OOC: This meeting takes place slightly <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> before<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> Syndicate forces arrive at Ossus.

IC:

“The importance of Ossus would be itself as a symbol,” Julius answered simply. “It was the first planet chosen in the rule of the Rogue Jedi Order, and therefore shall be the first to fall to order. Rogues have no order in their lives, so we shall provide them with it, and we shall have the galaxy.” Julius smiled at the thought, but was quick to bring up the basics of the conversation. “But of course that’s just speculation on my part. Whatever High Command has planned, they haven’t told me yet...”

Julius leaned back in his seat, swirling the drink in his hand as he waited for Ciscero to talk. The man had no intention of actually drinking his whisky - probably one of the biggest mistakes he could have made was to do that.

“So what’s the word?” Ciscero asked, after Julius had maintained silence for a moment longer. The other turned his head up to face his partner, then looked down at the datapad Ciscero had casually dropped on the table.

“Nothing much.” Julius stated, looking around and scanning the bar with a quick glance. “You know Mary, right?” He continued when Ciscero confirmed with a simple nod of his head. “Well... her baby’s been born.”

“Really?!” The surprise and happiness in Ciscero’s voice was in no way manufactured, as anyone would expect of a highly trained Imperial agent. After the initial shock of the words hit him, he asked: “What’s she naming him?”

Julius let another smile part his face, as he and Ciscero locked eyes.

“Dylan.”

Ciscero relaxed a bit, sitting back. His arms flopped to his sides, and he closed his eyes. “Good name.”

“Yes, it is, isn’t it...” Julius trailed off as he unseated himself, stretching his legs and rising to his full height. He didn’t make a show of it, and then just as discretely slipped the datapad Ciscero had brought along into one of the pockets in his coat.

As he left the bar, his slackened pace quickened. Ciscero could be trusted to fake getting drunk, and then hole away somewhere until dawn. The night’s work would be left up to Julius, but the Intel agent didn’t necessarily mind much.

He was quickly moving through the suburbs now, and soon looming before Julius was the mass of a giant transmitter. It was new, much the same as everything else in this district. Everything on this world was either very new, or extraordinarily old.

This transmitter was indeed new, and therefore had a state-of-the-art security system.

Nothing Imperial Intelligence couldn’t get around easily enough, though, and nothing Julius hadn’t handled countless times before.

This time would be no different, and judging by the state of the transmitter, the New Order fleet waiting on the edge of the system should receive this final go-ahead fairly quickly.

"Sir? The contact time has passed." came Chandler's voice over the comm system.


Simon Kaine sat in his command chair mulling over reports of the fleet's status.

"Last known location?" he inquired without looking up.

"Rogue Jedi Order," his Exec officer volunteered and Captain Chandler nodded in agreement.


Simon's eyes seemed to grow heavy as he pondered that.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Jedi?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"What do we know of it's leader, Searthen Jiren?"

His Exec cleared his throat, "umm, Sir. In theory, their faction is democratically run.."

Simon glanced up from the reports and his Exec's voice trailed.
Turning to Chandler's holographic projection, "The question stands Captain."

"Reports on Jiren are sketchy. It's hard to know what to think. According to rumors the man either sired half of RJO's population or believes himself to be some sort of religious Messiah."

"..half of RJO's population?" Simon said thoughtfully. "They'd be barely old enough to shave." His eyes fell back to the reports.

"Whatever the rumors, the common denominator in all of them is his fascination with force mysticism."

"Tactical ability?" Simon snapped.

Chandler's hologram shrugged. "Better than some, worse than others."

"Political ability?"

"Sadly lacking. Intel reports internal strife but how serious is anybody's guess."

"Is he dangerous?"

"Sir, he was at Dantooine."

And Simon's eyes stopped reading the reports.


"If Ciscero is late, there's a very good reason." He stood up.


"Helm? Prepare to set a course for Ossus." Turning to Chandler, "We will tap into their commnet and see if we can turn up clues to Ciscero's whereabouts."

"Will you be taking the fleet?"

"For a retrieval? No. Captain, the 256th is yours. The Galactus and two escort frigates will be all I require. We shall regroup at the designated coordinates in two days."

"Good hunting General."

"Ciscero had better have a good reason for this. Watch after the fleet, Chandler."


And the small taskforce made the jump to hyperspace, destination: Ossus.

Ossus- High Orbit, onboard the Tachyon

"What in the name of the Force..."

The situation over Ossus deteriorated suddenly and magnificently. Whatever gods there were, they seemed to hate General Tellien, as the second of two massive fleets landed in the system with cunning ferocity driving them in towards the Rogue Jedi fleet.

'Ca- General Tellien, we have two hails. One from the Imperials, one from the Chiss.'

Tellien looked preturbed. "Two? You mean they're not working in tangent? One would think... hmm. If we're going to loose to day, Officer, we're going to know who beat us. Get one of those Liberators forward, and have then scan to intercept all hails."

'Aye, sir.'

As the comm officer spoke, he permitted the first of the two hails through. A tall, blue skinned officer with a crisp Imperial accent; a Chiss. 'This is the Claw Star Destroyer Jekkel, hailing Rogue Jedi Order vessels.'

"This is General Tellien. Any reason you'd fire first, then offer to speak?"

'A very good one, but not one I'd care to share with you. On behalf of the Chiss Imperium, I present you a formal offer of surrender. I suggest you accept.'

"Refused."

The Chiss raised an eyebrow. 'Even as eight transports of the best-trained troops bear down on your world, General Tellien?'

"Even as they do."

Outside the Super Star Destroyer, the firefight continued in most hap-hazard fashion, with many Rogue Jedi gunners unsure whether they should fire upon the Imperial craft. Green bolts richocheted off Chiss shields repeatedly, the enemy craft twisting to evade. Ever closer, the Imperium craft were marching, and even the Rogue Jedi fleet were powerless to stop them.

The Imperial ships were more of a mystery. Though engaging the Rogues and obviously hostile, they seemed equally unsure in manner, closing on the Rogues to the left of the Chiss Imperium ships. They'd not fired upon Thrawn's forces.

'You Jedi are braver than my initial estimation. Though foolish.'

"I'll grant you that one."

Tellien nodded imperceptably at the communications officer, pacing around the holocomm to stare out the viewport of the Tachyon.

"Move us forward. Engage them at close range."

'Yes, sir. Will you take the Imperial hail?'

Tellien sighed. 'Yes.'

Ossus- High Orbit, on board the Chimera II

The Imperial officer attempt to mask his shock; the attempt was highly ineffective. Thinking to speak to an annonymous Chiss commander, the man found himself staring into the red eyes of the most famous Imperial commander in history; Grand Admiral Thrawn.

'Y-yes... the New Order would be most pleased to co-operate with your esteemed forces in this measure... of course.'

"Excellent, Officer. We will require your assistance in the ground assault; please prepare your forces for such an eventuality."

'Uh... yes, sir. And...'

"Yes?"

'It is good to have you back, sir... however you came to be...'

"Indeed."

The holocomm feed was shut off, the miniature statuette of the officer disappearing into the holocube. Thrawn glanced back at Captain Heirel.

"They assume too much."

'Yes, sir. Our transports report landing in four major Ossan cities, including Orilcia, the capitol.'

"Good. Let the assault begin. And order the gunners to stop holding back... open full fire upon the Rogue Jedi."

'And the Imperials?'

"They will be useful. Allow them to work along side us; for now."

Ossus- Orilcia, Capital City, Tayrel District

The shadows in the sky eclipsed the sun, darkness cast over the Ossan capital city perpetual, inflicting a cold both real and imaginary.

The invaders descended from the sky in ships of cold durasteel, the blue-skinned warriors ready to pour from their holds when they set down.

The streets were abandoned, cold winds sweeping articles left behind across the bleak landscape. The towering buildings all around served as the last place the fevered populace of Ossus. Final RogueNet broadcasts before the reporters relocated to a bunker of some sort reported the de-throning of Gash Jiren to what was described as a "Senatorial rebellion".

And Gash returned just in time to march the cold, grey streets in absolute silence. The Tyr Temple left long behind, his command lost. The Star Destroyers blocking the twin suns above were proof of this; the Senate, with such characters as Musaile in it, could do naught but eject him from that which he had created.

The eight transports of the Chiss, estimated at five-hundred meters by Gash's eyeball gague, were vaugely visible as grey smudges on the black sky. On the horizon, a murky light broke the cloud, making the world of Ossus appear to be in some sort of twilight.

Gash's clothes were slightly torn, ruined from the duel with his son. A duel which had been nothing but a distraction; this was a fool's game, and he'd played along. He'd been destroyed from within, and walking the abandoned streets toward the Ossan Parliament Palace, that became painfully apparent. He had been played like a game of sabacc; and now, the enemy was here, in full force, and nothing he could do would save Ossus.

A single sound broke the silence; the wailing sound of OsSec speeders. Yet, no click-click of the boots of Rogue Jedi Order soldiers, no metal screech of the siege defences. Where in the name of the Force are my troops...? This is a planetary invasion, and we have nothing to defend us.

Suddenly, the single wail of the OsSec police speeder became a great cresendo of screaming sirens, as the sleek speeders rose above the hundred-meter tall buildings, and many more began rushing throughout the streets. Police, Gash thought, Police against an army.

The eight massive troop transports drew ever closer.

And then, it rained.

But without clouds. For this rain was not one of water, but one from above; a spiraling rain of proton rockets, whistling through the air towards Gash and Orilcia. Towards the thousands of huge buildings which held the civilians of Orilcia.

"Damn it..." Gash muttered, grabbing his lightsaber and running for cover to one of the nearby skyscrapers. The rockets drew nearer. Gash ran under a balcony of the huge building, leaning against a transparisteel window to steady himself against the huge shockwave of fire he knew was coming.

The rockets drew nearer.

He hazarded a glance towards the transparisteel viewport against which he stood, seeing no blinds drawn to hide what was within. What he saw, chilled his heart more than the destruction he knew was seconds away.

A single child stood inside, sniffling, his mother far behind, hiding under a small table. The building was a residential area. And now, mother and son stood terrified, knowing they were about to die. A death Gash knew was his fault. A death which was one of a thousand who would die because he was an imbecile of proportions beyond all imagination.

The child recognized him; Gash could tell by the thoughts he read in the Force. Gash put on a brave look, masking the fear and sorrow within him, and smiled at the child. He held up his lightsaber, and nodded. He mouthed three words.

"You are safe."

Then the rockets hit. The duracrete of the dozens of buildings hit crumbled and flew about, shrapnel to spread damage all around. Durasteel melted, transparisteel shattered. One of the rockets struck the building Gash had chosen to take shelter near; within a second, fire spread all around Gash, every viewport in the building shattering instantly. Shards of that glass sliced all across his body. The upper parts of the building errupted in fire and destruction, sending it's components to the ground below. The tower began to collapse, Gash gripping one of the duracrete polls nearby with a bloodied hand.

Rock fell all around him, fires errupting everywhere as the city danced with inferno. The blaze singed him, even as the rubble falling from above began to rain down upon him. A small piece struck his shoulder, causing Gash to fall; in a second, he was buried in rubble.

And within thirty seconds, more than half of Orilcia was leveled. The buildings became the hollow shards they had been before being rebuilt by Gash Jiren; and those who had survived rushed from their shelter. Under the rock, Gash heard the screams of thousands, millions of civilians.

Innocents.

Blood on his hands, besides his own.

Gash found his lightsaber, functional, beneath him. He cut his way free; what he found was sickening. A hundred thousand screaming civilians, clutching wounds and running frantically. A sky covered in smoke and ash, the sky and ships above blocked out completely. Fires all around, burning whatever they could; half of the ground was littered with blaze. And behind the long cityscape of ruined buildings lay the same.

And in the distance, now clearly visible through ruined buildings, was the flaming, half-destroyed Ossan Parliament Palace. And in front of it, landed three of those transport craft which had fired the rockets.

Warriors streamed forth.

And Gash moved towards them.

The breathtaking view of the Transitory Mists were lost upon the Queen Mother as she sat behind and to the right of the speaker. She could not even remember the name of the Senator that droned on at the pulpit at the rear of Lorell Hall. Instead of listening to the man babble about some pointless trade agreement she found herself starting at one of the many lava node rings that adorned her fingers. Try as she may, something kept Vessana’s attention away from the happenings of the Colonies.

A strong hand settle on top hers, and she looked to the man sitting to her left. His dark blue eyes smiled at her though his chiseled face remained emotionless. Prince Dakkon gave her hand a gently squeeze, indicating that he too felt what she felt.

Foreboding.

The minutes dragged on and finally the Senator ended his monologue. With a sigh of relief, the Royals rose from their seats and exitted out a door immediately behind them.

" That wasn’t so bad, was it Ana?" Dakkon asked in a whisper as they moved through the private corridor that would lead them to the receiving area.

" I don’t think I heard a word spoken all night," she replied, her voice equally as quite. " Something is wrong, Dakkon. Very wrong."

He gave her a subtle nod. " I know. I can feel it too."

Arm in arm they stepped out of the corridor and into the immense room just as dignitaries from the other sixty-two planets of the Consortium entered from the hall. No sooner had they done so than a uniformed officer of the Hapan Navy approached the couple.

" You pardons, Highnesses, but we have just received a report from one of our fleet ships in Coruscant Sector." He turned pointedly to the Prince. " They require your attention, Admiral."

Vessana glanced around the immediate area, looking for one woman in particular. Seeing her assistant not far off talking with one of the Senators she caught the young girls eye and motioned to her. With a nod the red-headed girl excused herself from the Senator and moved to the center of the room.

" You attention please Ladies and Gentlemen!" Her voice dominated the room, demanding the attention of all those present. " We regret to inform you that matters of importance-"

Dakkon motioned for the officer to follow them as they stepped back into the corridor. " This way, Captain." In silence the three made their way back through the corridor, taking a different branch away from the Hall, they soon entered a small office.

Vessana moved toward the large desk that sat before an even larger window, removing the tiara of rainbow gems, dawnstars, and ice moons that rested upon her golden hair. Dakkon stood just in front of the desk while she took the chair behind.

" What is it, Captain?"

Clearing his throat, the captain moved to the desk and placed a couple of datapads on the desk. " Precisely two hour ago, Imperial and Chiss forces moved on the Capital Planet of the Rogue Jedi. Hundreds of thousands have already been reported killed as the ships of both forces opened fire on the planet."

Dakkon’s face paled. " Dear god,"

Vessana however, kept her composure. " And what has this to do with us, Captain?"

" We received a transmission from one of our agents only minutes before the attack began. He is on assignment on the planet of Ossus. It was fragmented and incomplete, but we think we were able to retrieve most of it."

Vessana pressed a series of buttons on a keypad situated on the desk, a large panel of the wall sliding into a compartment. Behind it a large computer console became visible. " Let us hear this transmission, Captain."

He nodded, moved to the computer, and entered in a data-chip. After a moment, the recording began to play. It was static filled and even cut out in places. The only truly audible part mentioned an over heard conversation about a supposed plot to betray Hapes. Though who the conversation was with was indistinguishable.

Dakkon moved to stand next to the captain and played the recording again, though nothing had changed. " Contact the fleet, Captain, we’ll send what help we can to Ossus-"

" Belay that order Captain."

Both men turned to face her, their confusion apparent on their faces. " Ana-"

She held up a hand, stopping her husband before he went any further. Slowly she got to her feet, her hands resting on the smooth surface of the desk. " This is not our fight, Admiral. We have not be asked to help, and nor would we if they had. If there is a supposed plot to betray the Consortium I will not weaken our defenses by sending our fleets to the aid of those more than capable of defending themselves. I will not sacrifice the lives of Hapan soldiers in the conflicts of others. Am I clear on this?"

They both bowed at the waist, though she could feel the conflict in them both. It was the same conflict that she felt. But she could not justify sending Hapans to their deaths.

" Good. Now Captain, get our people out of there."

<font color=gray>Ossus - Triahel Detention Center

Drayil stood there, muttering under his breath while firing stun lasers between the prison bars to keep the Ossus Troops quiet. A few guards stood guarding the doors and some cells, but not a large number.

A snap hiss was heard and the gold beam of a lightsaber sprouted from the shadows. One of the guards shouted out.</font>

"A Jedi! Get him!"

<font color=gray>The lightsaber twirled and spun, blocking all laser blasts and directing them back at some of the guards. It moved gently but swiftly, the work of a true knight. In fact, it was a knight weilding the weapon.

Rogue Jedi Knight Arrix Stryker stepped from the shadows of the Triahel Detention Center. He continued blocking laser blasts, and eventually got close enough to one of the guards. He made a diagonal slash, and the guard fell to the floor. Dead.

Some of the smart guards retreated, but a couple remained. Arrix quickly cut one in half and impaled another. Finally, none of the guards remained standing. Arrix chased after the guards, using the force to help propel his legs. He quickly caught up with them and killed them off.</font>

"Don't...move."

<font color=gray>Arrix slowly turned to see Drayil holding a blaster to N'iktal Jiren's left temple. Drayil smirked, for the first time feeling confident in what he was doing. To his amazement Arrix started laughing.</font>

"Fine. Go ahead. Kill him. Then you die."

<font color=gray>Drayil turned pale. He pushed aside N'iktal and took out his blaster. Too late. Arrix sliced off his arm.

Drayil screamed in agony. He held his shoulder and ran into the shadows. Arrix started to persue him but then remembered he didn't have much time. He turned to N'iktal who was brushing himself off.</font>

"Come. Help me. We have to free these prisoners."

<font color=gray>N'iktal nodded and began to help Arrix in opening the doors to the cells and freeing Ossus Soldiers.</font>

Hell had broken loose.Yzan had never seen anything like the apocalypse that had befallen Ossus now.

The soldiers came.

Yzan watched from his hiding place with a mixture of awe,suspiscion,and a vaguely impressed feeling.The Chiss men in armor came firing steady bolts at the Ossan Police defenders.

Yzan now considered his next move.

Viceroy Paret and the Council of Castes would want to hear about this new interesting little development.It was his duty to bring this information to them.

He slowly made his way past the fighting,staying in the shadows.He had to get to a ship,one equipped with a hyperdrive.

"Mommy?"

Yzan froze.That sounded like the voice of a child.

"Mommy!?!?!!?"

Yzan spun around....and found himself stareing at a horrible sight.A middle aged woman was lying, half covered by rubble, with a small child crouched next to her.
The child looked up and saw Yzan.He was a fearsome sight,he was skeletal,with a thornlike claw coming out of his wrist.The chiled backed away,trying her best to shelter her mother.

"Dai'nooga, ik'nath doleney"-(Do not fear, child,I will help you)

"My mommy is hurt"

"Shep'th hertona" (It will be alright)

Yzan steped forward and pulled out his blaster.He took careful aim and fired,obliterating part of the rubble.He put the weapon away and started throwing rubble of the Ossan woman.Soon she was free,but she had two broken legs and could not walk.Yzan picked her up and hoisted her over his shoulder.He quickly made his way through the rubble and found several more survivors and some medical personell.He turned the woman and her child over to te doctors and ran off,looking foir a ship.

He had been trained be the best and his speed was impressive.

He skidded to a stop a short time later.There was a small pre-fab building with voices coming out of it.

"Captain, I will not tolerate failure"

"Yes sir Admiral Thrawn"

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Thrawn..........Grand Admiral Thrawn<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->???

The captain and the Admiral continued speaking.They discussed strategy and how to defeat the Ossan FOrces.

Yzan quietly crept to the door.Two Chiss stood on the inside of the door,guarding it.Yzan looked in,careful not to reveal his presense.

Sure enough, in holo form, was Grand Admiral Thrawn.

He was talking to a man in an Imperial-like unifrom.The man had blue skin and was the same species as Thrawn.

Yzan was confused.The last he knew Thrawn had been killed by his own bodyguard, a long time ago.

Yzan crept away from the command center quietly and made his way to a cluster of unsual fighter craft...

Gash Jiren hid silently behind the proverbial pillar of duracrete. Fallen from two buildings above and behind that had been struck by rockets, the pile of debris was just thin enough that the rocks formed one, albeit small, hole, through which Gash could survey what lay beyond. The Ossan Parliament Palace, it's majesty stolen by a single rocket, flaming debris of duracrete and transparisteel lying all about the half of the building which remained. Gash could still feel the heat of the fires which cast a red glow on everything around him, as he studied the prefabricated shelter the Chiss invaders had set up in front of the Palace's ruins.

In the corner of his eye, he noted some sort of strange being of an alien species approaching the tent-like structure, curiosity rolling off him in the Force. In a second, that curiosity turned to shock and mild fear. He scarpered away from the command center, and Gash finally deduced his species; the xenophobic Yevetha. An odd type to find on a highly-populated urban world.

Squads of six or seven soldiers were stationed around the perimeter of the center, firing off a constant wave of blue blasterfire at the OsSec defenders about the place. The packs of cohesive energy cast an odd glow as the were flung about, making the entire look like the warzone it was. The constant return fire was less effective; yet, OsSec officers were trained for combat situations. It was almost as if...

They weren't trying.

Gash ignored that thought, continuing to reach towards that patrol. Clenching his teeth to abate the anger, he tried to resist the urge to kill the soldier where he stood. After destroying his city, his world, his order...

The unseen hands of the Force tightened around the man's neck, raising him into the air slowly. His squadmates errupted in a panic, unsure as to what they should do, but certain of the cause as they scanned about to find their unseen attacker; a Jedi.

Gash gave them what they wanted. He climbed to the top of the rock pile which he hid behind, lighting his saber. The squad rushed towards him--

And then, all hell broke loose.

Again.

"Damn it!" Gash shouted as red blaster bolts sprang about his head- and everywhere within his range of sight.

The soldiers which had crept unseen towards the command center and the various other scatterings of Chiss troops opened fire, filling the air with crimson blaster bolts. Gash leapt down from his perch. The source of the bolts and return fire seemed to be everywhere; within buildings, in the streets. A group of three Rogue Jedi Order soldiers in the street directly behind Gash dodged the flames and fallen rock around them to fire, backpeddling, on a squad of Chiss soldiers taking station in the hulk of a destroyed building.

All around, the situations were the same--with the Ossan defenders retreating under the press of surperior numbers. Gash rushed from the command center, conscious of his six persuers, including the one he'd choked momentarily. He dodged out of the street he was in, into what had once been a dark alley; now illuminated by the alleviation of the shadows no longer cast by the ruins of the buildings around him.

A man with a lightsaber against a squad of soldiers.

Good thing he didn't believe in odds.

The trip to Ossus had been rather uneventful. Simon Kaine took the time to sit in his quarters and reflect.

The swirling lights of the hyperspacial tunnel splattered a kaleidoscope of colors on his ceiling.

The effect was mesmerizing.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rogue Jedi..


Dantooine...


Ciscero..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


His mind drifted between speculation and experience as he drifted into sleep.


*


The Exec Officer completed reversion with little trouble and the Galactus, flanked by three frigates, entered the vicinity of Ossus.

A rather crowded Ossus as he watched the attacks against the Jedi taking place.


Not that he had any love for the Jedi but was this friend or foe?


He hailed the craft with Chiss markings, expecting an anonymous captain but instead..


He took a sharp breath for seated before him was a man of legend.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Grand Admiral Thrawn??!!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

His mind was so shocked that it took a moment to realize the Grand Admiral was speaking.

"Y-yes... the New Order would be most pleased to co-operate with your esteemed forces in this measure... of course."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Could there be any doubt?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

The Grand Admiral spoke once more giving an order, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "Excellent, Officer. We will require your assistance in the ground assault; please prepare your forces for such an eventuality."<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


And before the transmission flickered off he took the initiative.

"Uh... yes, sir. And..."


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "Yes?"<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"It is good to have you back, sir... however you came to be..."
He held his breath.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "Indeed."<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

The holocomm feed was shut off, the miniature statuette of the Grand Admiral disappearing into the holocube. The Exec felt a surge of pride for his little part that was surely to become a part of history.

The return of Grand Admiral Thrawn!

"Prepare the assault troops," he commanded imperiously. "Weapons, open fire on any Rogue vessels in the vicinity. The Grand Admiral has something up his sleeve and I want to be there to witness his successes."

"At once!" came the overwhelming response as the once tired crew of the Galactus felt a surge of adrenaline and excitement.

It was as if the wind was put back into their sails.

The Exec forgot about the lost Imperial Intelligence agent.

*

Simon's eyes snapped open with the discharging of Galactus' heavy weaponry.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What the..?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He moved out of his quarters noting that the ship had gone to battlestations.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Combat? Rogue Jedi!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, his mind seemed to ask and answer in his trip to the bridge.

Upon reaching the Command Deck he took in the ship's status rather quickly as well as that of the frigates.

"Situation?" he snapped.

"Sir, we are assisting Grand Admiral Thrawn in his most glorious conquest of the planet. Troop transports are ready for deployment and fighters are launching for support."

Simon's mind instantly put the tactical information into his mind, leaving the nonessential out. Then that information was processed and he frowned, narrowing his eyes.

"Grand Admiral Thrawn?" he asked, rather dubiously.

"Yes sir!" the Exec. said rather excitedly.

He kept his eyes on his Exec for a minute and then sighed. "First things first then. Secure an area on the ground and locate our Intel Agent.

If it is Thrawn, we are a wildcard. He already has a plan for taking the planet without our aid.

Have fighters perform searches of any astral bodies present that may mask hidden Jedi forces."

"And the assault Sir?" his Exec asked eagerly.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Too eager.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"By all means, continue the assault landings and support the Chiss in their efforts.

However, I want constant situation reports on their progress. We are in no position to hold a planet this deep into Jedi territory.

I can only imagine how the other lightsiders would react to this?"

"But.. sir. Grand Admiral Thrawn.."

"Has been gone a long time." Kaine interrupted.

Turning to the signal officer, "Send an encrypted message to Grand Admiral Hyfe and the Fleet. We may need their assistance."

"And Captain Chandler?"

"He is fine where he is now. Send him a situation report and an order to stay put."

"Yes, Sir."


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Thrawn?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Simon stared at the Grand Admiral's vessels his mind a flurry of questions.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Now just where the hell have you been these years?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<font color=blue>AT-ATs had been lined up in Transport Omega, the AT-STs in Delta, both of which touched down what looked like four kilometers from the capital city of Ossus. X'cannothvel'i'lleneru would have prefered to land within the city itself, but despite the grand admiral's well planned assault, there were still defenses within the city that would entrench the forces and end them faster than they began.

Lining up toward the city's highways were cut off roads and frantically mdae trenches to withold the massively onslaughting soldiers of Syndic Mitth'raw'nuroudo pummeling the Ossus forces. But what they had suffered so far was nothing compared to what was coming from the Sith. There were several of them lined up amongst the upheaveled rit, light repeating rifles slung over their shoulders to try to ward off the invaders. Velil exasperated a sigh as he watched them shuffle through the dug in earth viewing them through his microbinoculars.

He could sense their fear through the Force, tumbling over them like a broken pile of blocks. Every now and again they'd attempt to blast a starfighter flying overherad, but always failing miserably. Removing the visual enhancers from his glowing scarlet eyes, Velil finally saw the last AT-AT removing itself from the Assault Tranport. They were still yet a marvel in Imperial design, their enormous legs casting them out like titans.</font>

"Forces ready sir,"<font color=blue> the commander of the AT-AT dubbed Syndic One reported over the comm unit. Meanwhile the AT-STs, dubbed Buzzards One through Nine moved into formation. The loud clanking of their durasteel joints bellowed their exertion of energy toward the upcoming bloodbath. When the four AT-ATs found their positions within the formations, only the tanks were left to shuffle.

The solid grasslands reminded X'cannothvel'i'llenerou of Ignias, his homeworld, or of Csilla before the Ice Age. However, this land was tainted and corrupt, requiring the liberation by Syndic Mitth'raw'nuroudo, and Grand Admiral Thrawn. The Chiss had to stand together for the sake of the Chiss.</font>

"Battle Group Longhorn are you ready?"<font color=blue> X'cannothvel'i'llenerou's - or Velil's for short - subordinate requested over the open frequency.</font>

"Negative Big Brother, go ahead without us," <font color=blue>Longhorn responded. Velil sensed the subordinate, Colonel Krawl, was about to speak, but he grabbed his commlink first. He wanted all forces ready for battle.</font>

"Negative Longhorn, the tanks may teeter the balance of this battle."

"Roger Command."

<font color=blue>Velil then made pace for the infantry lines at his disposal. However, the Sith used the Force to link the soldiers together in a battle meld that would offer top-notch performance. But Velil would not succumb to arrogance, he knew that once the first singing, red laser was shot the plans meant nothing compared to instinct. It would be a matter of survival, not looking fancy in uniform and formations.

Lifting a T-21 off the ground, the Chiss hefted the weapon's belt over his shoulder. His indigo skin broiled the heat of Ossus's sun, even though the sky was emblazened with turmoil and battle. Every now and again an X-Wing or a Blastboat would skim overhead, pursued closely by a TIE, or a clawcraft. These Ossus defenders would never last long.</font>

"Battle Group Longhorn ready!"<font color=blue> Velil's comm sputtered. He gripped it and lifted it to his lips, his stomach shifting like a Dathomiri stew. He was eager.</font>

"All forces move out."





<font color=red>Cragnis Palker was one of the few militarymen actually fighting for Ossus, taking up the battle to the front lines. Syndic Mitth'raw'nuroudo forces were overruning the city and only one stronghold remained to hold off any more invaders. The east and south wings had fallen easily, west remained untouched, but they were so far called in as relief forces to keep the invaders from continuing through the south wing. It only made sense to hack down the northern perimeter.

Cragnis was huddled up against the solid, hard dirt, ignoring the pain of rocks pinching his skin, or of the worms and insects tickling his flesh. He was hot, but the sweat on his brow came from something else. It came from fear. His body trembled, his index finger shaking against the trigger. He tried to keep his breath shallow, he did not want to attract attention to himself.

A rumbling overtook the soon to be battlefield, and the first thing Cragnis could see were the command tanks. Their mighty cannons were swiveling in an attempt to find a target. The Anti-Vehicle Batteries, or AVBs, released a sudden wave of green laser fire. One of the tanks combusted immediately, throwing shrapnel and chunks of durasteel all about. For only an instant the Ossus militaryman dared to feel joy.

But with the sudden wave of laserfire from the AT-ATs the soldiers knew better than to carry on with their excitement.</font>

By the Force its Hoth all over again!

<font color=red>Cragnis did not think twice about blasting the mostrous sized mechanical terrors, despite the fact that he knew his shots would do nothing against the oversized, heavily armored transport. Blast after blast merely pinged off the plating like grains of sand off duracrete.

However, when the infantry began to show themselves in pockets of units it was like a warm ewelcome to the huddled soldiers. Despite his ambition, Cragnis was not the first to fire, much less take down one of the lightly armored soldiers.

In near unison the make-shift militia army blasted off a sudden wave of blaster-fire, taking down a wave of infantry almost too quickly. The AT-ATs rained back their own fire, and Cragnis felt the heat of the AVB's exploding armor.

Cragnis wasted no time now in nearly unloading his weapons on the lines. They would not stop coming...they were going to overrun them...there's nothing he can do.</font>