Revenge

[TuskenRaider1]

Prologue

Silence...

Silence is when the fear comes...

Silence is when the voices from the past raise up to haunt you...

Silence is when you can plan to stop them...

Silence is good for revenge...


Cha'tong Shai sat alone in one of the old caves that had been built to house the Yuuzhan Vong during the Great Passage. He had been so very young then, not understanding how significantly the world around him had changed. He couldn't have known at the time, wouldn't have truly understood what was being taken from him until he was older. He sat now in the same cave that he had been in for the Great Passage. The walls seemed to speak to him, filling him with wonderment for his homeworld, but also a quiet deep anger that hid inside of him.

He had kept his thoughts of lowly self-worth to himself. A former Shamed One who had found him taking too much from his fields had embarrassed him. The Shamed One, a former warrior it was said, made quick work of Cha'tong when he had tried to run and then fight with his take. The mud from the fields still soiled him he thought, though it had been a while ago, and he had cleansed himself many times. He had kept his quiet little rage to himself until an older Yuuzhan Vong warrior, one who had come back with Nas Choka after chasing rogue elements around the galaxy, had seen him sitting alone in a different place.

The two began to talk of the old warrior's travels, and what he had seen. It wasn't until he began to talk of his victories against foes other than fellow Yuuzhan Vong that Cha'tong had the courage to ask about his family's history in the great battles of years long gone. Domain Shai was not the force it once was, and as the society of the Yuuzhan Vong changed, those who had led the invasion of what was then New Republic space had been decried as traitors and heretics to the new way found on Zenoma Sekot. Cha'tong longed to hear about his domain's past in a light other than that of the new teachers or the Jeedai that now defiled this homeworld of theirs.

The old warrior, Krakash, told Cha'tong of the great battles that Domain Shai had fought in, and the stories he regaled the young Yuuzhan Vong with brought a sense of pride to the young one that he had never felt before.

Sitting alone in the old caves, a place none ventured anymore, Cha'tong thought about the old warrior's proposal. He knew now that Krakash had talked to others in the settlements as well, but only a select few. Young and old, those who seemed to be more off-standish than the rest. One of them Cha'tong knew of, a priest of lower rank named Zalim, who it was rumored was related to the "great" Harrar but had fallen out of favor with his kin, had been somewhat of an outcast in the settlement. He was known to avoid contact with his fellow Yuuzhan Vong, and only come out when it was required for service to the gods. What did he and Zalim have in common, and why had Krakash spoken to him of his proposal? Cha'tong closed his eyes, and listened again to the voices her heard from the cave walls. He listened closely to the anger inside him, growing ever so slowly since his talks with Krakash.

He came to his decision and opened his eyes.

It must be done.

And he would do it.

Soon.

[TuskenRaider1]

Chapter 1

Tekli watched the ceremony with only slight unease. She had been with the Yuuzhan Vong long enough to be used to the rituals involved in the ceremony, but every so often the pain of the past came back to her. As a healer, she had seen first-hand the damage caused by the alien species that had decided to colonize her galaxy. She had made Clighal proud when she decided to go with Danni Que and Tahiri to Zenoma Sekot. Jabitha, the nominal connection to Sekot when the planetary entity chose not to speak directly for itself, had taken to great heart the fact that the 3 Jedi had come to help with the Yuuzhan Vong. They had come to help welcome them home.

Tekli had been lucky enough to study with what Master Shapers remained after the end of the Great War, as the Yuuzhan Vong called the end of the invasion. The diminutive Chandra-fan realized that she was one of the only beings in the known regions of the galaxy to have such in-depth knowledge of the Vong technology. She had fostered new relationships here, and brought hope and understanding to a culture being reinvented.

Tekli stood back and watched as the priests finished their divinations and brought their followers to their feet. The gods would be happy, Tekli thought to herself, or as happy as they could be if they in fact existed. One of the priests slowed in the line of exiting worshippers and turned slowly, his vine-woven robe around him covering his face in the shadow of its hood. He seemed to be staring at her. That’s strange... Tekli thought as she watched him turn again, and continue his procession.

Tekli followed the line of worshippers out past the inner doors of the sanctum, and into the courtyard outside. The line continued to move toward the residences on the far side of the Boras grove that stood near the chosen place of worship. The priest hadn’t moved out of step with the others until they reached the edge of the Boras grove. With a quick movement to his right, the priest suddenly dashed into the grove. Others in line stopped to take notice, and called after him.

"Zalim? Where are you going? We are not finished here.." one of the other priests called out to the disappearing figure. Tekli had not seen such action in a priest before. She cocked her head to the left, and with a flash of instinct, decided to follow. She couldn't tell if it was Jedi intuition or a nudge from Sekot, but she felt compelled to go after the priest. Something did not feel right in all this.

The Boras grove stood tall, and almost seemed to block the sky. Only few bursts of light broke through the roof of the grove, and the Chandra-Fan had difficulty keeping up with the priest. Tekli momentarily lost sight of the priest, and began to think she had lost him, when over in a thicker part of the grove, the priest stood facing away from her.

"Zalim?" she called out tentatively. The name was vaguely familiar, but she could not place it. The Boras began to tremble as if they felt something. Sekot was the Boras, and it wasn't. The large tree-like Boras began to move, vines beginning to pound other vines and the grove floor. The priest raised his arms, as if in prayer, his back still turned, and the Boras began to grow more agitated.

"Zalim, stop. Stop whatever you are doing. The Boras could hurt you." Tekli moved toward the priest, feeling for the movement of the vines as she kept her eyes on him. The sound of the vines thumping grew louder, and the sound of the priest mumbling rose. She could not make out what he was saying, but the Boras continued to grow wilder. She focused on the priest, and began to try to send him feelings of calm through the force, only to be rebuffed. There seemed to be a wall between them. More than other Yuuzhan Vong she had encountered since the war. What is going on she thought with increased concern. The noise continued to grow. She was close to him now, she could see the ripples in the vine-robe he wore, and could almost reach him. His chanting grew louder, and the vines of the Boras began to thrash about, seemingly without any purpose.

Almost as if they were.... they were...as if they were in pain! she realized suddenly. Cut off from the priest in the force, Tekli instead turned her thoughts toward the Boras, trying to send calming feelings out to them. She moved in a circle, turning to focus on the center of the grove where the roots were strongest. She tried to focus and send as much reassurance through the force to the Boras as she could. She felt a deep connection to the force at that moment, as if she was getting through the pain of the Boras to make a bond. The Boras began to slow the thrashing about of their vines.

A sound Tekli hadn't heard in many years broke her from her connection to the Boras through the force She turned slowly back to the priest, not believing what her ears told her. There was no priest to be found. In his place stood a young Yuuzhan Vong, his stare burning into her, full of hatred. The hiss/snap of an ampistaff sounded again as he drove the weapon into the Chandra-Fan.

How? she thought. I thought it was over.... Tekli fell to her knees. I thought.... and then she ceased to think at all.

[mirax terrik horn]

DB you have a really good idea hope you get to do more.

[DarthSolo]

nice, Stick Circle, nice. The only thing that makes me wonder is the gods. I was under the impression that they realized the gods were false at the end of the war. I suppose that could come down to the individual, or to the community.

[TuskenRaider1]

Chapter 2


The Academy at Ossus had been running smoothly, and the Jedi, for all their travels and homeworlds, had truly begun to feel like it was a second home. It was different than Yavin 4, but that was not necessarily a bad thing. It was supposed to be a different stage of development for the order now, and the transition to Ossus was emblematic of that evolution.

Evolution, now there's an interesting word for the Order. I'd lean toward division to describe the Order these days. Kam stared off into the horizon from the top of the Academy. He felt at peace up here, and Tionne knew him well enough to know that his time up here was his own. Kam would come to this place to get above the noise of the Academy, the bustling of the life that usually filled him with joy, watching the students expand their knowledge of the force, and prepare for the life of a Jedi. He at once felt distant and at the very heart of the Order. He would not be involved in the decisions of the Advisory Council, nor be at the center of the political storms that brewed at the facilities on Coruscant. But at the same time, he had a direct say in the development of the future of the Order. These children and teens would continue to grow to become Knights in their own rights. Who knew who would step forward as the next great Jedi of his or her generation? Who would become the next great Master, and who would fall. Who would decide to leave the order for their own purposes, and who would discover new insights into the interpretation of the force, as Luke Skywalker or more recently Jacen Solo had. Who would one day replace him and Tionne as the heads of the Academy to train the new future of the Jedi?

Sometimes these thoughts gave him joy, sometimes concern, but always a sense of purpose. It was their responsibility to train these Jedi learners to be vessels of justice. The code of the Jedi sung through him as he sat in meditation on top of the Academy, pondering the future.

He felt Tionne through the force as she hesitantly climbed the stairs to his perch. She respected his need for his quiet time to meditate, as he did her need to write verse and song to express her deeper emotions. That understanding had only grown over their years of marriage. It was with all this in mind that Kam knew something was amiss. Tionne would not be intruding without reason. Without needing to turn, he sent a reassurance to Tionne to continue on her way, that he would not feel intruded upon.

"I am sorry to interrupt your meditation Kam, but we may have a problem. Two of our patrols have received emergency distress calls from a passing cargo ship. Sweeps of the vessel appear clean, but the ship has asked to land and make repairs." Tionne reached the top of the perch Kam was seated on, and sat beside him.

"I'm not sure what the problem with that would be? We have helped other vessels before. Is there something else wrong? I can feel your concern. " Kam turned to look at his wife, and felt almost a guilty-wave of emotion pass from her as she glanced out toward where he had been looking.

"So much has changed, the Jedi have been through so much and grown in so many ways. The songs of our time were great, but those of the war with the Yuuzhan Vong will always be filled with sorrow." She paused, and shook her head slightly. "I’m sorry, it really is nothing. The co-pilot of the vessel is a Yuuzhan Vong. The ship is one of the newer classes of transport coming out of the Unknown Region, where the Vong went with Zenoma Sekot. It is a combination it seems of durasteel and coral. The Vong appear to have learned at least some lessons from Zenoma Sekot that not all technology is evil. " She looked at her husband again. "I let my own feelings of the war seep into my thoughts. There is nothing wrong. I will advise our patrol craft to escort the cargo ship, The Ambitious Dream I believe its called, to landing platform 2-0-7. Would you like to accompany me to see to them?" She tilted her head to the side at the question and stared into her husband’s eyes.

This wonderful woman should never have had to feel the pain of that war, Kam thought to himself as his wife’s gaze ensnared him. What a wonderful woman indeed to help train these students, and spend my life with here on Ossus. What a lucky man am I that she has become my family, and then added to it with our children? Kam put his hand on top of hers, and rose, leading her up with him.

"Of course my love."

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

The combined force with which Lowbacca and Zekk attacked pushed Jaina back, but with a quick slide to the right, a parry, and then a movement into a roll between them allowed Jaina to avoid the brunt of the assault. She sent a quick force push toward Zekk, catching him off balance as he turned to reface her, and charged at Lowbacca, leaping in the air into a forward summersault, and slamming into his chest with her legs. The large wookie let out a combination of a growl of frustration and a grunt of pain as he was knocked back into the wall.

Zekk had recovered from the push enough to press his attack as Jaina came down from her kick. She was pushed back by the sheer speed of his assault, his lightsaber a blur as he struck high and low, left and right, trying to find a way through her defenses. They were still connected in a way, her and Zekk, from their experiences with the Dark Nest and the Killicks, but the time of them being together had passed. Though he could predict her blocks through that remaining connection, he could not get through them. Jaina moved backwards as she parried, and could see Lowbacca begin to rise. With the edge of the other wall coming nearer, she could not afford to get pinned here until Lowbacca could assist Zekk.

Squatting in a quick motion she attempted a leg sweep that forced Zekk to jump to avoid. Falling on her rear rather than completing the motion, she had a split second advantage of position before Zekk concluded his return to the ground. In that instant she sent a strong force push toward Zekk as he finished his jump. Off balance and without a way to counter the move, Zekk has thrown hard into the wall, falling back to the floor unconscious.

Lowbacca roared, and charged Jaina, but she was ready for him, and as he raised his lightsaber, she blocked high, and spun into a reverse roundhouse kick that doubled over the big wookie. Stepping to his side, she used her leverage to propel forward into the same wall Zekk had hit. Lowbacca's shoulder collided with the wall and he yelped in pain, dropping his blade. He turned back toward Jaina to see her leveling her lightsaber at him.

"Yield?" She asked as she kept the point of her saber aimed at the wookie’s chest.

Lowbacca let out a short growl of acceptance and lowered his head.

"Do not, I repeat do NOT, ever try to stop me from flying without cause again. I'm going to find Kyp and when I do, the force help him, because I surely won't." Zekk began to groan and started to sit up, holding a hand to his head. Lowbacca slowly reached down to help lean him up against the wall of Jaina's room.

"We weren't trying to stop you from flying. We were just trying to get you to calm down a bit before you went to find Kyp. I guess beating the stuffing out of us didn't help at all." Zekk started to shake his head but stopped at the pain that accompanied the gesture. Lowbacca rumbled something to Zekk too low for Jaina to catch. "No, I'm fine, I don't need to get it looked at." Zekk started to rise, but needed an assist from Lowbacca.

Lowbacca looked at Jaina with hardened eyes. The three of them had been through too much together not to trust one another implicitly, yet Jaina didn't appear to hold much back in the little contest of wills they had just had. Regardless of what Zekk said about being fine, Jaina had thrown him hard againt the wall, and the action was enough to give Lowbacca pause. Since Jacen had disappeared with his daughter and Tenel Ka for reasons unknown, Jaina had been antsy. When she had looked into the matter, she found that every lead on Jacen's whereabouts was cut off at some point just as it looked like she would locate him. It had been only a few hours ago, with the help of one of the newer Jedi Knights, a Coruscant native and former slicer named Jessel, that she had discovered that it had been Kyp cutting off her investigation at every turn. She had tried to raise him, only to be unanswered. When Zekk and Lowbacca had learned she signed out her StealthX to go find him, they had put a delay on the order with the hanger crew and come to see her to help figure things out. The discussion had not gone according to plan.

Jaina lowered her blade and deactivated it, shaking her head. "Look, I know what you are trying to do, and in a sense I guess I appreciate it, but you will not get in the way of me finding Jacen. He has been gone too long without contact us to be just fine." Lowbacca knew by "contacting us" she meant contacting her, but kept his peace. Zekk did not.

"You don't know whom Jacen has talked to. You don't know if Kyp has him doing something or they are looking into something quietly. You just want to charge in like a bantha at a formal reception and get your answers now. You know Jaina, sometimes I think you forget that you've grown up." Zekk rubbed his head again, and leaned back against the wall.

Jaina looked as if she would jump him again, but stayed still. With an exasperated sigh, she turned and grabbed her flight suit and started out of the room. "Close the door behind you when you leave, Ill be back after I find Kyp, and don't get in my way again." She left the room, a trail of anger filling the force behind her.

Lowbacca looked at Zekk and growled a question, raising his hands in a mock surrender. "Yeah, you were right, but you didn't expect that reaction either. Let Kyp deal with her, maybe he can shed some light on all of this and we will get sane Jaina back." The room seemed to shift a little, and Zekk closed his eyes to regain his balance. "I think I'll take you up on your suggestion Lowie. Can you help me to the med station?" Leaning on Lowbacca, though the wookie could have easily carried the injured Jedi, the two left the room for the med facility, closing the door behind them.

[DarthSolo]

TR1, i really like your writing. keep it up. THis story interests me greatlyh.

[TuskenRaider1]

Edited and re-written below...

took some advice and went with it...

[DarthSolo]

Again great stuff. some crit analysis for you: reading it over once, i really like your writing style. It gives a really good feel of hte situation. The thing that bothered me about this last entry was the fact that you switched POV characters too quickly. If Fyor is going to be a main character in your story, I'd probably write the whole thing from is perspective. It was a bit confusing when you opened with his thoughts, switched to Omas', killed him and switched back to Fyor. My suggestion would be write the whole thing from Fyor, and give the backgroun of the situation through his thoughts. I think, especially if he's going to be a mainstay in your story, Fyor should be developped strongly, and this is a good place to start.

[TuskenRaider1]

Appreciate it. Actually, Im gonna switch it up and re-write it from Cal's POV until the very end, then Fyor's and the switch will be obvious. I just wanted to write Cal once before i got rid of him...heh. Thanks. Edited version will be posted below...

[DarthSolo]

good idea. Make sure to make the fyor thing more than just a paragraph though. really delve into him.

[TuskenRaider1]

Chapter 3

The Galactic Senate hearing room on Denon was not as elaborate as rooms of this sort would normally have been. It featured a head table, with an adjacent podium in front of multiple rows of seats behind connected desks of solid Vulwood, used as a tribute to Ithor, forming a large half circle around the podium. The room had been cobbled together by the local government once Denon had been chosen as the capital while Coruscant was being rebuilt, essentially from the ground up.

Currently, the room was approximately three-quarters full, with a majority of the Senators present for a variety of reasons, not solely to hear the current speaker. Occasional glances at the podium would occur, but there was other business to attend to and frankly, speeches such as this tended to be a formality, a sign of respect to former holders of power. Today's agenda included a speech from Ponc Gavrisom, a last minute addition by the Chief of State's office that caught some of the Senators unaware. If it were known in advance that former Chief of State Gavrisom was speaking, many would have just stayed home, or conducted their business in their offices or the halls of the Senate chambers.

Ponc Gavrisom certainly looked his age. The Calibop had finished his term of office following the conflict with the imposter Flim and the Remnant under the guise of the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, and stepped aside at the end of his term with the return of Leia Organa Solo. Though he knew he could still be a force for change in politics, and some of his colleagues had advised him to seek to lengthen his term of office then or try to regain the seat in the last election, his time fighting the Empire and all it stood for still stayed with him. It was the continued evolution of society through new but power-checked leaders that would help the new Galactic Federation of Free Alliances keep the peace and bring the combined world of the known galaxy forward. Gavrisom looked out at the assembled senior senators and while he spoke from his notes, his thoughts turned inward. That senator there was reading a holo-journal. That one there, was he really sleeping?!?. He paused in his speech briefly to stifle a sigh. The dreams of the Senate after the war leading the way had been quickly halted by the reality of greed and corruption that seeped into every aspect of the reconstruction. The rebuilding of Coruscant continued to be stalled by infighting, stolen and redirected funds and side projects special to certain Senators. The failure of the Senate to weed out this corruption was almost too much to bear for someone who truly thought a new time would dawn after the end of the war with the Yuuzhan Vong.

Gavrisom finished his speech to scattered applause. Those senators loyal to Fyor Rodan sat around him and intentionlly remained silent. Senator Rodan sat in the middle of his cadre, shaking his head in disapproval it seemed. Gavrisom hoped at least some of the other senators had been listening. Cal Omas, with his help and others, had gained enough support to beat back a strong challange from Fyor Rodan to replace Borsk Fey’lya as Chief of State. Cal's ties to the Jedi through the High Council, and his former position as a member of the New Republic Advisory Council on the Senate had helped cement Gavrisom’s supporters behind him though it was a much closer race than any of them would have liked. Reports of other involvement, from the Jedi or the likes of Lando Calrissian and Talon Karrde were rumored, but never public. Though he had his differences in the past with the Jedi, the sheer anger Senator Rodan brought toward them was not good for the Republic. Well, he though to himself as he gathered his papers at the podium, that is why Cal asked me to stay around as a balance, to remind people of the work we did together, regardless of our differences. Gavrisom had been made a "Special Advisor" to the Chief of State, not that he had wanted the extra title or needed the position to still have influence.

Gavrisom looked down to place his speech into his folder, a nice formal black with gold-trim portfolio one of his staff had given him before returning to her homeworld at the end of his tenure, when he noticed a small hard-shelled insect. A faint whiff of something caused him to look at the creature, when a Republic intelligence report from the war flashed into his mind. What…

The thought was interrupted by an explosion from the podium. The Calibop’s body was thrown back as pieces of the structure flew in every direction. Cries of pain and screams filled the room, as those slightly father back were knocked back in their chairs by the blast. Some dove under the desks in front of them or dropped behind their chairs, as others turned to run for the doors at the back of the chamber. Guards began to pour into the room as smoke blocked any clear view.

Fyor Rodan, shaken as everyone was, grunted as he pushed a piece of his wooden desk off his legs, and rolled to crawl toward the exit, watching in a sense of shock as senators appeared to be trampling over one another trying to escape the flames at the front of the room. His tunic was ripped and his sleeve singed from pieces of hot wood and metal. His leg seared with pain as he crawled, and could feel a large gash along his outer thigh. He stopped about half way, and almost as if he couldn't help but to stare, turned and looked at the carnage. The smoke burned his eyes, but the sight burned into his memory. The great seal of the Galactic Alliance hung in tatters from the ceiling against the wall behind the dias, the bottom of the banner burning as the flames crawled up to the rest of the seal. The smoke was starting to settle, and through it, as his eyes trailed down to look, Fyor could see there was nothing left of the podium or the head table but flames and debris...

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The Rejuvenator-class Star Destoyer Protector was preparing to leave Coruscant space to return to Mon Cal. A young officer, Lt. Roytal approached the ship's commanding officer.

"Captain La'shal, we are ready to depart. All sections have reported in, and all fighters have docked and are accounted for. At your command sir."

Captain Brojas La'shal, third son of the former senator from Both'awui looked at his young lieutenant and had to smile. Roytal had been on-board less than a standard month and already was progressing far ahead of his peers. The Protector had become one of the best vessels in the Galactic armada to train on, due to the reputation of its command staff for whipping their recruits into shape. La'shal took no small amount of pride in the fact that though he may have received his command through his father's connections, he had made his own reputation, and it one his father could be proud of. The integration of Yuuzhan Vong warriors with Galactic Alliance soldiers in order to hunt down those factions that refused to live by the terms of the surrender of the Yuuzhan Vong had gone smoothly aboard the Protector and had led to Supreme Commander Pellaeon's notce of La'shal and his staff. It was during a joint run between former Warmaster Nas Choka's forces and his own that La'shal had impressed the Vong commander. That had led to Nas Choka's recommendation of La'shal to Pellaeon. His father had been proud of his accomplishments that day, when Supreme Commander Pellaeon had claimed that the Protector would serve as the first integrated vessel in the Galactic Alliance, training the Vong to work with the military and use technology, and teaching the military to serve with the Vong.

A number of Yuuzhan Vong warriors who had fought alongside Nas Choka and the Galactic Alliance had requested to stay on with the military, and truly become part of the Alliance that had overthrown the false gods and led their species to salvation and home to Zenoma Sekot. With consultation from the High Council, and acceptance of at least a slight majority of the Senate, the military had passed new recruitment and retention protocols that would allow a small number of former Vong warriors to stay. The act had been met with bitter resentment from the Bothan government and the threats to withdraw from the Alliance were all too regular these days. La'shal himself was saved from too much of the vitriol by his father's tightrope walking in the Senate between various factions. Senator Selwan La'shal had at the time the unenviable task of keeping the calls for A'krai at home at bay, while trying to integrate the Vong into the galactic order. Balancing the competing interests had been too big a task, and Selwan had been recalled from his position by the government on Both'awui, and had been relegated to a quieter position at home rather than at the Senate, with a Bothan senator more willing to promote a totally Bothan agenda taking his place on Denon.

It was a rare Bothan who could put politics aside, but La'shal had so far been successful. He had proven his mettle in actual combat and battle serving at first on the staff of Admiral Kre'fey during the early stages of the war on the Ralroost and then transferring to his own command of a smaller Dreadnaught-class vessel. It was a daring run during the Second Battle of Coruscant that headed off a major Vong vessel from colliding into the Ralroost that had allowed La'shal to be promoted to a higher command. The extra strings his father had pulled had turned that into the command of the Protector, where he had joined the combined fleets of then Grand Admiral Pellaeon and Warmaster Nas Choka.

Lt. Roytal quietly cleared his throat, and La'shal's thoughts were brought back to the present. "Very well Lieutenant. Take us to Mon Cal. Pass the order." He smiled again as he watched Lt. Roytal nod once, and turn very smartly to carry out his orders. La'shal looked out the viewport as he heard his crew bustling below, making preparations for departure. A high-pitched alarm caused him to spin around. He looked down at the officer closest to the engineering display, knowing exactly what type of alarm was sounding.

"Lieutenant Oswarts! What exactly is going on here?" The middle-aged female officer, her hair tight in a braid under her cap stared at the screen and shook her head.

"This doesn't make sense Sir. System diagnostics were just run, and we should be all clear, but temperature is spiking in the sublight drive systems. The coolant tanks aren't releasing enough to..."

La'shal cut her off with his orders. "Shut down the engines, shut them down NOW! You, Lieutenant Oswalts, shut down the coolant tank system immediately. If the coolant can't escape, it will build up at the source and then we lose the whole system. Lietenant Roytal, get a team down to the sublight systems with portable coolant systems and get my engines cooled down before we all go up in a fiery ball. MOVE PEOPLE, this is not a drill." La'shal watched as Lt. Oswarts fingers danced across the terminal, and Roytal barked orders into his comm. The alarm continued to blare as the bridge crew went through emergency shutdown procedures. If they had caught the problem too late, the engines could blow if they had gone too hot without the coolant.

"Sir, systems are shutting down, and though the engines are still hot, it looks like they wont go critical," Oswalts shouted out over the din of the alarm. La'shal let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding in. He gripped the rail in front of him as he waited to hear from the crew in the sublight systems area. What seemed like an eon passed until Roytal got off his comm unit.

"Sir, the engineering team was able to get the system operational again. Engines sustained minimal damage, though we won't be able to use them for quite a while until we get everything fixed up. This could have been very bad sir, the coolant system failed at the worst possible locations on the sublight drives. Had we caught it only a few minutes later, the team says we would not have been able to stop the drives from going critical." Roytal hesitated and then lowered his voice as he moved toward the Captain's side. "There was something else Sir. The crew found a sort of goo, not too unlike Borash jelly, covering some of the coolant exhausts vents. This was no accident."

Sabotage La'shal thought with disgust. Thank the force they had caught it in time. But who and why? Vong or just made to look like Vong. Somehow, La'shal feared the answer would not lead to anything good.

[DarthSolo]

Very well done. Its quite an interesting thought to have an integrated military. For some reason, I'm not sure the Vong would come around to being comfortable with technology, though they might not smash it to bits. Who knows though? I like what you've done.

[TuskenRaider1]

Chapter 4


Reports began to filter in from various systems across the HoloNet. Outside of Duros, a cargo transport bringing supplies to the one major city/platform left on the planet crashed into a passenger liner headed out of town. The cause of the crash was still being looked into as initial reports came in. On Kashyyyk, a major fire had started in the capital apparently for no natural reason. On Tyferra, a major shipment of bacta had been destroyed when the main ship of the convoy exploded mid-flight. On Sullust, a historic theatre exploded in flames mid-performance, killing all inside. A major luxury liner traveling leaving Commenor lost control and crashed into a residential area of one of the planet's largest industrial cities.

All over the galaxy, seemingly accidental large or small incidents occurred, some killing only a few, others killing thousands. After the first few hours of reports, a traumatized audience was brought to a stand still by the news of the attack on Denon, and the death of former Chief of State Ponc Gavrisom, as well as many important senators.

Chatter began in tapcafes and transportation stations around the known galaxy. School children were sent home to be with family. Major HoloNet programs were cancelled for continuous coverage. Even during the recent flare-ups with the Chiss and the Killiks, the news was far from home. It was easy to ignore the casualty reports and figures coming in from a military action in a distant system. But this was different. This was at home, in local spaceports and known cities. Who didn’t know someone on Duros, or Denon, or Kashyyyk or Sullust. Who didn't recognize one of the former heroes of the Senate, the man who had helped to lead the New Republic to peace with the Imperial Remnant? HoloNet reporters were on notice that Chief of State Cal Omas would soon be speaking from his office on Denon, and were asked to carry the speech live across the HoloNet to the galaxy. Some wondered if the embittered Chief of State was up to the task, but surely, with the war with the Vong over and a relative period of peace ensuing, this was nothing to be too concerned about. Was it?

Rumors as always travel the galaxy faster than news from Denon. It had been the same under the New Republic, the same under the Empire, and the same under the Old Republic. This Devorian had heard that the explosion on Sullust was caused by Vong technology, another Rodian at the local tapcafe had heard that rather it was a return of Imperial stormtroopers that caused the explosion in the Senate. Yet another space captain, this one an old and supposedly wise Correllian smuggler heard that the crash on Duros was really caused by space ghosts of the fleet that had been lost there during the War. Whatever the cause, beings around the galaxy began to guess at what was happening.

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

Luke Skywalker, Jedi Grand Master and founder of the current incarnation of the Jedi order, walked into the Chief of State’s office and took his usual spot at the middle of the oval shaped conference table that stood to the left of the room, opposite Chief of State Cal Omas. Reports of various attacks or accidents were still filtering in from across the galaxy. There was a tension in the air that Luke hadn't felt for some time, since the end of the Yuuzhan Vong war. Luke looked at the other members of the Government at the table and then at the Jedi he had brought with him at Cal’s request. Luke had been hesitant at first, deciding during the Killik crisis that he would speak for the Jedi as a unified single voice, but a message from Supreme Commander Pellaeon requesting Luke to bring the additional bodies to the table in this unique circumstance helped change his mind. Pellaeon would not have sent the message unless he thought it would genuinely help. He had long grown past political games, and had been present when Luke had decided to withdraw the Jedi from the High Council. Jedi Master Kyp Durron sat fidgeting at the far end of the table to Luke's left, obviously wanting to be out doing something rather than here in the room. Some things never change, do they Luke thought to himself as he continued his read around the table. Kenth Hamner, Cilghal and Saba Sabatyne all looked calm and ready to deal with the business at hand.

Seated next to Kyp was a Senator Luke had only just gotten to know, but who had shot up the hierarchy of the Alliance Senate. Ask Sark was the recently appointed Senator from Malastare. The three-eyed, brownish skinned Gran was an average height and size, but seemed to carry with him an aura of grandeur and gravitas. Senator Sark had seemed to know the right people to talk to early on, and been able to maneuver his way onto all the right committees. He had become aligned with Fyor Rodan's faction in the Senate, but had been seen as the moderate voice of the faction. Given the growing animosity between factions in the Senate, Ask Sark's presence here was a gesture to Senator Rodan's faction, since Fyor would never come to Cal’s office himself as a Senate advisor. Luke had difficulty getting a read on Sark's intentions during their previous meetings and made mental note to watch his reactions today. A distant relative of Ask Aak, a former Senator in the Old Republic days, Ask Sark did not seem to have the same strong Anti-Jedi feelings that his relative or Fyor had. Still, it was worth noting Luke thought.

The only other people in attendance were Acting Supreme Commander Gilad Paelleon and Galactic Alliance Intelligence head Belindi Kalenda, both replacing their predecessors, Sien Sovv and Dif Scaur. Both were welcome additions at the table in Luke's eyes. Triebekk, one of Cal’s Senatorial Advisors growled for quiet as Cal shuffled the datacards in front of him, full of incoming reports from various planets. Luke noticed that Triebekk had more gray in his fur than the last time they had seen each other, a number of months ago, and he looked slower than he had then. A glance at Cilghal, also watching the aging Wookie confirmed his suspicions, she too thought he looked ill.

Cal cleared his throat. His chosen robes of Chief of State were regal, but had obviously been worn for quite a while, as the wrinkles indicated. In a formal setting, he would have projected power and calm. Here and now though, he just seemed tired. "There have been a series of attacks across the Alliance, including as you know against government facilities here on Denon. It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that Ponc Gavrisom did not survive the attack on the Senate. I know many of you have heard the HoloNet reports, but it is now official. Emergency response personal recovered his body less than an hour ago. Casualty figures are beginning to pour in from Sullust and Commenor, and both are worse than we expected. The theatre on Sullust was hosting the opening night of apparently a high-regarded new play, and was filled to capacity. It will be days before we finish sorting through the wreckage on Commenor, so at this point all we have are estimates. On Kashyyyk, the massive fire has been contained, and while actual deaths were few, the damage was substantial, and cost estimates are high. Bacta prices have shot through the roof with news of the lost convoy from Tyferra and passenger liners around the galaxy have ceased travel for the time being as the cause of the massive collision outside Duro is being investigated. We have some information at this time that I'd ask Director Kalenda to brief us on." Cal turned the floor over to his Intelligence Director, but Luke could sense his weariness, and personal sadness of the loss of Gavrisom. He could sense the same from most in the room, all of who had worked with Ponc Gavrisom during his time in office and his many years in the Senate.

Director Kalenda brought up a picture of what looked to be a small hard-shelled bug. "This is a Cha Moor. It was apparently hidden in the podium in the Senate Chamber. The Cha Moor is a specially shaped creature, which was crafted in order to lay traps in likely places of entry in Yuuzhan Vong compounds. Additionally, some particularly sadistic commanders have been known to strap the devices to captured slaves and send them running for freedom, only to have the explosives detonate when they get close to other beings. The cha moor is an especially dangerous creature, which can only be prepared by specially trained warriors who have been instructed by the Shapers in how to deal with the explosives. Created along the same lines as many of the fire-spitting creatures in the Yuuzhan Vong arsenal, the cha moor is a hard-carapaced insectoid creature, which is able to produce massive amounts of flame very quickly. Sharp pincers along the creature's underside allow it to affix itself to almost any solid surface with a simple command. The creature communicates through olfactory senses, and is "armed" by waving a special scent in front of its sensory organs. Whenever a being approaches the cha moor, it "smells" them and then begins to produce flame and pressure internally; the creature's hard body allows it to withstand great amounts of internal pressure, but eventually it can no long hold itself together and explodes in spectacular fashion. When armed, a cha moor can only be approached by a being wearing another small scarab-like insect, which emits an odor that disarms the explosive creature. "

Belindi stopped and took a deep breath, the impact of her presentation settling in amongst those present. The years since the Yuuzhan Vong war had only seen action by the Vong against their own kind, as former Warmaster Nas Choka and his warriors had fought those who refused to surrender. Luke could sense the outrage in Kyp, Saba and Kenth, as well as in Supreme Commander Pellaeon and the new addition Senator Ask Sark. Belindi continued.

"The cause of the explosion in Sullust has to be determined, but indications from the explosion in the bacta convoy point to a plasma based weapon similar to the plasma balls fired by Yuuzhan Vong coralskippers. No skips were detected in the vicinity of the convoy so the weapon must have been placed inside. No other major information has come to light in the other attacks. NRI..." She trailed off and shook her head, having given the acronym for New Republic Intelligence, the old name of the Galactic Alliance Intelligence, "I’m sorry, old habits die hard, GAI, excuse me, is using all available assets in place to investigate the matter with local authorities as well as other sources." Belinidi motioned to Pellaeon. "Gilad, if you could inform the Council of the information you passed to me."

Gilad Pellaeon was beginning to look his age, but still carried hard eyes and a fire in his belly. He had come out of retirement to fill in for Sien Sovv after the former was killed at the start of the hostilities with the Killik nests. "Of course Director. At the same time as the blast in the Senate, one of our main Star Destroyers, the Protector narrowly escaped a sabotage attempt that would have destroyed the vessel. Captain La'shal was able to shut down the necessary drives and save the ship, but she is severely damaged. The Protector happens to be a veteran of the hunts for rogue Vong elements, and is the primary training vessel for the integration of those Vong who have asked to join the Galactic Alliance military. It is our assessment, in agreement with GAI, that all these events, even those in which we do not have cause as of yet, were a coordinated strike against the Galactic Alliance by rogue Yuuzhan Vong factions. As to why now and why those locations, we are uncertain at this time, but...."

Gilad stopped mid-sentence as Kyp stood abruptly knocking over his chair. He seemed to stagger and then fell backwards. Luke felt a great rumble in the Force, but could not place it or name it. Kenth and Ask Sark moved to help Kyp up, but as he rose, Kyp's face looked ashen.

"Luke, great suns Luke, its dead. All of them. Just lying dead." Kyp stumbled forward and grabbed Luke by the front of his tunic, fear and a crazy anger in his eyes. "They killed them all, the nerf-herding swine. They killed them all. I’ve seen it. There's nothing we can do! For the love of the Force, they killed them all!!" The last was said in almost a wail as Kyp collapsed to his knees in front of Luke, dragging him down with him.

"Who Kyp, who? What did you see? What did you see?!?" Luke tried to shake a answer out of the fallen master, Kyp's eyes now hollow and filled with sorrow.

"The children, our children. They killed them all. Ossus..."

[DarthSolo]

That was...pretty powerful.

[mirax terrik horn]

My only problem with it so far is, it is starting to sound a bit like other SW books in particular The New Rebellion and X-wing: Solo Command. Now you could be going down a completely different path, but you might want to think of making that path a bit clearer.

[DarthSolo]

CHILLS!!! CHILLS!!! WRITE MORE! NOW!

Criticisms I have, when you introduce characters, unless I'm already familiar with them, I have no mental image. You don't include the species. For instance, the new Chief of State? Ask Sark? I think I can piece it together, but I shouldn't have to. The only criticism I can think of is be more descriptive of the characters.

Other than that, your writing is fantastic!

[TuskenRaider1]

Ill add some more about Ask Sark above, and Ta'laam I thought was described in NJO, but I can do a brief sketch above as well. Check back in a bit for those edits, and Ill get to the next part likely tomorrow..

[DarthSolo]

Just to clear it up, is Ta'laam a Gotal? I'm sure she (?) was described in a book somewhere, but obviously wasn't a main character. Her physical features aren't a given. But, again, I'm super tired, and could just be missing things!

[TuskenRaider1]

Chapter 5


Kam and Tionne arrived at landing platform 2-0-7. The trip down from the top of the temple had taken longer than expected. The two masters had come upon a bit of a fight between Valin Horn and the visiting Ben Skywalker. The two boys, Valin the older by far, were fighting over something unimportant, the usual type of horseplay that had gotten out of hand. Ben was spending some time on Ossus after the Killik conflict as a way to reconnect with the Order after the need to separate from the Gorog. Ben had had to overcome the same type of joiner experience that Jedi much older than him had to fight off, but had come through it mostly unscathed. Luke and Mara had hoped that some time with other young Jedi students could help heal any psychological damage he may have suffered. Of course, Ben was still getting used to the system here on Ossus, and had been causing the occasional bouts of trouble.

If Corran or Luke had been here, Kam knew that the boys wouldn’t have even tried to get away with something like that. Kam sometimes wondered how a Master with his experience ended up as babysitter during the war. He had expressed the thought by accident to Tionne once, and the shame of it still bothered him when he remembered the conversation. His wife, smart woman that she was, had reminded Kam that they were safeguarding the future of the Jedi Order, and the task would not have fallen to them unless they had the faith of the Order. In essence, it was one of the most important tasks during the war.

Kam knew all of this, but it was sobering to be reminded by Tionne. He had come so far from his Dark Side days, that in essence, it seemed like a different person who had been one of the Emperor’s Dark Side apprentices on Byss. He had issues with the new interpretation of the force that had come to the Order out of the Yuuzhan Vong War, the teachings of the strange Fosh Jedi Vergere and the epiphany of Jacen Solo. Kam had felt the Dark Side, knew its draw, and still feared it, deep inside. He saw it as his place to ensure the new generation of Jedi here on Ossus would have a healthy respect for the draw of Dark power, regardless of how the Jedi defined it.

The couple approached platform 2-0-7 and were greeted by a lowered ramp from the cargo ship. Tionne took an inadvertent step back and stifled a gasp as the ship’s co-pilot, a Yuuzhan Vong, stepped down onto the platform. Tall for a Vong, the co-pilot’s face was scarred on the right side, his right eye drooping and the lips on that side cut off. The left side of his face had a black tattoo design that ran from his chin up to his temple, and then across his forehead to the scarring on the other side. Braids fell from the top of his head to his shoulders, exposing a patchy pattern of hair. His arms bore the traditional scarring of a Vong warrior, but his left leg was replaced with some sort of animal leg and hoof, Kam could not tell which beast it may have come from. The Vong approached the couple and stuck out his right hand to Kam.

“I am Kra’tir Chak. Thank you for your assistance. We were not sure if the Jeedai Academy here on Ossus would be able to help us, but we are glad you have the facilities. We were quite worried that we would not make it any further.”

As the Yuuzhan Vong spoke, Kam was impressed with his command of Basic. Those Vong that had chosen to leave Zenoma Sekot and join the Galactic society had initially had difficult with the language, but had picked it up quickly without the need to use translation biotechnology. Kra’tir, as he called himself, was easily a head larger than Kam, and the older Master felt a bit small compared to the co-pilot, a feeling he wasn’t used to, and not completely comfortable with. And yet, the discussion and appreciation seemed genuine, so he tried to relax. He could see Tionne was tense, and could feel her buried anxiety through the Force, though she tried to hide it.

A Devorian male appeared on the ramp along with a Zabrak female and a large Wookie, with black fur and white patches. The Vong gestured to them and began the introductions.

“This is the rest of our crew. Allow me to introduce Krev Shalar, my co-pilot, and Renessa Fash. She is our ships mechanic, and will be able to work with your people on getting our ship fixed. The large wookie behind her is Spraallachuraa. We call him Spot. He will also be responsive to Spralla. May I suggest the latter? He gets testy if anyone outside of the crew uses his nickname.” The wookie growled his agreement at the last. The others exchanged handshakes with Tionne and Kam, though something was wrong with the Zabrak, though Kam could not place it.

“Welcome to Ossus. We would be happy to assist you however we can and get you on your way. You are all welcome to take advantage of our hospitality, or if you wish, Madame Fash can get right to work on the ship with our ground crew.” He smiled broadly at the Zabrak female, a very attractive one at that, in a rather tight fitting jumpsuit. “What exactly is wrong with the Dream? Whatever you need we can help with I’m sure.”

The Zabrak looked at Kam for a second in silence, as if sizing him up, and felt a wave of anger from Tionne as she did so. What is that about? Kam thought to himself? He risked a glance at his wife to see the normally calm and hospitable woman having difficulty staying still. She was fidgeting, and then seemed to break her attention from the Zabrak with a slightly accusatory look at Kam. She sent him the equivalent of a “HEY!” through the Force, and all at once Kam realized what it was he felt from his wife. Jealousy? But why…. The thought was cut off by a look back at Renessa Fash. She wasn’t sizing him up so much as undressing him with her eyes. Oh. That’s why. Kam sent a feeling of calm to his wife, but was met with only tentative appreciation. OK, we can talk about that later Kam thought, filing it away and turning back to the crew.

Renessa seemed to have her fill, and with a glance to Tionne he didn’t quite catch she looked back at her ship and then to Kam. “If we knew what was wrong with her, we wouldn’t have needed to bother you. Of course, there are worse places to be. It might take a while to figure out what’s wrong, so I’m sure Krev could stay and give the tour. I, on the other hand, would love to take advantage of your hospitality. Spot, Kra’tir, let’s go.”

Krev looked a little surprised, but shrugged and motioned to the ground crew. “C’mon, let me show you what we got.” He turned and started up the ramp, as the rest moved to follow Kam and Tionne. Kam felt a wave of annoyance from his wife, but what else was there to do. They needed to get the ship working, and then he could send these travelers on their way. It would have been rude to not offer the hospitality of the Academy, and normally it never would have been an issue. But with a Yuuzhan Vong who made her feel uncomfortable, and a Zabrak woman with apparent interest in her husband, Kam could see why Tionne was not happy as they led their new charges back toward the main complex. This day was already a strange, but really, it wouldn’t get that much stranger, would it?

[DarthSolo]

INteresting development. I sense danger...

[mirax terrik horn]

I sense that you are perhaps not being specific about characters again. I have not read the complete guide to star wars creatures in a long time, reming me what a Zabrak female is supposed to look like. (P.S. I don't mean to be annoying it just comes naturally and anyways I haven't read that in a long time and I don't know what that certain species looks like.)

[TuskenRaider1]

Sorry, Darth Maul was a Zabrak, though not all of them are red. Ive been using the databank on TOS and one of the unofficial encyclopedias for reference. I went back and added some descriptions of Ask Sark and Talaam, and will be descriptive with new ones.

Chapter 5 part II will be below...

[Jediwan]

Very well done DB, can't wait for more.

[TuskenRaider1]

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Jaina shifted her shoulders in the cockpit. This was the fourth leg of her trip, and frankly, she was getting a bit tired of the additional run-around. She had set out after Kyp’s Dozen to try to get some straight answers. She had finally run them down on Mon Cal, only to hear that Kyp and one of the Dozen’s pilots, Torii Lorzon, a female Lorrdian who had exhibited some Force talents in her training, had split off from the squadron at the previous rendezvous to head toward Denon. Apparently the two had stopped on the way at Duro, where Torii had broken off from Kyp to run an errand for him. Knowing that she’d never be able to get a straight answer out of Kyp if he was with the High Council or playing politics, Jaina decided to find Torii, and see if her “errand” had anything to do with Jacen.

The rebuilt floating city-platform of Duro that had survived the Vong occupation was bustling with activity as Jaina landed at the spaceport. The ground crew at the port was weary from continuous salvage operations, and gave her nothing more than a casual glance. It wasn’t until Jaina walked into the port’s tapcafe that she saw the news from around the HoloNet. My stars, those salvage crews were cleaning up a passenger liner crash? No wondered they were hurt and tired. She paused her thoughts when the news of Ponc Gavrisoms’s death crossed the screen. Gavrisom dead… He had worked with the Jedi and her mother throughout his time in the Senate and had worked to rebuild the galaxy after the end of first hostilities with the Imperial Remnant and then after the Yuuzhan Vong war. She wondered whether her mother would be on her way to Denon as well. Leia might be a Knight now, but she and Han had been roaming the galaxy as needed by the Jedi Council. Still, it certainly wasn’t a stretch to picture her mother getting involved in the crisis de jour.

Jaina could tell as well as anyone else that these acts were connected. There was too much coincidence to make sense, and though she had incredible use of the Force, Jaina also had a trained tactical mind. For an instant she thought of going back to Zekk and Lowie and heading to Denon herself.

Those thoughts disappeared as quickly as they had appeared as Torii walked into the café, and approached the bar. She saw Jaina almost immediately, and hesitated before continuing forward. She glanced at the HoloNet screen as she approached and seemed to nod to herself. Jaina grudgingly could see why Kyp would keep company with the new pilot. Tall, graceful, with intense eyes that carried a spark of mischief, Torii had short, stylish brown hair, and the traditional beauty of the Lorrdians. Even in a flight suit, she turned heads as a she walked by, the attractiveness of her body visible even in the baggy clothes. She gave Jaina an easy smile as she slid onto the stool at the bar next to her, and swiveled around to order two Lomin ales. She handed one to Jaina and raised the mug in a toast.

“Jaina Solo, the best leader Twin Suns ever had. If the stories Kyp tells about are true, well, then I wish you were in the Dozen.” She made a toasting motion and without waiting for a response, downed a sizable gulp, and put the mug back on the bar. Jaina took a moderate slug of the ale, but put it down quickly. She wasn’t here to drink with an old starfighter buddy; she was here for information. Before she could speak though, Torii launched into the news of the day. “Do you believe this? Chief of State Omas is going to speak soon, but you know what he’s gonna say. He’s going to tell us that this was coordinated, this was intentional and that the Vong are back to being our enemies again. Kyp was going to Denon anyway to see Master Hamner about something for the Dozen, but you know that the Jedi Council is working on this. I’ll tell you what though, I’m ready to blast some skips from the sky. If its trouble they are looking for, the Dozen is ready to give them some.” Torii never took her eyes off the screen as she spoke. Jaina needed a minute to keep up with the pace of the discourse. Torii turned, and smacked Jaina on the shoulder and kept on going. “You know what I’m talking about right. There’s something about getting behind the stick and going after your prey. Kyp’s told me about you. You know all about the hunt, and the sheer fun of this don’t you.”

Jaina, still trying to get her bearings, and more importantly a read on Torii, was also a bit peeved at Kyp for talking about her. Torii had joined up with the Alliance military toward the end of the War. It was only recently that she had joined the Dozen, and while she had seen action, and wasn’t really a rookie pilot, she was overstepping her bounds in feeling as if she and Jaina had some form of shared bond. Well, at least she has the arrogance of a pilot Jaina grudgingly admitted. She shook off the comment and turned Torii’s stool so the pilot was facing her.

“We can go somewhere else if you want to talk about it, but I need you to tell me what you were doing for Kyp here. I’m trying to find my brother, and Kyp isn’t helping. As a matter of fact, he is flat out getting in my way. Tell me what you were doing and maybe I can find my brother without having to hurt your dear flight leader.” She looked at Torii with a deadly serious glance. She didn’t have time to play games with Kyp’s new favorite pilot. Why he wasted time on her was his problem, but she needed answers. The feeling that she needed to find Jacen came back to her through the Force. She had been feeling it for a while now, and it was only getting stronger. Time to trust those feelings, regardless of what Kyp or Zekk or Lowie might think.

Torii looked at her for a moment, tilting her head to the right as she did so. Lorrdians were skilled at reading body language, and Jaina was making no attempt to hide her intensity. When she spoke, her voice took a far more serious tone, as the façade of the previous statements fell away. “Lets get out of here, perhaps I can let you in on something, but back off on the threats to Kyp. We are closer than you might think, and I wouldn’t take to kindly to you hurting him.” Torii cracked a sarcastic smile, “or at least trying to. He can be pretty formidable when he wants to be.”

Jaina quietly fumed at the implication. She turned her eyes harder and looked into Torii’s eyes, wanting to wipe the smirk off her face, but managed to restrain herself. “OK, Let’s get out of here, fine, but I wouldn’t worry too much about Kyp. I certainly don’t.” She made the last double entendre with the appropriate sarcasm in her voice, and received a colder look from the female pilot in response. Jaina stood and motioned to the door. Torii turned without a further word and walked toward the exit. A Devorian male tried to step in her path, a sleazy smile on his face as he moved toward her. Torii, without so much as blinking, sidestepped, and chopped down in between the Devorian’s shoulder blades, sending the horned male crashing down to the floor, and continued on her route out of the tapcafé. No one moved to stop her, and Jaina increased her distance slightly. Maybe Torii was a bit formidable after all. Well, no need to necessarily find out, as long as she behaves herself. I’m not exactly a slouch either. Jaina thought to herself as her little run-in with Zekk and Lowie flashed into her mind as she exited the room into the bustling spaceport.

[DarthSolo]

I'm a bit confused as to what's going on with the Jaina/jacen/kyp plot line.

[TuskenRaider1]

This is only the secon time Jaina has made an appearnce. itll become clear...i think...

[DarthSolo]

ok, good.

[Jediwan]

Can't wait for more Dust Bunny.

[TuskenRaider1]

Chapter 6

Torii moved quickly through the spaceport, with Jaina trying to keep up. The feeling through the Force that Jaina was getting from Torii had changed since they left the tapcafe. What she felt now was an aura of confidence, a bit of anxiousness, and a steely determination. Gone was the appearance of an arrogant and shallow pilot that first entered the café. In its place strode a solid presence in the force, and Jaina began to see what Kyp might have been focusing on by spending more time with Torii. Jaina could sense her untrained abilities flowing through the force, but could feel the sheer amount of power that existed there.

Young, attractive, strong in the force, a pilot who can keep up with him apparently. No wonder Kyp is dealing with her. Jaina as smart as she was, didn’t immediately see the similarities between herself and Torii in the café. It came to her soon enough after they left as she examined Torii more in-depth. On one hand, she felt a bit off-put by it all. She felt as if she were almost being replaced, as strange as that sounded. For a short time, Kyp had been her master, her partner, and for a small period, perhaps something more. She had moved on from his teaching though, and had enjoyed a romantic connection with Jag Fel for a time, and the connection she had still with Zekk, from their time as Joiners or even before. Jacen had found someone in Tenel Ka. She wondered at times if she ever would find the same thing.

Torii led her to a small dead-end alley behind one of the hangar bay areas. There was no one around, and the only exit was the way they had come in. Torii turned to face Jaina, and her instincts kicked in, her hand going to her lightsaber out of reflex. Jaina sensed no true ill will from the Lorrdian, and relaxed, pulling her hand back from the hilt. Torii caught it all with a raised eyebrow in return, but seemed to shrug it off as quickly as it had happened.

“Kyp sent me here to meet with a courier from Jacen. Your brother is investigating something for the Jedi Council, and working through the Dozen, since we would be in similar sectors anyway. He left under the cover of time alone with Queen Mother Tenel Ka and her child. It was assumed that those who knew about them would leave them alone, as it is no surprise that they would need time together. But then you started asking questions. Kyp tried to push you down a certain path that we would have laid out for you, but you are a persistent one. Your brother is fine. Trust the Council and trust Kyp. You don’t have to be in the loop on everything.”

Jaina shook her head. “Trust Kyp? Has he given me much reason to? There is no need to play games on this. The Force seems to be telling me to find Jacen, why I don’t know, but I can’t ignore it. If he is on assignment for the Council, I won’t blow any cover you think he has, but I need to find him, and you’re going to tell me where he is.” She looked at Torii, waiting for an answer, as a new awkward silence seemed to form between them.

“Kyp said you wouldn’t understand, and I guess he was right again. I met a courier from Jacen so I wouldn’t know where he is.”

“Fine” Jaina said, beginning to sound a bit exasperated by the run-around. “Tell me who the cut-out is and I can try and find him myself, or if you want, take me to the cut-out yourself, so they know it’s a legitimate inquiry.”

Torii seemed to consider this. She made a blunt and unsophisticated attempt to read Jaina through the Force, one that Jaina was able to avoid with ease. If the new Jedi or pilot or whatever she was wanted to practice, fine, but she wouldn’t be the target. Torii frowned at the failed attempt. “You don’t make it easy to trust you not to do something rash, do you? OK, I’m supposed to meet the courier again somewhere else, I’ll tell you when we get there. I’ll go with you so you don’t scare him away.”

Finally she was getting somewhere. Jaina wondered if she should contact Luke or Mara to ask about the assignment, but that was a discussion better left security-wise to a face-to-face meeting. She’d just have to trust Torii to take her to the cutout, and then from there she could find Jacen on her own. The feeling through the Force that was calling to her seemed to continue to grow in urgency. “Thank you. Can you at least tell me what system we are heading to? I can’t make assumptions and ditch you based on that, can I?”

Torii nodded, and looked out past the alley. “Cerea.”

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

Security was tight outside the Senate building on Denon. Alliance guards of multiple species, as well as individual security personnel seemed to outnumber the reporters and HoloNet correspondence on the scene. By now, the talking heads and analysts, as well as every sentient with an opinion, had made a judgment on the attacks that had hit hard. Final casualty figures were being reported, and memorial services were being drawn up in Sullust, Duro and Commenor. A state funeral was being planned for Ponc Gavrisom as was appropriate for a former Chief of State, even if he had returned to the Senate after his term of office. Everyone at the press conference seemed to be on edge.

Chief of State Omas strode to the podium with a somber look on his face. He looked tired to the surprise of no one present. A silence fell over the assembled crowd as reporters pushed closer to the front, pressing up against the barricades and guards standing at the ready at the base of the podium.

”My fellow gentle-beings. It is with great sadness that I address you today. We have been the victims of brutal acts, attempts to shatter the peace that reigns today in the Galaxy. We stand a galaxy united, united against hatred and prejudice, against fear and want. We have worked together to help rebuild our worlds, have strived to find new homes for those displaced beings that lost everything in the last war. We have also begun to work to welcome our new neighbors in the galaxy, the Yuuzhan Vong, back into civilized society, and into the fabric of our Galactic Alliance. We cannot let the acts of a few rash individuals belay the work we have done together. We have fought alongside one another to bring about a new era of peace in the Galaxy.”

He paused, and looked down at his notes for a second to gather himself. Looking back up, he continued.

”The rumors that have been circulating around the HoloNet are true. These attacks have the characteristics of an attack by Yuuzhan Vong warriors. The weapons used in these attacks were of Yuuzhan Vong technology, and it was a Yuuzhan Vong explosive device that killed former Chief of State Cal Omas. We are certain of these facts. What we don’t know is who specifically placed the explosives, or who else was involved in the other attacks.”

A murmur began in the crowd, reporters and citizens alike shaking their head in anger or disgust or mumbling in shock. The din continued to grow until Chief of State Omas raised his hands and spoke again from the podium in a raised voice.

“These acts are barbarism. They are not the acts of civilized society. They are cowardly attempts to divide us as we try to re-unify and rebuild the galaxy. We cannot give in to this hatred, or allow it to pull us back from all that we have accomplished. We will find those responsible, but I remind all beings that these acts were caused by individuals, not all Yuuzhan Vong. Let us work together to make it through this difficult time. Thank you, and May the Force be with us all.”

Scattered applause broke out from several Denon citizens present, but the murmurs and din of questions from reporters drowned out the sound. Omas gathered his notes, and strode back into the Senate building, a cadre of security guards surrounding him as he departed without taking questions.

***

Fyor Rodan watched the speech from the rear of the assembled crowd. He had only one bodyguard by his side, and various senior and junior Senators around him. Once Chief of State Omas disappeared through the Senate doors, one of his staff got the attention of a senior HoloNet journalist. The well groomed perfectly attired Sullustian, brought up his recorder and asked what the Senator thought of Omas’s speech. Fyor took a minute to look as if he were considering both the speech and his words, but he had his response already planned from the moment the press conference was announced. Who was Cal Omas to claim that he knew what was going on. It was Fyor who was in the Senate when the bomb went off, Fyor who saw the horror caused by the Vong assassins. These things did not just happen. Peace…feh. Peace is the excuse used by those who don’t understand when force is necessary. Perhaps the Bothans have been right all along. The Vong are a disease in this galaxy. They have no place here. Time to do something about it. He looked at the cameras as he spoke.

“While I respect Chief of State Omas for bringing this evidence of Yuuzhan Vong involvement to light, I am afraid he may be naïve in assuming that these are the acts of rash individuals. Galactic Alliance citizens are dead because of deliberate actions taken by a hostile people. It is imperative to the security of the Alliance that the Yuuzhan Vong be properly supervised. I have spoken with my colleagues in the Senate, and we do not believe we can leave the care of the Vong to the Jedi’s solution of Zenoma Sekot. The Jedi promised us that the Vong would no longer be a threat, and as we send government officials to comfort the families of the deceased, I think it is obvious that they are not up to the task, nor is their “protector planet” or whatever myth or story they choose to tell the Senate. It is in this vain, and in discussions with other Senators, that I will propose a repeal to the Military Act that allow Yuuzhan Vong in our military, and will propose additional legislation to demand the registration and temporary detention of all Yuuzhan Vong until the perpetrators of these heinous acts are turned over to the authorities. Now is not a time to move forward and simply hope for the best. Now is a time to take firm action to ensure the security of our young Galactic Alliance.”

Rodan’s speech was met with cheers from the Senators around him, as well as carefully placed individuals in the crowd that started a wave of applause and cheers from the assembled reporters and citizens. It was an exercise in political theater that was being played out perfectly. Rodan would put an end to the Vong threat through the Senate, even if the Jedi or others stood in his way, and if things went his way, he may even get rid of Omas in the process. If he could not lead, he would just have to show the public that he could in Omas’s place. The political mechanisms in the Senate had already begun to churn, preparing for a vote of no confidence if Omas wouldn’t cooperate. And if that happens, I’ll be in a better position to help us through this threat, and make the Galaxy safe. Rodan thought to himself, smiling inside at the cheers and applause from the crowd.

[TuskenRaider1]

Will add the character ref page soon as an attachment, can't yet cuz of spoilers. ..(Heh, spoilers in a fanfic, but still)

[TuskenRaider1]

Chapter 7

Luke walked into the hanger followed closely by Mara. He could feel her concern for Ben and the rest of the Jedi on Ossus and knew that he had to be careful how he handled this discussion. Following his vision, Kyp had tried to reach the Academy with no success, and had been unable or unwilling to try to contact other Jedi closer to the Academy to check things out. He was currently prepping his StealthX for departure. Luke moved through the otherwise empty hanger until he felt Kyp become aware of his presence. The tall battle hardened Jedi turned to the older Master and set his pack in the cockpit and stepped down off the ladder.

“Luke, Mara, here to see me off, or warn me off?” Kyp asked with a hint of suspicion in his voice. Kyp and Luke’s approach had never really met eye to eye on most things, but the vision Kyp had seen had touched his very core. He couldn’t tell if it was a current threat or a future one, but in light of the events of the previous few days, there was no chance he was going to assume anything but the worst. The Temple inability to reach those on Ossus had many of the Council concerned as well, and though Supreme Commander Pellaeon had offered to send GFFA military vessels to investigate, Luke had asked that the Jedi be allowed to check it out first.

Kyp had not waited to consult with other members of the Council as he began prepping for his journey. He had tried to contact a member of the Dozen that was on a special project for him, but Torii Lorzon had not returned his attempts to contact her, and he was beginning to get worried. She had been serving as his liaison on another project and as the two of them spent more time together, he began to acquire a greater appreciation for her untrained force abilities, and had recently spoken with her about becoming his apprentice, if she chose to pursue the path of the Jedi. She had not given him a definitive answer, but had agreed to some training while she weighed the choice. He had a feeling she would accept his offer soon. It was discouraging that he could not bring her along to Ossus, but if she was out of touch, there had to be a good reason. She had quickly proven herself a valuable member of the Dozen.

Luke placed his hand on Kyp’s shoulder, surprising the younger Master with the look in his eyes. “I don’t intend to stop you Kyp. I came to wish you luck, and to approach the situation with delicacy. Kam and Tionne and Streen are there, as are many students. There is no need to cause a panic if there isn’t one.”

Mara shook her head and looked at Kyp with harder eyes than her husband had. “What Luke is too polite to say is don’t do anything stupid. According to you, the vision was unclear as to a cause. I don’t want you to be the reason something happens.”

The stress in her voice bled through the stern message, and Kyp was stung by the apparent accusation until he recalled the reason behind the stress. “I know Ben is there. I wont put the children in any danger, and I’m not looking to pick a fight, but the vision hit me harder than anything I have felt in the Force in a long time. I need to be there for some reason.”

“Then you’ll have company” came a voice from the other side of the hanger. Corran Horn entered the room in his green flight suit and moved toward his StealthX, with Whistler, his R2-unit, following behind. Kyp looked at the older pilot and shook his head immediately. Corran spoke before his objections could be given voice. “My children are there too, and since we can’t all go, I’ll fly your wing. This isn’t about us, or a lack of trust or anything else. It’s about a chance to see my kids and make sure that they are safe.” Mara nodded at Corran and spun on her heel toward the flight suit lockers by the hanger door.

“Where are you going?” Luke called after her, knowing through the Force her intentions, but not really believing she’d follow through.

”I’m going with them Farmboy. You have stay here and help Chief of State Omas and the Council through these attacks, but Corran is right. I’m going to check on our son, and I’d hate to think you’d believe you had a shot to stop me.”

Kyp shook his head again, but knew that this was a losing argument before he could even get into it. Both Corran and Mara had children on Ossus, and he, as the lone person in the hanger without kids, couldn’t speak to their fears. If the vision he had seen was at all correct, he felt that perhaps he’d need all the support he could get after all. “OK, let’s get moving. We’ll go by StealthX’s and Mara can go by the Jade Shadow, in case we need to take anyone back with us, but we will fly under cover until we can assess the situation.”

Both Mara and Corran nodded at the arrangement, and Mara approached Luke to give him a kiss before she moved toward the Shadow. Luke knew his wife well enough to know that there would be no discussion on her going, and instead send a wave of hope to all three Masters through the Force. He watched as the ships left the hanger, staring off into the sky after them, and hoping they didn’t need it.

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

[DarthSolo]

I can't wait to see the dynamics of that trio.

[Jediwan]

Mara, Kyp, and Corran together = nuclear bomb.

[mirax terrik horn]

Wow really good DB. And yeah those three together talk about a lot of arguments.

[DarthSolo]

Just bumping this so it doesn't get lost. Can't wait to see more, TR1.

[TuskenRaider1]

----------------------------------------- (ch 7 pt II)

The Ooglith maskers allowed the two disfigured Vong warriors to enter through the planet’s customs and immigration center. The natives weren’t all that hard to imitate. After all, how difficult could it be to pass as yet another human population? They would meet with the other team and then head out from there.

Transport off Zenoma Sekot had been easier than expected. Tahiri, returned from her time on Dagobah and Danni Que, had been searching for their missing comrade, Tekli for days and had been distracted from their normal duties when the search had produced nothing. Sekot had been occupied trying to search the entirety of the planet for the small Chandra-Fan, but had similarly found nothing. All three began to fear the worst, as none of them could feel her presence in the Force. Cha’tong Shai had gone to gruesome lengths to eliminate the body as Zalim had kept the Boras whipped into frenzy as he worked. As a part of Sekot’s consciousness tried to regain control of the Boras, Cha’tong had been able to finish his task. While the Jeedai continued to search for their friend, they focused less and less on the administrative aspects of the Vong settlements, allowing those loyal to the cause to doctor necessary travel records and cover the warriors departure.

The two warriors weaved through the crowded walkways, smiling through their disguises to avoid attracting unnecessary attention. They made their way across the city center, and maneuvered through the large white corridors of the floating city platform. Across one broad hall, the two spotted the rest of the team, a group of five disguised Vong bustling about near a refreshment stand. Upon making eye contact, the seven proceeded toward some nearby maintenance access routes. A local guard, wearing a new design of former Baron-Administrator Calrissian’s old uniforms, approached one of the warriors as he reached the routes access terminal.

“Can I help you sir? This is a restricted access tunnel without proper identification.” The guard approached with a weary look and a hand on his blaster holster. He was alone, and his comlink was still attached to his belt. The Vong warrior at the terminal turned and smiled, as one of his comrades-in-arms slipped behind the guard and stuck a small blade in his side. As the look of surprise and pain filled the guards eyes, the warrior who had stabbed him put his hand over the guard’s mouth to muffle any final cries. The other warriors looked to ensure that no one had seen the events, and content that they had gone unnoticed, the first warrior opened the panel, as the second carried in the body of the dead guard. Before setting him down in a crawl space out of sight, the warrior took the comlink off his belt to monitor conversations. If the alarms were sounded, the group would know.

The group moved down the tunnel toward the floating city’s main power station, disabling security devices along the way. Purchasing or stealing plans to the tunnels had not been difficult, and the warriors had only needed to bribe a few criminals to get the information they needed. Those criminals were of course disposed of after they had served their purposes. It was refreshing to see the hawk-bats pick them apart as they after their bodies were left for the scavengers. Living creatures were so much more affective a disposal unit then machines that could fail or leave traces. The group saw their objective in front of them, the bright lights from the power cells and the streams of pure energy flowing between the converters lighting the great room beyond measure. Here was where the 16 pairs of massive Novaldex G47 tractor beam generators that drew heat to the thermo-converters that power the complex, in addition to keeping it stationary over Bespin came together to process their energy. The team moved quickly, two each on either side of the main conduit in the center of the massive room, approaching each major power converter carefully. Two other members moved to either main control terminal, while the final member, the one who had killed the guard began chanting in prayer.

He lifted his arms and his skin began to crawl, something under it beginning to send ripples across his body. His chest began to heave, as did the chests of the other warriors. Chants turned to screams of pain from a few of the warriors, while others, older and more used to pain, continued to chant in prayer. The warriors’ bodies seem to almost glow and started to burn, smoke and steam coming off their skin. The other warriors’ chants began to turn to screams as well as light seemed to come out of their eyes and mouths, and finally the bodies had taken their full.

Each warrior exploded in a blaze of energy and fire, igniting the terminals or machinery near them in flame and power. The pure energy in the power station, necessary to keep Cloud City alive in all its infrastructure and safety was released all at once, instantly disintegrating anything the energy touched. The explosion expanded outward exponentially, and engulfed a full third of the City platform by the time it reached its full power, and then winked out of existence as it had run its course.

In total, over 100,000 lives were instantly exterminated, with precision, and before anyone had time to think, much less react. Cloud City started to fall, threatening the rest of the inhabitants. Rescue operations would be able to salvage part of the city, but by the end, over a third of Bespin’s population was dead.

[mirax terrik horn]

Whoa I'm confused. But don't get me wrong it is in a good way a really good way. Continue please!

[DarthSolo]

Good stuff. I'm just a bit confused about the chanting. Was that something that activated whatever ignition that took place? How did that work?

[mirax terrik horn]

You can't just ever be curiously confused can you DS. Good grief give him time to explain it in the story.

[DarthSolo]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[TuskenRaider1]

Chapter 8

The devastation of Cloud City had enraged the populous of the Galactic Alliance. Anti-Vong demonstrations occurred on multiple worlds, and remnants of the Yuuzhan Vong war that remained on planets such as Coruscant were being ripped up or publicly destroyed. There was concern amongst some that the Dhuryam that lie at the heart of Coruscant might become agitated, and start planetary events there in response. A set of Jedi Masters from the Temple had gone to try to communicate with it, but most knew that only Jacen Solo had any real chance. The two had been connected from the beginning.

Captain La’Shal sat nervously at his command station. He had been ordered to keep the Vong members of his integrated crew separated while the investigation of the attempted sabotage was taking place. There had been some incidents as well. Three crewmembers, one from Commenor and two from Duros had cornered one of the Vong in the galley, and a fight had ensued. The two Duros were currently in the brig, with the Commenor crewman in a bacta tank. La’Shal had to respect the amount of restraint that the Vong, a large warrior named Ralas Choka, a relative of former Warmaster Nas Choka, had shown during the fight. The three crewmembers were all from technical backgrounds, and not up to fighting a Vong warrior in a serious contest of arms. He could have killed them all with ease, but didn’t and sparred honorably until he could end the situation.

La’Shal looked at the new orders in front of him and suppressed a shiver. Fyor Rodan had gathered enough votes in the Senate after the most recent attack to push through new legislation calling for all Vong to be sent to the remnants of the bunkers on Ebaq 9. The humiliation implicit in the site selection was bad enough, but the orders called for all Vong off of Zenoma Sekot to be sent immediately, and by force if necessary. La’Shal feared that all the work to move the Vong toward integration might be undone by the fear of further attacks. He had to admit, it made sense to be concerned, but he was afraid that a knee-jerk reaction was one that may come back to haunt them.

The Captain looked down at the new information, or to be more accurate, speculation that lay on his desk next to the orders. The intelligence reports from Bespin stated that a new form of explosive, different from the smaller bomb-bug used to assassinate former Chief of State Gavrisom was utilized in the attack. Apparently, according to what little information had been able to be saved from the city’s security system, the group, 7 members, had worn Ooglith maskers to sneak into the power center of the city. The grainy security holo-footage showed no weapons visible, and even Nas Choka, brought in to look at the footage, could not discern the means of attack. Something inside them perhaps was the best analysis available from the former Warmaster. There was no sense keeping secrets now that the Vong had in essence been disarmed unilaterally of their natural bio-weapons, with the approved exceptions. La’Shal had fought alongside Nas Choka and his crew, and it was the trust, or at least the grudging respect they had formed toward each other that had allowed for the integrated crew on La’Shal’s vessel.

Those exceptions, and the integration of Vong soldiers, were now under fire as well. All Vong are to be sent without delay to collection and organization centers prior to departure to camps on Ebaq 9, until such a time as the criminals behind these attacks are found and seized. La’Shal stared at the orders. That could be a long time. How do they plan to get out of this once they start it? Just let them all go? We are throwing away years of work here… La’Shal shook his head and swiveled around in his chair to stare out of the viewport. Coruscant illuminated the view, the damage to the planet still visible from space. He could not shake this feeling that something worse was coming. Something dark in the horizon that he could not make out. He turned back to his console to issue the order to move all Vong crew to the shuttle bays and prepare for departure. He had no other choice.

La’Shal knew the Galactic Alliance military was not the only place the orders came to. The legislation was enacted over the opposition of Chief of State Omas. He had met with his allies in the Senate to discuss the new legislation, but the calls of anger and fear and hatred from Rodan’s faction in the Senate and the masses of the Galactic Alliance were shouting them down. It was fear that spurned governments into action L’Shal was well aware. He had seen fear drive men and women to make decisions any sane being would view as misguided. A glance at his terminal on the wall showed his fears becoming reality. The HoloNet was beginning to fill with news of revenge attacks on Vong settlements of workers on some of the terra-formed planets that had begun to see refugees return to re-build. La’Shal had been on Denon when the various projects on worlds the Vong had attacked had been developed by the Senate to help heal wounds. Now, like stitches being ripped open, violence would begin against Vong communities in earnest, fueled by revenge and repressed anger at the events of the previous War. With little ability or weaponry to defend them, reports of death would start trickling out of these worlds. Already, one such report had made its way to the HoloNet. On Tynna, a story of a massacre of an entire Vong community was almost proudly announced. Those Vong communities that could defend themselves would need to, La’Shal realized. That would only lead to more violence, more death. The Bothan captain put his hand against the viewport, and lowered his head in sadness. This would only get worse…

***

Out through the viewport, spread and hidden amongst the stars and on planets that were displayed in all their collective beauty, those who were loyal, who had been recruited by Zalim or Krakash or others - The Zhaelor - as they called themselves, (the Yuuzhan Vong word for Truth), watched the Galactic Alliance moves with a collective inner smile. The harder and quicker the government reacted, the more Vong they would drive back to the true path. What was this nonsense of eliminating Yun-Yammka? How could the vast majority of our race be fooled into disposing of their true gods? the Zhaelor asked themselves. The gods had been disavowed as false, the heretic Harrar claiming that Yun-Yammka had been developed by the Vong warriors as a way to rationalize their barbarity. How DARE he. The true deity of the Vong would reveal himself to the Universe through his warriors and those loyal to him. The loyal would announce themselves to the rest of the Vong soon, heralds of the true path, returning the Vong to their gods, with Yun-Yammka at the head. They would bring Zhaelor to the public eye, but not yet. More horrors needed to be unleashed. Priests like Zalim and shapers like Sraka Keelaw and even shamed ones who served or joined the Zhaelor out of fear of the new system of life amongst the Vong would bring the truth through brilliant acts of defiance. They would bring the Vong back to their gods, and those that refused to heed the calls would be killed to cleanse the race. Some of the recruits feared Zenoma Sekot, and wondered how the paradise world would react to the return of the gods, but Zalim claimed to have an answer to that. He said it would be the final act to prove the Vongs’ worth to the gods. There was more to be done before that final step, and the recruits would be necessary to carry out the will of the gods.

Zalim had told Krakash and Sraka Keelaw of his visions, received he claimed, from Yun-Yammka himself. He had shown Krakash that he could speak with the Boras as no one save Zenoma Sekot could. He had Sraka Keelaw graft him with yammosk cells as the Shamed One Onimi had tried, and had told the shaper it was the true path to connect with the gods. Sraka Keelaw had been a mid-level shaper who was discontented with the new system, and had met with Zalim privately as he had begun to share his tales. Krakash had been put in charge of intelligence and recruiting for the group. His position close to the traitor Nas Choka had kept him abreast of the most current developments, and it was he who had spoken with the newer members of Zhaelor, suggesting he was not in charge, but an emissary of the true way. There were more of them of course. They had been planning this for two standard years, and had managed to spread the word to the worthy and those willing to follow the true path set forward by Zalim as told to him in his visions. The group had warriors ready to act, shapers creating new weapons, and even mercenaries hired to cause additional panic. These mercenaries didn’t need to understand their acts. They only cared for monetary reward, and though unbelievers, they had their uses. Some were even acting now. Soon, there would be enough fear and anger in the galaxy to bring the Yuuzhan Vong out of their cowed existence and devotion to the false prophets of Zenoma Sekot. Soon.

[DarthSolo]

I like where the story is going, and what was shown here. But, how it was shown needs some help. This doesn't seem to be from any character's POV. And there's no action. Some of this can be seen through the dialogue of some characters. Some of it can actually be an action scene.

Continuity notes: Onimi grafted Yammosk cells to his brain, not Coral. And at the end of the war, I'm pretty sure the YV realized their gods were just a scam. The rebel Vong would likely believe in them still, but those loyal to the GFFA probably would not.

Good development to the story.

[mirax terrik horn]

I echo what DS said about character POV. However I don't get where you (DS) got the thing about those loyal to the GFFA not believing, I think that maybe if they saw enough destruction and mistrust any race would think twice about their God's. And the YV are still fairly fresh off their whole galactic domination stint.
DB I also think that if you are going to do something like you just did you need to make a bit more structure to it. I got the feeling that you were just jumbling facts together and they didn't really have a flow to them. It was kind of stop that thought go to this one, no, no, go back to another thought. This time I really am confused as to why you did this part. And not in an overly good way.

[TuskenRaider1]

OK, chapter 8 was re-written and tweaked. Should answer some of the questions. As for devotion to the gods, your right, most of the vong did indeed dismiss the gods, but not all of them would, or could for that matter, if it was the security that kept them sane. The misguided beliefs of those few that the rest would follow are echoed in history. Plus Ill get into that more. Part II should be up soon. Back to Ossus....

[TuskenRaider1]

----------------------------------- (8 part II)

One would think that something as small as a ship could only cause so much damage. But it is the smallest of technologies that can sometimes cause the biggest of problems. At platform 2-0-7, the engineers that stepped aboard the Ambitious Dream with the Devorian Krev leading the way, stopped when a wave of nausea hit them once inside. What would make them so queasy so quickly? One of the engineers looked up at the Devorian, who turned and smiled, then closed the ramp. He looked at the engineers as one of them, a female Kuati, turned and vomited. She looked back up to apologize and was met with a blaster barrel. The sounds of the blaster were muted inside the ship, as the few engineers were quickly and professionally assassinated. They wouldn’t be the last, just the first in a deadly game. The Devorian moved toward the rear of the freighter, and checked the device. It was a new, just added before this trip by their employers. A huge, rather ugly, pulsing clump of green, slick and gooey. Krev hadn’t bothered to ask its name. He just knew that Kra’tir had brought the thing onboard and told the crew that it would grant them the privacy to do their job. It fed off of communication waves. It could be isolated when the Dream needed to use its communications array, but it could effective cut off planetary communications for as long as it was stationary.

Satisfied that the clump was still alive, Krev sealed the Dream’s hatches and cargo bay doors. Someone might figure out what was jamming their comms, and come investigate. Well, Jedi or no, they’d be in for a few surprises. He’d been a mercenary long enough to have come across a Jedi or two in his day. They no longer made him nervous. The Vong and even the Peace Brigade had shown during the War that a Jedi could be killed just as dead as a regular being. The supposedly great Anakin Solo had even been killed during the War. And if Kra’tir and Renessa knew what they were doing, as they usually did, then quite a few would be dead by the time the day was over. Krev reached his bunk and withdrew a large pill, then proceeded to take it while look back at the part of the ship holding the clump. That damn thing pulled in all comm waves, and the resulting increase in activity made a being sick to their stomach. The pills helped. He checked his weapons, and sat in the cabin; ready to repel anyone who came onboard.

Outside the ship, in the dining hall of the Academy at Ossus, Kam was introducing Kra’tir, Renessa and their Wookie comrade to another guest joining them for their meal. The old, long bearded Jedi master Streen bowed politely at the trio of guests before he sat at the table with them.

“Master Streen is visiting us from one of our “satellite campuses” for the Academy on Dathomir. How are your student’s Streen?” Kam and Tionne both smiled at the old and thin Master. They had been together as Jedi from the beginning of Luke’s academy on Yavin 4, and after the war, Streen had gone to help train those Dathomiri with the natural ability to touch the force, along with Kirana Ti and Damaya, and help rebuild their world. Currently Kirana Ti and Damaya were with the students. It had been a long time since they seen each other, and Kam missed the old man.

“We are well. There are quite a few Dathomiri who wish to train, and the improved control of the force has helped them in the rebuilding efforts.” Streen intentionally avoided eye contact with Kra’tir. “Damaya has taken to trying to get me used to the rancors, but they still give me a start at times.” He smiled mischievously at Tionne. “I could always bring a couple back here next time…”

Tionne’s eyes sparkled with laughter. “I don’t think they’d really fit in here Streen.” She smiled good-naturedly at him. The smiled disappeared when she turned her gaze toward Renessa. The Zabrak female had taken a chair close to Kam, and seemed to be too close for comfort. Renessa noticed the look and merely smiled back.

Kra’tir spoke for the first time. “It is good that you can save world’s damaged in the War. I was not part of the action, but shamed and kept out of the fight for most of it. It was amongst the traders and smugglers that I found a home, a place that would accept me. It is good that we can move past the War.” Streen nodded with apprehension, and the Wookie growled his agreement. Tionne realized that as much as the Vong had thrown her off at first, she was more confortable with him then with the Zabrak. “Is it possible to tour this facility?” Kra’tir asked, speaking again. “I know you showed us the basic layout, but I wanted to see more if we could. We have not heard from Krev yet, so Im sure it may be a while on the repairs.”

Kam started to nod, but Tionne spoke up first. “Allow me to take you Kra’tir. I would be happy to show you more of the Academy.” She looked at Renessa and the Wookie again, and sent a wave of reassurance to Kam through the Force that she was fine, but wanted some space from the Zabrak woman. She was concerned about the feelings she was provoking. She trusted Kam, and sent him another wave through the Force telling him so.

Streen rose to come as well “It has been awhile since I have seen parts of the grounds myself, if I may accompany you. It would be good to talk more about your experiences Kra’tir, if I could impose on you.”

Kra’tir merely shrugged. “I welcome your presence Master Streen. It is us who are imposing on you. I feel Renessa may wish to stay and finish her meal, or perhaps rest. She worked the most on the recent leg of our journey.” Renessa nodded her approval at his suggestion, and as the three departed, turned to Kam. “Can you show us to a place where we may bunk down for a while. Spot and I could use the rest.”

“Of course, this way…” Kam stated, and led the two guests towards the guest quarters at the Academy. The Academy had hosted visiting dignitaries and guests from time to time and had rooms separated from the students to accommodate them. Kam led them to two rooms, across from a third and down from a fourth. “Kra’tir and Krev can use these other rooms when they are done. You may feel free to wander these areas, but please call us if you need to go elsewhere. We have young students here and some very nervous guard droids around, and I wouldn’t want you to get hurt by accident.” The Wookie strode into his room next to Renessa’s while she lingered, staring at Kam. He could feel a wave of lust from her in the Force, so strong that it gave him pause. He cleared his throat to give his farewells, when she reached out and pulled him toward her in a powerful kiss. His eyes grew large, and his quickly pushed her away. “What….I can’t, you shouldn’t have…” Kam, for all his teaching and fighting ability, all his experience and wisdom, had not been a true ladies man before meeting Tionne, and only her softness had dulled his hard edges. This was a first for him, and though he had no desire to pursue the Zabrak in her intentions, he was still stunned. She flashed a playful hurt smile, and backed into her room.

“Don’t look so surprised Master Solusar. I want your company, don’t you want mine?” She stretched her arms up in the air, her tight jumpsuit pulling even tauter against her body. Kam blinked and shook his head, as much to himself for his thoughts as to tear his eyes away from the seductive pose before him.

“I have to go. Rest here, and I will send someone for you if news of your ship’s repairs comes to me.” He turned before she could answer, but heard her playful laugh as he hurried down the corridor, past a group of students in the quad outside, and towards the Academy training grounds. He needed some quick exercise, and then perhaps a cold shower. Then he needed to find Tionne. He’d feel better then, and not quite so…. unclean.

***

On the other side of the Academy, Tionne, Streen and Kra’tir were touring the grounds, following the route that previously visitors had taken. Most recently a delegation from the Senate had asked to see the Academy grounds, and as they were supporters of the Jedi in debates in the Senate, had been granted permission to tour the facilities as a sign of respect and thanks. The current route Tionne was showing varied slightly from the one Master Skywalker had shown when Aristocra Formbi had come. Tionne did not want to emphasize the battle abilities of the Jedi, and instead showed Kra’tir the meditation and healing centers of the Academy. Cilghal was on Denon with Master Skywalker, and Tekli was on Zenoma Sekot, so other healers were running the facilities at the moment. Kra’tir smiled at the choice of locations. The shapers had given him a variety of tools for this task, and his mercenaries were performing their parts admirably. He bit down on a capsule in his mouth, behind one of his teeth and swallowed its contents. Renessa should be keeping Solusar busy by now, and I can take care of these two now. Kra’tir stopped in the healers center, and bent his left three fingers. The Jedi’s backs were turned, but Streen sensed the danger and turned abruptly, his lightsaber flying from his belt into his hand. Kra’tir had stopped far enough back though that he was out of the immediate reach of the blade, and the mist that escaped from his fingers filled the room quickly, before either Jedi, nor other healers in the room, could employ a breathing technique. The look of anger in the old man’s eyes and the look of betrayal in Tionne’s before they closed brought a smile to his scared and cut lips. He moved quickly though the room to the security terminal and worked the controls. He shut down access to the room, and then removed his left leg.

The strange leg had been grafted on by shapers, but was removable through ripping part of the flesh that covered the clasps that kept it in place and functioning smoothly. The leg was filled with two natural fleshy and pulsing canisters. Kra’tir withdrew them and inspected the layout of the academy he had been able to call up on the security terminal. The ventilation for the main building ran through ducts that were controlled not in a separate maintenance room, but here in the medical center, so that clean air could be filtered through a healthy and sterile environment, ensuring purity. The vents and control ducts were in the center of the main room. Kra’tir withdrew the fleshy canisters and reattached the leg, its clasps now exposed without the flesh covering them, and moved to the control panel. He shut down the monitoring devices that measured the air’s purity, and placed the canisters in the main duct. He opened them and watched as a green mist filled the air duct, and was swept out into the ventilation system. Soon he knew, the mist would mix with the air and when circulated, knock out all who inhaled it. The contents of the capsule he had swallowed and had given to the mercenaries would make them immune to the mist’s effects. He smiled at the knowledge that soon, a massive complex full of cursed Jeedai would be incapacitated. Not all would die, sadly, as the mix of chemicals and gasses to incapacitate all of the species here would not be lethal to all of them, but from the shapers estimates, at least a fair number would be killed. The rest would be knocked unconscious, and at least out of the way, so that he could destroy the data towers that lay within the Academy. The amount of history and data stored in them would not be able to be recovered, and loss to the Jeedai would be immense. Jeedai Knights and Masters could be replaced, he was seeing it happen here and on other worlds, through training. The connection to the Force that some beings had would always be present, but by taking the history of the Jeedai from them, and by destroying their past, they would be rudderless. That is what Zalim had told him at least. He wasn’t so sure, but Kra’tir didn’t need to understand the logic of Zalim’s visions, just follow them. Satisfied that the canisters had released their contents fully, he unsealed the center, and headed toward the towers.

[DarthSolo]

Very good. I really like it. One suggestion: in part 1 of chapter 8, the last two paragraphs I don't think are needed. I think it would be more effective if you didn't let the reader know that all the YV were in on it. I think it'd be better to have the reader have the hope that it's only rebel YV. It's your choice though. That said, if you want to keep it, i think it needs it's own part-chapter. Right now, the transition from L'Shal to the Yuuzhan Vong is confusing. But, altogether, this is really quite interesting. Looking forward to more.

[Jediwan]

Wow, that was good Dust Bunny.

[TuskenRaider1]

I think I need to play with it a bit then. The Zhaelor are the only ones that are involved, a rebel group. Hard-core types. The rest of Vong society will be brought in later in the hopes of Zhaelor. Kinda like some groups in teh real world hope their extreme actions will enlist the support of the entirety of the faith etc etc. thats part of the hook for later. If its confusing, Ill see if I cant fix just the last 2 parts again...

[DarthSolo]

Ah, ok. Makes more sense to me now. Sorry bout that.

[mirax terrik horn]

Oooh *starts clapping her hands in a completely embarassing way.* That is really good. Hurry up and put up a new chapter!!!

[Sam]

I've had no exposure to the EU, before coming onto this site, but, from what I can make out, you have a good, topical story going. Although set in the SW universe, it's really a cautionary tale for the post-9/11 world. The YV faction committing the terrorist acts, including suicide bombing, would like nothing better than to see planets repsond with retaliatory hate crimes against YV, and the Senate imposing restrictions on all YV akin to US treatment of Japanese Americans in WWII. That's how to recruit more for their extreme cause. The pre-9/11 movie "The Siege" comes to mind, and especially Steven Spielberg's current film "Munich," which asks hard moral questions about responding to terrorist and doesn't provide easy answers.

One suggestion I have is that, for the scenes told from the POV of the suicide bombers in the Cloud City and the sabotuer at the Jedi Academy, why they're doing what they're doing should be more on their minds, especially for the ones who are about to die doing it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>"They killed them all, the nerf-herding swine.[/b][/quote]

That's dangerous language Kyp is using there, and unlike a Jedi, even when struck by a disturbance in the Force.

[mirax terrik horn]

Listen I am going to say this in the nicest way possible, if you haven't read the EU then try to stay away from giving advice about ppl writing it. You haven't read what Kyp is like so I don't think that you are a good judge about what he would say. Read some of the EU before you say what someone would or wouldn't say. The NJO is very different from the old republic.

[Sam]

Excuse me, I thought I was praising the story for its real-world applications, and the only suggestion I made had to do with general storytelling and not something specific to the EU. And nowhere did I say that Kyp can't say what he says. I quoted it, becuase it struck me as unusual, especially as it contains the racially-loaded word "swine." Also, for your information, I have read two other stories in this forum which use Kyp as a character.

[mirax terrik horn]

LOL! My mistake. However I do think you are wrong about the racially charged statement made by Kyp. That is something IMO that Kyp would say any day of the week. Start reading the NJO series and then come talk to me about what Kyp would and wouldn't say about the Vong. And to get back on topic DB hurry up with that next chapter.

[TuskenRaider1]

Thanks for the comments guys and gals. Appreciate the observations on all sides. I changed Torii and Jaina's destination from Corellia to Cerea in the previous section they appear in. Thought that would be important to know before Chapter 9. Here it is, hope you enjoy....

[TuskenRaider1]

Chapter 9

The flight to Cerea, a Mid Rim world had been a long one, and Jaina was sore from the journey. The cockpits of the Stealth X’s weren’t any more comfortable than the previous models, and even in a Jedi trance for part of the trip, her back ached and her muscles were bunched. The Cereans had been members of the Old Republic and then later of the Empire, but the populous had always respected their past, and the legends of Jedi such as Sen Udo-Mal, Tarr Seirr, and former Jedi Council member Ki-Adi-Mundi lived on in the hearts of the common people. Though the Emperor had done all he could to eliminate the memory of the Jedi across the galaxy, Cerea held their past close to their hearts and privately, and with the Palpatine’s death, had been able to show their respect publicly once again.

A lush planet with an intricate interaction between nature and steel architecture, Cerea maintained its simple, austere and pacifistic way of life. It had been a sight of major conflict during the Clone Wars and severely damaged by the CIS droid armies. The Cereans were able to liberate the planet at the end of the Clone Wars, but were brought into the Galactic Empire in the process.

Landing in Tecave City, Jaina followed Torii through the streets to the market on the far end of the capital. Both had shed their flight suits, and Jaina, wearing normal fitting black trousers and a loose pilot’s tunic, her lightsaber hidden underneath the bottom of the tunic, had to appreciate Torii’s appearance. The Dozen pilot had exchanged her flight suit for a tight fitting black top, long sleeves but with a bare midriff, exposing tight abs and further showing off her figure, and a baggier form of black cargo pant. No weapons were discernable, but Jaina was sure she carried something. The outfit almost, almost made Jaina self-conscious of her own choice in apparel. The Cereans, almost two meters tall with elongated skulls, were kind and often approached the two women to see if they needed assistance. Torii politely moved through the crowds and worked the two of them to a café at the edge of the market. The café was nestled between two shop tents, colorful awnings lining the fronts of each. The lone door leading into the café was colored in stripped vertical lines, far subtler than the decorations on the surrounding shops and buildings.

“I’m supposed to meet Jacen’s courier in here. This was the place he and Kyp set up before the operation began. We can tell you more once we get inside.” Seemingly content with her explanation, Torii walked into the café, leaving Jaina to follow. Jaina walked into the café and was stunned by the simplicity and at the same time elegance of the hole-in-the-wall establishment. The synergy between nature and steel that seemed to cover the planet was echoed almost perfectly inside with the decorum of the café, and the seating allowed for privacy and openness at the same time. The atmosphere was instantly relaxing and Jaina felt immediately better about the situation. The contact that Torii was supposed to meet smiled warmly as he rose to welcome the two women to his table. Jaina recognized the bulky man as Lachton, a former crew member and copilot of the Wild Karrde before he had chosen to settle down after the Yuuzhan Vong War. Lachton had always been a solid and trusted member of Talon Karrde’s organization, and had a good reputation with her Aunt Mara. If Lachton was the contact, then Karrde must somehow be involved, and that meant that at least there was more here than met the eye.

“Ladies, please have a seat. I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting you Jaina. Your brother passed on that it was only to be Torii