on where most of their beliefs come from, who controls their thinking. Because, on the surface, let's think about it, some of his stuff is appealing. But here you hear it from the gaffer's..err.. Azguard's mouth:"

The alien voice came back on the audio..

Our philosiphers and Gods have brooded over what they have said and what we have seen, and they have deemed it good. "And to be quite frank, to I and the people of Azguard, that is enough.

Zell's voice whispered, "And screw anyone who doesn't worship their fucking philosophers or Gods."



The holographic projection disappeared and Kaine went back to the podium. "The Imperial Armed Forces are on high alert in case there is an attack. We have sent ambassadors to the various governments to see how we can all respond to this Religious War the Azguards are trying to build. Together and coordinated, perhaps we can provide a reasonable deterrent to any rash action. Other nations are showing dismay that the Coalition would keep information regarding this Union to themselves despite our publicly united front. This despicable act hints at a darkly sinister intent. I am appealing to any Coalition leaders to take action now. Either remove Regrad from power or at the very least, prevent him from speaking publicly about plunging their nation into a war that will only devestate them further.

Ironically, by uniting the galaxy against a Coalition Jihad will perhaps bring about that hoped for peace."

Zell stepped up, "And if we find ourselves attacked, I'll personally march into hell, take their God of the Azguard Underworld and cut his fucking balls off! At least, that is what Emperor Hyfe would order me to do!"


The chuckling going around the room eased the tension. And while most places in the Empire would have to censor Zell's colorful use of Basic, their confidence would prove more calming than mere platitudes could give. This was not new territory for them nor for the Empire.

Regrad's announcement was not without effect within the Empire however. While the citizenry largely was unaffected as yet, power shifts began to form within the bureaucracy. Analysts noticed a trend of the moderates losing support and even grumbling over the way the former Grand Marshall handled the last war by negotiating rather than destroying their enemies. Whispers about a heavy hand then would not have brought the current crisis to bear.

How the Emperor would react to the rumor was as yet unknown.

But the military was becoming polarized as Moffs, Grand Admirals and Admirals each ventured their own ideas in responding to the current situation.

The vagueness of Regrad's speech regarding the future and every government's place in this Azguardian/Coalition utopian vision left most governments wary.



"I'll take your questions now.." Kaine commented...

***
***

Kaine walked past the Spartan Centurions on either side of a nondescript room nearly hidden in the bustling Imperial High Command Tower. The room was occupied and he could see Grand Moff Zell already there making sure there was an alcoholic drink nearby.

As he passed through the security screen that turned opaque as he crossed the invisible threshold he heard several people muttering.

"We knew the speech was coming and, given what we know of the Prime Minister Regrad, we knew what direction his oration would lean towards. Grumbling about it now is beneath us.

It is time to move our pieces into play."


Kaine moved to the center of the room and a oval table with a hollow center dropped from the ceiling and the various attendees moved forward. The table separated them from the Supreme Commander offering the ranking officer an unobstructed view of those who, in his opinion, shouldn't be there.

Hyfe's words still raging in his mind like annoying banter.


"Gentlemen, in his wisdom our most glorious Emperor has seen fit to burden me with your presence."

The statement caused Zell to snort at Kaine's sincere report.

"It is his belief that if I trained your minds to 'think outside the box', that, should I die, one of you or all of you could carry on as little versions of me in carrying the momentum of the Empire forward into the next few decades and centuries."

"Unfortunately for me, I tend to disagree with his assessment as strategy and logistics on this level are not a learned skill. It is either inherent or not. You either have the gift or you do not. Fortunately for you the Imperial machinery has it's own momentum and so not much is required of you to maintain it.

Therefore, I merely require your minds to follow along with what I am about to tell you. You are the privileged but do not get comfortable with that designation for it is one that can spell your death. With such privilege comes accountability and at this level, we are beyond Top Secret."

The Supreme Commander turned a stern eye on those gathered and asked, "Given what you see of the operational details gathered, are there any points of inquiry you wish to mention before I assume you capable of realizing how it pertains to the current of events surrounded us now?"

The attendees were not all 'students' as Moff Zell's eyes roved the younger crowd with interest though disappointed not to find a female in among them. There were also several Jedi Corps members standing respectfully behind the attendees.

One rather portly fellow raised his hand and Kaine nodded his permission for the young man to speak up.

"Sir. From what I see, the details of this operation cover about two years worth of data. From what I see, this is merely an attack to be launched on a massive scale by fighters at a singular target, a shipyard, and totally obliterate it. It seems to me to be excessive planning for a simple venture."


Zell raised a finger to the young man. "Slow yourself down you little fucker. Remember, your Supreme Commander does not do simple."

The portly man bristled but knew his place.

Another young man spoke up. "There are references to a plan by Imperial Intelligence to attack this world. Also a reference to the world of Agamar which Director Isard smashed to bits. But her references do not include shipyards.."

"They were added later. In the beginning, it was felt that observation would serve us better than military action." Kaine interrupted.

"Which, when translated means?" Zell asked rather harshly.

"That Isard was not to remain in control of half of Shroud Command if I could help it. To have a powerful Intelligence Agency is one thing. To have a powerful Intelligence Agency outside of your grip is another."

Zell smirked and the attendees shifted uncomfortably.

"Do not shy away from this!" Kaine snapped. "Our internal politics can be just as dangerous as military action. Too assume otherwise is to invite stupidity and death."

"Sir, I believe we should attack the Coalition. After that inflaming speech.."

"Where the Prime Minister takes an extremist side?" Kaine asked quietly.

"We should roll over our borders and mow them down!" Some murmuring of agreement became evident.

"And the Dragons?" Zell chimed in and the others fell silent.

"The Coalition is still waging war on the old model and they will find that it is no longer effective. To be a galactic superpower, one must not only be strong but one must be flexible. Our whole operational strategy for waging war must change and the operation you see here is one step towards that change. And if we change... then that prompts our enemies to change.."

"Pardon me sir, but who gives a shit." one young man asked.

Kaine looked at him with an annoyance.

Were they all imbeciles?

"In the anxiety created by their own propaganda, the Coalition hopes to be the motivation to move either The New Order or the Imperium to strike first thus granting them a moral impetus to going to war."

Kaine's eyes narrowed with interest. "And?"

The young man shifted uncomfortably. "And we are not going to blink."

"Which means?" Zell stepped behind the young man.

"That.. the Imperium and the Coalition will go to war."

Kaine nodded approvingly.

"But what if the Dragons don't blink?" another asked.

"Then the Coalition will do something else stupid to goad one of us to action. But the secret to defeating your enemies is knowing where they are coming from and where they are going. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, the Coalition, the New Republic... democracy cannot stand indefinitely. In time it will crumble. In time the ideology will fail and the platitudes and shouts of it's merits will fall on the deaf ears of those it cannot protect, those it fleeces and those it corrupts.

Remember this: What the Coalition cannot win by diplomacy it will try to win militarily."


"And.. and that's not a danger to us?" someone asked.

"The line between democracy and totalitarianism is thinning and sooner or later one will not be able to differentiate between Empire or Coalition except by the title.

And the day the Coalition realizes that it has become the Empire it will shatter." Kaine's voice became hard.

"And that is when we'll step in to restore order."


The attendees shook their heads in wonderment.. until Kaine drew their gaze back to the operation at hand.

"If you look here, the second wave.." he began.

WIP, buds. Scratch the last post. While cool, it wasn't very fitting for this.

The Past...

Dark Empire: Shadow Dance

Then...


Ysanne Isard watched the bitz bug, a native beetle of the planet that held her current interest, as it scattered across the dirt surface of the rather large plexiglass contained environment. A habitat (of sorts) the ground was made of a very fine, very flat, reddish dust warmed by heat lamps lining the ceiling of the large container. Longer and wider than a conference table, the habitat boasted “see-thru” clarity on all sides.

Yet, to find the particular beetle she was looking at, one had to look very hard as it scampered towards its goal.

“Do you know what quality makes Imperial Intelligence the best, Ciscero?” she asked as the agent walked in entering data onto a pad. “What sets Intelligence apart from other inferior agencies?”

“I would imagine because they are inferior.” Ciscero started without looking up, “coupled with the fact that we are better.”

Isard smiled. The sight was not a pretty one. “Simplistic answer.” She murmured as her hand ran across the smooth, clear surface. “Imperial Intelligence is represented by this lone creature. Unobtrusive, uncomplicated and yet highly motivated, skilled and possessing of the will to accomplish what it sets out to do.”

Her hand stopped sliding across as she watched the creature stop in front of a large edible piece of something. It’s pincers grabbed onto the piece and it began to pull.

“Our operatives usually work alone. They are taught to cross the distance.. grab the objective and return. It is that ‘loner’ approach that allows for our compartmentalization to actually be effective…. That allows for compromises to our security to have minimal effect. It gives greater flexibility and distributes control to our operatives.”

“Unless they cross you..” Ciscero added, finally looking up and glancing at the habitat. “It also leaves a lot riding on singular individuals.”

Her finger went out and tapped the cage, spotting another small bug scurring along. “That is why you separately assign two to accomplish an objective.” Then she turned, “But that is hardly ever required. In time the less skilled become weeded out and Intelligence is left with only the best.”

“It helps that they are provided with generous rescources. Speaking of which…”

“Yes..yes..” Isard waved her hand, “Your ‘Beyond Salvage’ status will be lifted.”
Her hand went up and opened a small square on the top of the habitat. Her eyes narrowed, “Other agencies use a different approach. At least the Black Hand of late.”

The Director took a large piece of food and dropped it unceremoniously onto the red dirt. Suddenly the area was alive with hundreds of black critters. Those closest to the food took pieces off the whole and carried them a ways until they passed it to another creature, who in turn took it a bit further. Soon the entire food piece was broken down as tiny bugs were scurrying back to whence they came.

“Not exactly subtle” Ciscero agreed. “It’s always easier to hide one than twenty. Still, there is efficiency in numbers.”

“True,” The Director agreed, “But what good is it how fast you can do a thing if your purpose was to do it unobserved in the first place?”

“Point,” Ciscero conceded. The familiar chimes sounded and he turned to his Director. “My shuttle has arrived.”

“Success, Ciscero”

“Good hunting, Director.”



Now…


The fleet had been in the system for several days watching… observing the patterns..


..as with the “bitz bugs” of the planet scurried along with their tiny bits of information and data. So serenely the planet looked, a former Imperial world once visited by two of her agents.

Ciscero himself had been there during the first conquest integrating himself into a family (replacing a distant relative) whose daughter would eventually be voted the new Queen of Naboo.

Why those idiots choose to vote a 12-year old child to rule over them was beyond even the Director of Intelligence’s grasp.

Still, the Empire had taken advantage of the situation by unleashing the Sith upon the very world their organization had been founded on. They were the plague to drive division between the Naboo people and the Jedi Order whose temple held a prominent place in Theed.

That wedge would have been complete had Intelligence been running the show!, she silently lamented. But the military.. no.. Kaine.. was running it and his priority was Coruscant.

She hated to see opportunities fade.

Still the girl is still Queen. Maybe we can exert some influence after all… assuming Ciscero can stay alive.

She briefly marveled at her audacity to send only one agent to contend with the terrorist threat that presented itself.


She turned her mind back to the planet as the Captain of the vessel walked up. “Director. It is time..”


The gray haired Director of Imperial Intelligence turned to the Captain and nodded slowly. Age had a way of making one more reflective. The longer one held onto power the more the inferior tried to remove you.

Just as her father had tried so many years ago…

Just as the military of the New Order constantly tried..

Just as outside ‘intelligence’ agencies continue to try...

Yes, the many enemies she held did make even one as hot tempered as her more careful.

But sometimes finesse was not enough.

Sometimes a sledge hammer worked just as well..

At present there were fifty Shrouds encircling the planet.. hunters marking their prey for the past few days.

The planet blissfully unaware of the danger from above.


“At my word… nothing enters.. nothing leaves..”


“Your wishes have been relayed..” the Captain, a rogue sort of person to be sure but then that was the way Shroud Command worked.

It was not very often Shrouds hunted in packs and it was not often this many packs hunted in the same area.

A throwback from the late Vice Admiral Drakiss’ vaunted Wolf Pack.

A gap began to form within the closing net of the Shrouds when suddenly the gaps were plugged by incoming Imperial Star Destroyers and some Reigns.

“System wide jamming has commenced…” the Captain said as the scans showed the planet’s scurrying merchants trying to flee…


..and not all of those merchants were what they seemed as their conduct during the past few days showed.

“Destroy them..”

And from their invisible areas, precise weapons fire reduced ships attempting to flee to space dust.


In followed a couple of Attack Spheres, the space around them suddenly being littered with the TIE Devil fighters.

Isard’s smile turned into a sneer of contempt noting that she would not need her reinforcements called in. The Grand Marshall had given her the Muunilist contingent as well as those warships enroute from Imperial Center during the terrorist operation to catch the Ebony Vigilance.


The planet was caught by surprise.


No signals entered or left the system.


“Net enclosure successful. Move several packs to protect rear flanks and scan for hyperspace reversions.”


“Boards show clean all across..”

“Reigns activating gravity well generators..”

“Premature terminus!”

The interdictor fields began to sporadically pull several ships out of hyperspace the packs quickly destroying them.


They had monitored the traffic in and out of the system and knew there would be very minimal interruption.

“They are quivering underneath us.”

Isard’s smile of contempt grew. “They did not expect this strike..”


“Draw up the net, Captain. Let us see what we catch…”



The planet quietly fell to the shadow of the Empire, Imperial Intelligence…


Then...


"Director Isard to see the Grand Marshall." the gray haired woman who held dominion over Imperial Intelligence with an iron fist.

"Send her in." came the neutral reply.


Probably wondering where I will be sliding my knives in next..


"Well, Kaine. You look like you could do for an interruption." she started without preamble seeing the scattered datapads and a holographic projection of the galaxy with status reports inserted into several enlarged areas.."Those must be the hot spots.." she murmured noticing a rather large, conspicuous dark sphere blotting out the Corellian System.

Apparently Bespin and Taloraan as well as Carida were being attacked.

She also saw that the Marshall had diverted military units to several areas that seemed to hold no significant value from her perspective.

Kaine was entering encrypted orders onto a datapad to send several units on their way.

"You've been whispering in the Regent's ear.." Kaine said quietly as he continued to work.

"I take it that you have been summoned." she quipped knowing full well the Regent's call had been on the heels of her departure.

Kaine stopped and smiled slightly, nodding her direction. "I have been summoned."

"Then it must be important. Perhaps he's concerned about the lack of information we have on the Corellia situation. Perhaps he wants an update on the status of the Imperial Academy."

"Ysanne," Kaine interrupted the older woman, "We have two Admirals, two Governors and a Commodore in the area of Corellia. Whatever the enemy is doing, believe me, it will be dealt with. We have an Admiral on station at Carida so we can dispense with the fodder. You know as well as I do what he will propose."


"And this angers you?"


"No, Director. It perplexes me." His voice went soft, "What do you want?"



"There is a growing threat that is looming larger than this..this.. Coalition. The puppet masters behind their idiotic strikes and unfathomable press. The Outer Rim Sovereignty is opportunistic and they will try to capitalize on the speer thrown by the Coalition driving for our heart."


Kaine continued entering orders as she spoke, inclining his head to her when he responded..

"I agree... What do you want?"


"The Black Hand."


At this Kaine stopped entering orders and looked up, his eyes narrowing. "You sent an ISB agent to Arliss Industries on Muunilist to lessen security. Then you whisper to the Regent about a possible strike against his beloved warship using past experience as a catalyst."


Isard smiled ferally picking up the speculative talk, "With lessening of security, someone like the Black Hand will capitalize... organize and strike."

"With reinforcements enroute to reach Muunilist via the order the Regent will surely give me." Kaine finished.


Then the reason for the positioning on the hologram revealed itself. "You have warships enroute to Muunilist.." She looked at the manifest her eyes widening.. "That is half of the Shroud Command."

"Remove your restrictions on the Bastion Salvage Yard operation so we can get the Ebony Vigilance operational. We were nearly complete when your shadow groups moved in and hindered progress."


"In exchange for..?" Isard asked smiling slightly.

"You can use the fleet once the Regent's perceived danger has been sated. You also save the lives of those who interfered on Bastion."

Isard's eyes narrowed, "You would kill them?"

"I'd shoot you personally, Ysanne, if I thought it would grant me victory over the damned galaxy." Then Kaine smiled almost shyly, "Of course, I'd shoot you still if it made the project finish quicker."

"Agreed." Isard finally said, amused at the Marshall. "By the time Hyfe's baby gets to the Yard, my people will be gone."


"Then you have your bait." Kaine concluded. "A largely unprotected bait.. But, if the Black Hand succeed in destroying the Regent's toy...rest assured your part will come out."

"Yes ... yes.. Groder Stu practically lives in your pockets. Damn that man, Gevel!"


"Actually, I was thinking of TK-59249's blaster rifle there, but Groder works too."


"No Spartan?" Isard shot back, seemingly hurt.


Kaine's eyes went cold, "I use them for harder kills."


Isard could have laughed then and there in the Marshall's face but thought better of it.

She did, after all, need those military assets.






...Taken from Soveriegn Eclipse....


Imperial Center


“The Grand Marshall is here, Lord.” The attendant spoke softly, yet clearly enough so that the Regent waved the man away quickly and set his eyes onto those of Grand Marshall Kaine.

Before the Regent was a galaxy map as well as asset and inventory listings for deployments. The Empire was sectioned off in gray with red portions indicating battle areas and blue areas representing possible battles.

“Come, Kaine. Look here. The enemy has retreated from the twin worlds in the Corellian Sector.”

Though Simon had at his fingertips this information, he knew the import of keeping the Regent abreast of the situation. “Yes.”

“Analysis?”

“Admiral Ckeller’s forces were minimal and not enough to even dent the numbers she’d reported. So one can only assume that there was an emergency with the enemy. The Admiral’s report indicated the exit trajectory heading toward Corellia.”

“So our forces are giving them hell.”

“An reasonable assumption, Lord Regent, though the area is still devoid of outside communications.”

“The Tholatin Forces at Carida have been beaten back?”

“Admiral Drayson is enroute to Mechis III to reinforce Governor Trachta’s forces. A general distress signal was received some time ago.”

“Outer Rim Sovereignty..” Daemon Hyfe mused, his dark eyes glittering has this thoughts remained secret. “very interesting..”

“Our attacks are going as best as can be expected. ORS intervention is not surprising nor completely unexpected.”

“Yes…And the Bastion Protecorate?”

“Holding. Their deployments over these areas,” Kaine took the liberty of inputting a new asset allocation resource into the Regent’s personal map and it suddenly changed showing all the operations and known battles currently being waged, “optimizes what he has available.”

“Stubborn man.”

“A capable man—“ started Kaine but the Regent waved him silent. “I’ve read your report Kaine. I know what is going on. Let it be.”

“May I ask the Regent why?” Kaine’s eyes narrowed.

“You may, but I reserve the right to dismiss your questions without answering.” The Regent smiled (not a pretty sight) predatorily.

“As you wish.” Kaine relented. Not an easy thing for the younger man who’d risen the steps of Imperial Hierarchy.

“You are not force sensitive, are you, Marshall?”

“No, Lord.”

“Interesting. Events are unfolding as I have foreseen them and those events involve the Commodore. Make no move.”

“As you wish, Lord.”


“With these attacks by the aliens and Outer Rim Sovereignty, a concern is brought to mind.” The Regent highlighted a planet and Simon Kaine suddenly felt himself transported back in time..



...taken from Emminent yet Irratic…



The Victory hurled out of hyperspace in time to see the Jenova's final shot.


"NO!!" General Simon Kaine shouted as he lept off his command chair, as if somehow he could pluck the Rebel ships from space...

The Imperial ESD was no longer visible against the backdrop of Muunilist's shadow.


"My God... that looked like a direct hit." Captain Chandler softly spoke as the bridge crew watched multiple smaller flashes appear in the path and near the laser blast.


A bright flash occurred...


"The reactor core just exploded. Damn that shot must have pierced the heart.", someone lamented.

And suddenly many, many smaller flashes occured...like a chain reaction..and the bluish, marron haze disappeared.


"Looks like she's detonated."


Before Kaine could utter severe curses at the Rebels and bring his guns to bear in hatred, the enemy fleet, as quickly as it came...left.



"Pursue, General?"


Kaine was tempted.... beyond measure, oh he was.

"No." he said, with icy calm. "Let's tend to our wounded."


The Victory moved closer to Muunilist, noting the collapsed shipyard crumbling pieces drifting toward the planet.


"Bridge module on a direct course for the Muunilist's atmosphere. Should we?"


"Leave it.." murmured Kaine.


The Victory's bow pierced the floating mass of debris bits that glittered as they floated into the sunlight horizon that divided the "day" side and "night" side of the planet.



Finally, someone tore their eyes from the windows at the debris and toward the scanner consol. The officer's eyes went wide and he let out a yell.


Kaine turned in sharp displeasure, ready to reprimand the officer when his eyes too fell onto the holographic scanner.

"Hold position. External lights! Off the bow, about a thousand kilometers!"


and there, beyond all expectation, slowly rotating,


she was..



Kaine's eyes misted a bit and he turned sharply to Ciscero, standing nearby. "I want Intelligence on this immediately. The Eclipse died. Remember that. It's survival is classified at the highest level..that being, the highest levels are not told. Until we find the mole that betrayed us the first time."

The Imperial Intelligence officer nodded in understanding.

"Captain. Get Admiral Hyfe and Moff Cronus on tight encryption and get them over here. Activate our tractor beams to hold it's position and when they get here, we need to tow it to someplace safe..."

"Cicsero... find us that safe place.."

"Yes sir." he simply replied quietly.




*




“I will NOT have my Flagship once again struck at unprepared!” the wrath in Daemon Hyfe’s voice was very very real. “If these …these . .aliens consider themselves the ‘Children of the New Republic’, I think they may try something similarly foolish again. I demand that these reinforcements be sent there NOW!!”

Kaine looked at the list and sighed. There was no stopping an implacable Regent when his mind was set.

“The orders will be relayed at once.” His mind was already racing. That the Ebony Vigilance II would be hit was a very real possibility and so he revised the final preparations schedule to coincide with the ESD’s formal launch.

Assets were on their way…but just not exactly what the Regent wanted. Complying would not be that much of a difficulty.

As he left the palace, he went straight for Operations Command at the IHC Tower, one of the most secure locations on the planet rivaling the Imperial Palace and Imperial Intelligence Directorate.




*



The Wrath virus had put a stop to the official government... ...but the Imperial infrastructure still remained. There were those happy to see the Empire go, there were those sad to see it go remembering the Class wars rampant between the rich and poor before it had come.. and there were those that just didn’t give a damn one way or the other.

And though, there was no real military presence, the Empire still had it’s intelligence connections.

And those connections showed something recognizable.


A pattern.







“Report from Intelligence. That transport showed up..."






A pattern of control.


A pattern of influence.


That’s what intelligence officers looked for. Patterns. It was one of the first things that clued ISB and Imperial Intelligence to the Black Hand Operations.

And once a pattern of influence and control was recognized, they became easier to spot. This is not to say that the Black Hand was an amateur operation. No, they looked to be the inheritors of the New Republic Intelligence status providing a competition unmatched by any other agency against the Empire.





THEN:....taken from Sovereign Eclipse..


There were hundreds of innocuous ways you can signify that you wish to have a meeting with someone else. The way someone holds a newspaper, a piece of tape on a pole anything could work. In this case it was the colour of the datapad being used. Every month of the year had a different sign and every week within that month had a different colour. John Hammond was standing outside of his freighter Happy Sunrise gesturing at a port official with his light-grey datapad when one of the systems operations officers assigned to this particular subject walked into the landing bay. Black Hand had worked out a near perfect way for him to communicate with the other officers. Each officer was implanted with a specialized comlink. They could send and receive messaged without anyone noticing. The officer sent a message to another officer on the opposite side of the station. With no obvious sign of receiving a message the officer continued on his way heading for the busy shopping section of Eclipse Station.




Now


Ysanne Isard watched with greedy eyes as her shadow fleet had severed Eclipse Station from the planet. It was the first thing isolated as the Imperial Fleet moved to cut off the escape routes of merchants and potential spies caught in space.

If her fleet had not been on station days before tracking and monitoring incoming and outgoing ships, some might have gotten away.

Yes, Ciscero. For agencies that believe in the 'collective' approach, such as Black Hand, dangling a large piece of food is too much to pass up.


And dangle she did.


The second warship being built at Daemon Hyfe's express command to hold the name, Ebony Vigilance was a large piece indeed.


By having an ISB agent interact with Arliss Industries, she was sure that word would get back to the Grand Marshall. But would he care to give her the assets she needed to complete her task? Would he make her priority his priority? With the war on, it was unlikely. With their mutual dislike for one another, it was anybody's guess.

So she upped the ante and had her agents stall his operation at the Bastion Salvage Yard.

Now she had something he wanted and he had something she wanted. It was a mutual need that played into her hands and yet also could aid the Imperial Military in their war against the Sovereignty.

And if she could drive a wedge between the Regent and his Grand Marshall, so much the better.


The bait had been taken, the ship that went where no ship was authorized to go catalogued and identified. It was her contacts still loyal to her on a world formerly owned by the Empire that signaled where that trespassing ship ended up.

That it was a place she was familiar with was so much the better.

The Black Hand had made their mistake and Imperial Intelligence would capitalize.

At first, the Shadow Fleet merely was rerouted to the new location by her express command, overriding their orders to proceed to Muunlist. Kaine already had heavier hardware on the way from Imperial Center and the ships at hand around Muunlist should have been enough to handle any military strike from the Sovereignty that would have been the result of the Black Hand's trespassing and identifying the Eclipse Class Star Destroyer.

The Shadow Fleet exited and began to monitor the planet and the Eclipse Station that orbited.

Isard was content to watch and observe the 'bitz bugs as they scrambled around the food', in this case, information.

When the attack on Muunilist came and went, Isard took command of the assets and the pieces began to fall into place for the ending of her nemesis.


For her contacts had identified the existence of something very important on this planet. Something that her whole strategy centered around...

...Then turning around he made his way back out of the shopping section to one of the Black Hand Safe Houses... taken from, Sovereign Eclipse


One of many.


One of which she was standing in right now.


The Empire had landed it's troops with the planet taken and she moved quickly to isolate the 'bugs' as they ran in panic.

To be fair, some didn't panic. At least not until they realized how dire their circumstances really were. They were cut off, isolated, their enemy knew where they were and had come with a vengence.


She lifted a gloved hand to the face of one of her 'prey' as she tilted his head up. He was suspended by chains from the ceilings that hindered any independent movement.

From the beginning, she was not interested in her prey's organization but rather, his personal life. Finding out those details only served her ends to twist what she wanted out of him.

In the end, to save those dearest to them, a person might sacrifice alot.


Isard counted on such self sacrifice.


And with the Black Hand's numbers, there were a great many opportunities to witness such self sacrifice.



She remembered with glee, at the confusion of her enemy when she told a stalwart young woman that she didn't care where her organization's headquarters were.

It was a common fallacy to think that severing the head would kill the beast for the beast would simply grow another.

Rather, like Kaine, Isard began to look at the long term. She wanted to destroy the beast's eggs. She wanted to ensure that the beast would live only one more generation and die without posterity.

Die without children.

And for that, she wanted the Academy.


At long last, after unspeakable .. incentive. The man babbled about where he was trained.

That it was designated CN-1344 was immaterial.

She would take the fight to her enemy, she would destroy her enemy's children.


After an hour, she let go of the man's hair and left him to weep.

There were other's to question.


"Director, a planetary official wishes an audience."

Isard turned her greying hair to the man and let out a self satisfied smirk.

"Tell him this planet is under my heel. If I but twist that heel, his office will be meaningless. His concern had better be worth my time."

"As you command."


Isard glanced skyward at the distant outline of Eclipse Station knowing what exquisit tortures her enemies were undergoing at that very moment.


She turned a deaf ear to the screams of Agamar.


First, Agamar. Then... the Academy. Oh, these bugs shall surely scatter in fear!