"Galantos?" Yanth asked.

"Yes. We beleive there is a formidable force at that planet. They seem to be pirates" Greth said.

Yanth frowned.

"And we just found this out? do you know how long these pirates have been there?"

"No we do not. But it appears that they arrived there recently"

Yanth sat down at his desk.

"What do you suggest?" He asked.

Greth came up and sat down in front of the desl.

"We should send a force to crush them. And then an occupation force to set up a base on the planet" Greth said,

Yanth sat back in his chair and stared out the window.

"Very well. You have authorization"

"Ah excellent" Greth said as he boarded the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Valiant<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->. The newest Yevethan vessel to be commisioned.

The new <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Menace<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-class Star Destroyer orbited the planet Tholaz, awaiting its first mission. Greth had cosen it as his flagship for the Galantos assault because it's entire crew was completly loyal to him.

He liked it that way.

"The <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Valiant<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> is fully at your command, Admiral Greth" The Captain, Agant, said to him. The Captain was the son of the famed General Agant.

"Good, good. I want to depart for Galantos as soona s possible" Greth said.

"Yes sir. The Thrustships are standing by"

"Good. Well, lets go captain, Galantos is waiting"

"Yes sir. We will leave within the hour. Now let me show you to your stateroom..."


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

"Our operatives at Tholaz have noticed a flurry of activity in orbit. It appears that the new Menace-class Star Destroyer and 15 Armadia-class Thrustships have gathered. They entered hyperspace half an hour ago"

Jian nodded.

"Good. Have our forces put on alert"

"Yes sir"

OOC:

Tentengo - General Agant is one of the most famous DL officers on N'zoth. I am currently using him as an NPC in Shadows on a Fist pt. II.

There really isn't any other information that I can give you. I haven't developed Agant's background yet.

Oh and btw, my AIM is not working correctly lately and I may not be on the computer as often. I am sorry.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Beep...beep...beep<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Jian?"

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> beep...beep...beep<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Jian?!"

Jian Paret sat up quickly in his bed and looked around the darkened room. He didn't see anyone or anything there. Just the cold grey steel walls of the bunker he was currently residing in. The reason for that was he had been alerted to Duskhan League vessels on the move toward Galantos. It was beleived that they thought of Jian's forces as pirates. And they wanted to destroy all the pirates and 'undisireables' of the Koornatch Cluster.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Beep...beep...beep<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He turned around and noticed his comm system was beeping at him, he had received a messege.

He leaned over and switiched ot to 'on'.

"Viceroy" He heard a strong voice come through. "We have detected Duskhan League forces preparing to enter the system"

"How do you know?"

"Our scouts have engaged them"

"Very well. Inform Admiral Spa'ar and prepare the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Pride of Yevetha<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> for my arrival"

"Understood"

Jian hopped out of bed and began pulling on his cloak. As soon as he was dressed he quickly exited the room and made his way to his shuttle.

It was time.

<font color=red>

"I do not know what you are talking about"

"Oh come on, Yevethan, you know what we want"

The skinny, skeletal being smiled slightly up at him.

"No I don't" The skeleton said.

The man who was questioning the Yevethan shook his head and kicked the alien sharply in the stomach. The being groaned for a minute but then it looked back up at the man, defiance still in his eyes.

"I am getting tired of this game, Yevethan" The man said.

Then the skeleton did the unthinkable.

He laughed in the man's face.

The man straightened then he hit the Yevethan solidly in the face. The alien's bright streaks of facial color brightened for just a moment before they were replaced by a darker briuse.

"Do not mock me again, or you will suffer" The man said angrily. He hated being laughed at.

"Oh?" The skeleton said, mockingly "And what could be worse then being 'interogated' by your sorry nerf-herding backside?"


The man didn't say anything. He simply walked out of the room. The Yevethan would soon regret those words.</font></font>




<font color=red>

"Admiral, the report from the Koornatch Cluster you asked for"

Griff turned around and regarded the young man who was handing him a datapad. The young Captain was the commander of the vessel Griff was currently standing on. It was a Strike-class Cruiser named the Scorpion. The very first vessel built by the Federation.

"Thank you captain. I hope our Yevethan friends are doing as they are told"

The captain didn't seem to know what to say.

"Uh...yes sir"

Griff laughed quietly. Somtimes it was fun doing that.

The report was exactly as he had known it would be. The Duskhan League was massing for a military strike somewhere in the Cluster. Possibly the mysterious 'pirates' who were hiding on Galantos.

Galantos...


"Captain, set course for Galantos. All speed please"

The young officer looked surprised but to his credit, he didn't question orders.

"Helm" The captain said "Lay in a course for Galantos. Engage hyperdrive when ready"

Griff sighed and walked towards the back of the bridge. He almost wished he wasn't here.
</font>

OOC: For those of you who are wondering, This is Jian Paret under an alias. This may seem a bit unusual, bit I promise it will be explained in due time.

"Status?"

"We are entering the Galantos system. I am detecting.....oh!....."

Yanth frowned at the sensor operator.

"What?"

"Its a huge battle fleet. I didn't realize that these pirates were so well equiped"

"Can we stand against them?"

"Yes. We have a very good chance"

Yanth smiled at the operator. "Thank you. That is what I wanted to hear"

The operator nodded and turned back to his console and tried to look busy. Yanth walked across the bridge of the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Valiant<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> and sat in the commander's chair. He noticed the slight frown on Krenmt's face. But he ignored it and tried to act like he knew what he was doing.

"Full sublight. Raise sheilds and charge weaponss. Prepare to fire"

"We are in range, Viceroy Yanth"

"Good. All ships: fire at will"

The Armadia-class Thrustships shot ahead and began unleashing their torrent of fire at the Imperial and Victory class Star Destroyers gathered in orbit around Galantos.

The <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Valiant<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> moved forward and opened up with all of its weapons, along with the Thrustships. The Thrustships themselves swarmed around their targets and relentlessly bombarded the Star Destroyers...


On board the mighty vessel <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Pride of Yevetha<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, Jian smiled as he watched the sensor readings. His forces had engaged the Duskhan League and were doing well. Whoever was commanding the Duskhan League vessels must not have much experiance or was appointed by Yanth.

"Raise all sheilds and prepare to exit the nebula at my command. Admiral Spa'ar, you are clear to counterattack the Duskhan League. Superlaser, charge up and prepare to fire. All weapons, charge and fire at my command"

Jian sat in the command chair, Admiral Logan's old chair. The chair felt big and cold, as if he didn't belong there. But he sat in it nevertheless because he was the commander of the vessel. But he knew that it would be the last time he would command it.

"Sir" His XO said. "All stations report ready. We are ready for battle"

Jian nodded and gripped the arms of his chair.

It was time to make history.

"Exit the nebula" Jian said.

<font color="red">

"Thirty seconds to reversion"

"All ships, raise sheilds and power weapons. Once you come into realspace pick a target and attack it untill you destroy it"

His XO turned and looked at him.

"But sir...who should we target, the Duskhan League or the pirates?"

"Target the Duskhan League for now. We may need the pirates help when we attack N'zoth"

"Twenty seconds to reversion"

"Understood. We will target the Duskhan League"

Griff sat back and opened his fist and closed it again, trying to concentrate on the task ahead.

"Ten seconds to reversion"

"nine....eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two..."

"Reversion"</font>



<font color="red">

Oh...no... Griff thought.

The Outer-Rim Federation vessels exited hyperspace, and entered hell.

The place was pure carnage. Dying Thrustships and Star Destroyers littered the space around the blue-green planet of Galantos.

Hull fragments and debris floated everywhere...along with a few lifeless Yevethan bodies. Griff just fell back into his chair in shock.

"...report..." He said.

The sensor officer nodded and gripped either side of his console, trying to focus.

"I am detecting eighteen intact vessels. And a total of..."

The sensor officer trailed off.

"Damnit tell me!" Griff growled.

"...one hundred thousand dead..."

Griff gripped the arms of his chair and sighed softly.

"How many alive?"

"I am detecting one hundred fifty thousand lifesigns"

Griff shook his head.

"Well the Yevetha annihilated themseleves. There is nothing left of them"

"Admiral! Super Star Destroyer coming up fast on the fleet's port flank!"

Griff stood up and shifted into action.

"All vessels target that thing. Open hailing channels!"

But the huge ship kept coming...

</font>

"Viceroy, they are hailing...and targeting us"

Jian sat, glaring coldly at the small fleet of Strike-class Cruisers who had appeared out of hyperspace minutes before. He didn't have time for this. He should be collecting his dead, and tending to the wounded, not having to chase off unwanted visitors.

His ships were either destroyed or damaged, his men wounded or dead. The battle had been the worst in the history of the Duskhan League. Yanth had come in, all guns blazing. His ships had suffered heavy losses, but when Jian showed up with the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Pride of Yevetha<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> his forces had rallied and had come back twice as strong. Yanth issued a full retreat, the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Valiant<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> was the first to go, it dissapeared into hyperspace, leaving Jian to slaughter the disorganized Duskhan League forces. Most had fled into hyperspace, but some had turned around and fought a brave fight. Some had been smart and had given up, defecting to Jian's forces.

He had then broadcast a messege, telling them he was alive and Yanth was a coward, not worthy of ruling. That was when most of the ships had defected. The ones loyal to Jian and Admiral Spa'ar. But some had been either corrupted or bribed by Greth and had hidden among the debris fields. Jian and a few of his vessels then began going on hunter-killer missions, finding the traitors and killing them for their crimes.

And now this, five Strike-class Cruiser had shown up and had scanned the field several times. Jian became angry and ordered the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Pride of Yevetha<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> to come up fast and destroy them.


But now they wanted to talk?


"Open a channel"

When Jian spoke, his words were filtered to a translator within the computer and sent to the other ships in Basic. Because almost nobody except Yevetha knew the Yevethan language.

"I am Viceroy Jian Paret of the..."

He hesitated.

"Of the Duskhan League. Please state your name, allegiance, and businees here"


He waited.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "I am Viceroy Jian Paret of the........


....."Of the Duskhan League. Please state your name, allegiance, and businees here"<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Griff raised an eyebrow. The voice was brisk and to the point, except for the hesitation after he said his name.

"I am Admiral Griff of the Outer-Rim Federation. We have been observing you for quite some time, Viceroy. We heard that there was going to be a large battle between you and some pirates. We wished to be of service in any way. Also, I have a very interesting proposition for you that you might want to consider. It involves the fate of the Duskhan League and the Outer-Rim Federation"

He sat back and looked over at his XO, who was not smiling. His XO had protested the mission ever since it began, saying that it was pointless and the barbaric Duskhan League would not even think about excepting the once-in-in-a-lifetime offer. Even Griff didn't under stand it. Why would his leaders want to try and join the Duskhan League? rumors had surfaced that the Duskhan League were indeed barbaric and that they would execute trespassers on sight.

So why was Griff still alive? surely that awsome ship could blow him out of space cleanly and expertly.

So the tense waiting began, for him.