Yaga Minor Orbital Command Station

"Roger Star Destroyer Valant, we hear you. We'll send a task force immediately," the comms officer reported. He sighed and closed the comminique. Lt. Caradtor rolled his eyes and grabbed his cup of caf from the desktop of his control console.

For hours he'd been working on locating the lost planet of Geonosis...the resting grounds of the Trade Federation...and now...some little Star Destroyer locates it...by chance even.

But there was a task force en route to investigate...fortunately.

<font color=grey>Geonosis, in so many ways it brought back haunting memories of the starts of the Clone Wars. The way his father and Count Dooku had brilliantly held the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in captivity, only to be executed for the pleasure of thousands of Geonosians. Unfortunately that never occured...and the fools escaped. An ambush was sprung...and his father - his maker in every form of the word - had been cut down by a diminutive Jedi Master.

And he had spent so long, so many long years hunting down the wrong man; Han Solo for a vendetta that he only recently realized was worthless. He had hunted Han Solo for what? An accident? Where he had spun around and accidentally activated his jet pack to send him flying into the dreaded Pit of Carkoon.

This was no reason to seek vengeance against a man. He accidentally caused great pain to Boba Fett...and after a brief showdown with the man...it was then and only then that he realized there was no point in furthering his vengeance.

There were others whom needed Boba Fett's...influence. Others of this religious cult whom had ruined his life, his very existence with their divine hatred. And what's more? They had the gaul to use the manifestation of his father, Jango Fett, to their own whims and spring forth the Galactic Empire. Using clones of his father, his life for their own whims and leaving him there to die in the arena.

Though those specific Jedi were long dead, there was no reason to stop the pursuit and end the corruption of this rigid "Jedi Order" before they could destroy more lives with their blasphemous "Force".

What was the Force compared to a blaster or a poison dart? Could the Force bring back Jango, his father? No, and that was what drove him back to Geonosis. His memories, his fondness for his father, his desire for answers to power and to overcome the Jedi Knights, they all brought him to the old and desolate planet.

And now as he gazed out at the old arena, now shattered and torn in unimaginable ways due to the daunting reality that was time, time that destroyed this ancient place. And time that was supposed to heal all wounds.</font>

<font size=4>Some wounds never heal.</font>

The Imperial-Class Star Destroyer Wraith pulled over the barren, rusted planet, the captain - Captain Kulwart - sighed with apparenty excitement as he watched it come closer into view. The first battle of the Clone Wars had occured there, where the Jedi had been saved by Master Yoda and an onslaught of clone soldiers.

It was here that the Trade Federation had tried to rebuild themselves under Count Dooku, Darth Tyranous, to rebuild their lost army and empower the Seperatist Worlds in an open revolution.

"Sir we are getting some decent life readings from the planet," one of the stat officers reported.

"I see...send down an exam team, let's see what's down there."

"Yes sir."

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Angel picked his way over the old hives of the Genosians. Crumbling and desolate they sometimes weren't safe. Angel had to guide himself using the force.

He looked through one of the many holes and saw what it was he was looking for. In the distance there stood the arena where only 14 out of about 200 Jedi had survived. He climbed down and started to make his way down.

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

Angel got into the arena and stood looking over the edge. THere was nothing but sand. The old cage doors had worn away with old age. He imagine that a good kick could cave those doors in. He started to climb up the seating when he sensed something in the force. He spun around to see the bounty hunter Boba Fett walking through the arena. Angel ducked low immediately. He had read about this in he archives. Mace Windu, one of his favourite Jedi Knights of old had fought here. Killed here, but in this matter, most importantly killed Jango Fett. Father of Boba Fett. He watched the bounty hunter with interest. He wondered what he was thinking.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

OOC: I hope it's ok for me to post here. It didn't say closed or open.

With a flicker of pseudomotion, the Star Destroyer group popped out of hyperspace, and Commodore Feyyar sighed as the beauty of that other dimension was ripped away, leaving only the cold void in its place.

"Sir, ComScan has formed a map of the system," reported Lieutenant Carr, a Bridge Operations officer.

He turned to gaze at the transparisteel panel, which displayed shimmering silhouettes of the gravimetric alignment of the system. A light blinked on and off on the display, and the Commdore nodded in recognition.

"We have company. A Rogue Imperial ship, just as we concluded," he said aloud to no one in particular. Lieutenant Carr nodded.

"Alert the tenth assault division to prepare for a planetary assault," he ordered, and crewers rushed to convey orders to the embarked troops, to make preparations for the landing.

"Design a course to circumvent the planet's rings and rendevous with the Rogue Imperial ships," he ordered his helmsman, who returned a quick reply of "Aye, sir."

He relaxed back in his command chair, and turned to the communications officer.

"Hail them."

OOC:
Fleet roster is as follows:

Star Destroyer Group II (BG1, Reinforced)
Imperial-Class Star Destroyer – Jinova [Squadrons-2 TIE/Int., 3 TIE/Def., 2 TIE Scimitar]
Attack-Class Carrier Sphere – Tyris [Squadrons-55 TIE/Devil]
Victory-Class Star Destroyer - Famine [Squadrons-1 TIE Scimitar, 1 TIE Defender]
*Interdictor-class Cruiser - Salinan [Squadrons-1 TIE/Int.]
*Abolisher-class Cruiser - Neches [Squadrons-3 TIE/Int.]
Abolisher-Class Cruiser Fiere [Squadrons-3 TIE/Def.]
Dreadnaught-Class Cruiser Adela [Squadrons-1 TIE/Int.]
Carrack-Class Cruiser Azure
Fire-Class Light Cruiser Pegasus [Squadrons-3 TIE/Int.]
Constrainer-Class Interdiction Picket Orrin

*=attached

OOC-Yaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh


IC/ The small, almost diminuitive carrack-class Cruiser <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Opulence<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> reverted from realspace abpove Geonosis. Above the rings of the planet. Above an Imperial-class Star Destroyer.

The Viscount del Forza, commander of the small vessel, had received a small promotion for his brief, yet unwavering service to the Empire-command of s small taskforce-his New Command, the ISD Wrath, and his former, the CRC Opulence.

Now he stood upon the bridge of the Carrack Cruiser as the two came within range of each other.

" Prepare my shuttle."

***

In the massive hangar bay of the Wrath, a bone-white Lambda-class Shuttle touched down with eminient grace. IMperial Grace. Republic and independent ships had nowhere near the eminent regality possessed my the Empire and its beautiful war machines-even if they themsevles produced them and bought those that were surplus.

The landing ramp came dropped open with a hiss of compressed gas, and the Viscount strolled down, his hands clasped behind his back. To either side was were two rows of Imperial Fleet troopers, and in front, the ship's commander and its executive officer. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> A greeting fitting a man of my rank and grade. I would have been astonished by anything more. <!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Del Forza left his shuttle and walked up to the Captain of the Wrath. " Good day, Captain. An excellent ship you have here."

" Thank you, Captain. My orders state that you would be assuming combined command of both my Star Destroyer and your Carrack Cruiser."

" That is correct, Captain. I will be placing my flag upon your bridge, though. I do not like the cramped conditions of the Carrack. It feels like a sub-oceanic vessel. "

The Execuitve officer chuckled, himself from a mostly water world.
" Let us away to your bridge."

***

When the three arrived, information was waiting as a situation has arisen from the time they walked from the hangar bay to the command tower. " Captain del Forza, we have spotted a NO fleet on the other side of the planet."

" Time to arrival?" asked Commander Gherent.

" Ten minutes without an in-system hyperjump."

" Excellent. Then we have ten minutes. Send all available shuttles to the planet and begin scanning for lifeforms."

" Sir?" asked the Wrath's commander.

" Those are our orders, Captain. And if the New Ordr interferes, we will defend to the death."

From the very balcony that Count Dooku and Gnut Gunray had watched the Jedi-Droid battle, a dark figure emerged from the shadowy portal beyond. The darkness was from his black cloak, and as a small gust of wind blew back his hood, the figure itself. Instead of the flesh that was the most common exterior amongst the galaxies many species, he was covered in a midnight blue exoskeleton. Rather large conpound eyes were the most prominant feature on his face, providing a wide range of vision. He stood there, looking over the field that had started the Clone Wars.

He'd been on the planet for a week. Recently Jander had been becoming increasingly nostalgic, and taking an intrest in galactic history in general. His centennial birthday was only a few months away, and the Gand was spending time looking back on his life. This was just one of many trips he'd make looking back at his past and galactic events.

He'd taken one of the ships he'd started the Phantom's with, the Galofree "Patient Fury." It was out in the asteroid belt, landed on one of the massive rocks out there and was in full stealth mode. It would take one heck of an intentional search to find it, and even then it was more likely to be discovered by accident. He'd taken his personal Deathraven fighter down to the planet, and it now was hidden as well, inside one of the many caverns that dotted the planet.

As his eyes took in the crumbling arena, he saw two others there. One seemed inconsequencial just by the look of things, though something about him rang Jedi in Sunstar's eyes. The other was much more prominant. The infamous Madalorian armor of Boba Fett, his distinct T-shaped visor looking over the area like the others. While the Jedi was some distance away, the Bounty Hunter was not. Jander knew the armor's sensors had most likely already picked him up. He'd met Fett a few times in the past. Most notably on Cloud City and Jabba's palace. While cold as usual, the fact that both of them were standing there today was testament to the fact that those meetings had gone well.

Softly, just loudly enough for the mechanically aided receptors in the bounty hunters helmet to pick up, Sunstar spoke. "Good day Mr. Fett. It's been a long time. I'm sorry to interrupt your solace here, I just wished to greet you once again."

Commodore Feyyar squinted his eyes as he struggled to interpret the topographical scan. A barren landscape was laid out before him, with large stalagmites extending into the sky, accompanied by large, rocky mountains. He recalled his history lessons, and imagined that inversely, stalactites reached down into the depths of the planet's chasms.

"This is the secondary continental mass?" he asked his sensor officer, yet again.

"Aye, sir. It should be sufficient to support us."

"And the indigenous population?" he raised an eyebrow at the Lieutenant.

"Oh, they're there, sir," the Lieutenant allowed himself a slight grin, before continuing. "Our surface scans show various life-forms...mostly large surface predators. However, the readings gathered from our infrared sensors indicate a possibility that large numbers of life-forms are dwelling sub-terraneously."

"Range?" the Commodore asked, looking for a solid figure.

The lieutenant shook his head. "Not at this time, sir. Our readings are still coming in. It's quite possible, however, that there are millions of these beings."

The Commodore gazed at the bulkhead, taking that rounded figure in. Millions of Geonosians manning military production facilities here, along with eventual assets from Kamino...the repercussions were too staggering to fully comprehend.

He shook himself out of that reverie. No, no matter the repercussions, High Command was always able to generate a plan of action. The two planets would be of good use to the Empire, indeed they would.

"The tenth assault division," he queried, taking charge once again of his thoughts. "What is their status?"

An ensign at an operations console replied, "They are ready for launch, sir."

"Very well, signal them to launch, and engage in preliminary pacification. Warn them, however, to not extend beyond the boundaries I have assigned."

"Aye, sir."

He glanced at the tactical manifest readout, going through all necessary steps in his mind.

"Signal the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Tyris<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> and the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Famine<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> to provide starfighter support for our forces, should it be needed. Assign the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Neches<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> and the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Fiere<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> to holding sectors thirteen and twenty-eight and activate their abolisher fields, and signal the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Salinan<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> to activate gravity wells. Commander," he finished, directing his final words to his aide. "Deploy the fleet."

<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <!--EZCODE HTML END-->

In space, the small fleet of Imperial starships disgorged transports, which rocketed towards the planet, carrying ten thousand men and appropriate equipment-a fully mechanized division.

The Viscount stood upon the bridge of his new command, the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Wrath, wataching a small hive of Lambda-class shuttles swarm to the surface, each breaking away from each other as they neared the surface. Into the inferno of the atmospheric boundary they went, and then they could be seen no more with the naked eye. Del Forza turned only slightly so the side of his six-and twenty year-old face could be seen by the men of the port crew pit. As planned, a holographic readout came over a viewpane to his left. Now he could all of his shuttles.

Down they went, and the reports were staggering. Millions, if not tens of milliosn of Geonosians were still alive, thriving in their own way on this barren rock known throughout the galaxy as a planet. One could not compare it to Tatooine, for this had too many rocks and cliffs; its topography was too unexpected. While the equally barren Outer Rim world of Tatooine had a few of its rocky overhangs, it was, overall, rigid.

" Captains."

" Yes," the two answered, and the Wrath's commander smirked, bowing to allow his junior in years but superior in command take the call.

" Sir, I've picked up something disturbing. The New Order ships on the other side of the planet are launching troops onto the surface. Their transports will be down in a moment or two."

" Analysis?" the other asked to the tactical officer seated to his right.

" If they have moblizied a full division, they could establish a perimeter in ten minutes and be on the move towards the Geonosians in fifteen, unless they land in the middle of them."

That set off the Destroyer's commander. " Battle stations! Launch fighter squads 113 and 114. Prepare for board-"

" Belay that order." Captain del Forza stepped up the catwalk towards the viewports and mumbled to himself before he spoke the other Captain-and the rest of the bridge crew. " We are not here to provoke an attack, much less start a war. Our orders were to bring back-<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> things<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->-and this will be done. I believe, if we do not interfere with the New Order, they will interfere with us. But, just in case, have the 17th Regiment on full alert."

" Yes sir." the other growled.

* * *

The Lambda's scanned the surface, staying away from the main centers of what could be considered cities, as they were being informed that these were probable targets for the 'other' people with interests on the planet. Thus, they flew low over the landscape searching for-what Captain del Forza had told them to-and what their Emperor had told him to.

They found it just outside of a cave about ten kilometers from one of the 'cities.' It was a plae tan, and had to brought aboard the shuttle with delicate grace. They then moved out of the atmopshere and towards the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Wrath<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, with the other shuttles as escorts.

* * *

" They have arrived."

" Excellent," the Viscount replied, still staring out of the viewports. " Launch the 78th Defenders launch immediately and escort the shuttle in question back to the Emperor. Along with One our Assault shuttles-replete with a squad of your best stormtroopers."

" Is all that really neccessary?"

" Of course it is. While I respect our enemies, I do not trust them. Better to have killed the rancor than to have let it kill you."

" What is so important?"

del Forza nodded. " I suppose you can know. A wounded Geonosian. A specific Geonosian; who it is, I do not know. I do know that High Command wants him, and we shall deliver. Flight Officer: Have three of our other shuttles alos make the jump at the same time, on different trajectories. They are to return in five minutes-on different trajectories."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I...we...shall not fail...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Admiral Jorduut rose from his seating within his private chambers wehre he'd analyzed the situation carefully from the moment the two ships had jumped in system. From that moment he'd known something would go wrong. The viscount was not being careful with his communications broadcasts, no doubt the Empire was now fully aware of the Rogue Imperials in the system and their plans.

He reached down and activated his comm to the bridge. "Attention Viscount Forze, this is Admiral Jorduut, you are being relieved to my vice, I am taking command of the situation," he said calmly. There was a disappointed sigh. "It is only temporary, let me deal with the Empire.

"Yes sir," Del Forza responded.

"I noticed you neglected their hail Viscount."

"I apologize sir, I did not notice it," the other said. Admiral Jorduut sighed.

"That is all. Uplink me to the Imperial vessels." When it was done he prepared for the "conversation". "Star Destroyer Wraith hailing Imperial-Class Star Destroyer Jinova."