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Author	Topic: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 9/5/08!
SilverWolf77 Registered: Feb '08	Date Posted: 7/8 10:57pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/4/
	WOW!! I have to say, this is most likely the best written fic I've ever read. This fic has kept me on the computer for 6 straight days...and I only read Exodus and Age of Heros. Now I haft to read your other fics. I REALLY wish this was canon... Anyway.... this fic has changed my opinion on many things. Mirax/Kyp has made it on my list of ships. They are just sooooo cute! And Valin just rocks. He totally rocks. And back the real story... I have a very bad feeling about Anakin. This whole anger think is not working out for him. Can you pretty please put me on a pm list if you have one??? Oh, and could I please put this quote I'm armed only with fluency in six million forms of communication!" on my sig? It cracks me up!! ~SW -----signature----- Proud supporter of: Benella, Kyp OR Jag OR Zekk/Jaina, Mara/Luke, Tahiri/Anakin, Siriwan, Mirax/Kyp, Syal/Valin & Leia/Han Janson/Kettch '08 "I'm armed only with fluency in six million forms of communication!" -C-3P0 in "The Land of the Dead" By YodaKenob
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Draconarius Registered: Feb '05	Date Posted: 7/9 7:34pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/4/
	Wedge isn't actually a senator. He was retired from military service until about a day before this business at Corellia. He joined the Corellian military and is testifying at the senate hearing. I meant to say that the senators should run the political side of the rebellion while Wedge and the Corellian military handles the butt-kicking. And seeing Thrawn again will be very interesting. -----signature----- Shattered Mirror - http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28487856/p1/?1 Proudly A/T and J/J Knighted by the wonderful SilSolo "Damned if I'm gonna lose to you!" "Then damned you shall be!" - my brother and I playing Smash Bros.
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YodaKenobi Title: TFN EU Staff Registered: May '03	Date Posted: 7/10 4:28pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/4/
	corran: Ah, we finally see the blue man himself! Yep I think you'll enjoy who it is he's meeting with I'm guessing the character we haven't seen a POV from yet would be Callista That is a really great guess. We will definitely be getting Callista's PoV finally at some point in this story, and very soon at that. Not saying if you're right or wrong though SilverWolf77: Nice to meet you WOW!! I have to say, this is most likely the best written fic I've ever read. Thank you so much That's very kind of you to say. This fic has kept me on the computer for 6 straight days...and I only read Exodus and Age of Heros. Now I haft to read your other fics. Hehe, I'm glad you enjoyed them enough to wade through that all. I know that's a lot to read. I REALLY wish this was canon... Aww, that's like the best compliment Anyway.... this fic has changed my opinion on many things. Mirax/Kyp has made it on my list of ships. They are just sooooo cute! And Valin just rocks. He totally rocks. I'm not really a fan of weird 'ships. The Kyp/Mirax thing just seemed sort of the natural thing to me after what was going on with the Horns and Kyp. I also liked the idea of letting Kyp grow up a bit. And back the real story... I have a very bad feeling about Anakin. This whole anger think is not working out for him. Anakin probably has my favorite storyline in this one. I think it's going to be alot of fun. There are several scenes I just can't wait to write. Can you pretty please put me on a pm list if you have one??? Of course, thanks for the interest Oh, and could I please put this quote I'm armed only with fluency in six million forms of communication!" on my sig? It cracks me up!! lol! Sure, I'd be honored Thanks so much for reading and your wonderful reply Draconarius: I meant to say that the senators should run the political side of the rebellion while Wedge and the Corellian military handles the butt-kicking. Oh, okay. Just wanted to make sure that wasn't confusing. And that's an interesting idea. We'll have to wait and see if you're right And seeing Thrawn again will be very interesting. I hope so. It will be a reunion of sorts that I think you guys will enjoy Forgot to say that the next post returns us to the Battle of Telex, but that was probably a given with the characters involved See you all tomorrow! -----signature----- FADA Therapist The Lands of the Dead: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28522077/p1/ Blood Trail: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28636429/p1 "We're Jedi, not assassins."— Anakin Solo
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canadianjedimama Registered: Jan '08	Date Posted: 7/10 9:19pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/4/
	Dude...you brought Bel Iblis in! Coolness. grumbles about how he's been shipped off to EU-no man's land in profic Can't wait for tomorrows post! Cyn -----signature----- Lucky member of the Jagateers, my e-sister's of Jag-love! "I like Princess Leia, but that's different Star Wars." Baby Girl on CW Proud co-corrupter of Flowerlady to Twilight... I Wobbler...
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YodaKenobi Title: TFN EU Staff Registered: May '03	Date Posted: 7/11 1:43pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/4/
	Cyn: Dude...you brought Bel Iblis in! Hehe, I've always like him A true rebel. grumbles about how he's been shipped off to EU-no man's land in profic Yeah, I wonder what ever happened to him Can't wait for tomorrows post! Will be up shortly Thanks so much for reading and replying -----signature----- FADA Therapist The Lands of the Dead: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28522077/p1/ Blood Trail: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28636429/p1 "We're Jedi, not assassins."— Anakin Solo
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YodaKenobi Title: TFN EU Staff Registered: May '03	Date Posted: 7/11 4:10pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/11
	Chapter 6: Plans The dense metallic click of the hatchway's double doors pulling apart sounded an instant before they whirred away into the bulkheads and left the warship's bridge in its place. Talon Karrde's escort stepped through the open hatchway onto the durasteel command deck first and the information broker followed behind, doing his best not to show his apprehension but feeling as though he had the muzzle of a charric jammed between his shoulder blades and was being shoved forward. It was the first time he'd been invited aboard one of the Hand-class Star Destroyers, but Karrde's curiosity in the clandestine Empire's unique vessels was outweighed by his mistrust of the invitation that had been sent to the Wild Karrde only moments earlier. The Ostiarius's bridge was buzzing with activity, as Chiss and human officers dressed in black and gray Imperial uniforms surrounded consoles, control boards, and sensor screens along the bulkheads, calling back and forth across the wedge-shaped chamber as the battle outside raged. Unlike most Star Destroyers, the Ostiarius's command deck was gouged by four crew pits lined with glowing screens and pulsing lights and separated by a cross of durasteel deck plating that served as a walkway and observation platforms for superiors, and led to the forward section of the bridge. Ahead of the hollowed cavities packed with officers and equipment was a five meter stretch of deck mounted by a ring of consoles and a slightly elevated platform topped with a black command throne, facing the angled panes of the transparisteel that curved around the chamber's forward bulkhead, and appeared to Karrde more like they were all trapped in the closed jaws of some giant beast. Through the convex wall, he could see the tangles of blinding turbolaser stripes and megamaser beams crashing through the knots of durasteel slabs and erupt in spewing streams of roiling plasma. The halo of Telex's glowing atmospheric shell was just visible beyond the chaos over the Hand-class Destroyer's extremely sharp bow and custom gunmetal armored hull. "Watch your back in here," Karrde murmured over his shoulder to his long time associate, Shada D'ukal as they began their approach. "I thought you paid me to watch yours," she replied. The former Mistryl Shadow Guard was clothed in a form-fitting black jumpsuit, while the bundles of her black and white-streaked hair was swept back in a knot around a trio of zenji needles— more than mere decoration, the needles became a lethal weapon in Shada's hands when necessary, as she could throw them with bone-chilling force and accuracy. Over the years, she'd become the former smuggler's most trusted ally, and if he was about to die, he couldn't think of anyone he'd rather have at his side for a number of reasons. "It would be terrific if you could do both." "I'll expect double pay." She didn't even smirk. He loved that about her. Talon Karrde's life had been one of defying the odds. He'd risen from being a simple foot soldier in a smuggling operation to heading one of the largest underground organizations in the galaxy, under the nose of the Empire during the Civil War, and beyond the reach of the New Republic afterwards. He then turned his smuggling empire into a legitimate business, selling information instead of contraband, and becoming an official envoy between the Remnant and the galaxy's new government. Even after the Yuuzhan Vong's slaughtering rampage, he succeeded, helping to form the Smuggler's Alliance, or the Independent Traders Union, as they would become known, and gaining Senate representation in the Galactic Alliance and all the benefits that went with it. But somehow, it had all come crashing down, and Karrde felt lower than when he'd first began. He was one of the most wanted beings in the galaxy, forced into hiding from the Alliance and their charges of treason. The siege on Ossus and the subsequent diversion at Corellia had cost him in lives— good beings who had served him loyally and died in a cause they'd never really signed up for— while being cut off from the galaxy meant his other resources were drying up as well. As if things couldn't get any worse, he was now forced to seek refuge amongst the Chiss and the Empire of the Hand... It all seemed like some cruel joke. Their escort led them across the artery overlooking the crew pits, and Karrde noticed that all of the officers wore an armband of burgundy patchwork identifying their household phalanx, and emblazoned on their shoulders across from the code cylinders and rank badges on their left breasts was a red hand. Studying the faces engrossed in the holodisplays below, he was a bit horrified to see how many of the humans were identical to one another. He'd known that the Empire of the Hand had long been cloning its best and brightest as a means of bolstering its forces, but there was still something disconcerting about it all. Following the male Chiss in a line as straight as the power conduits and the broad cylindrical housings for the flood of cables, wire bundles, and pipes feeding energy, fluids, and sensor data into the control hub, above, they arrived at the end of their path and the raised command throne. Both Voss Parck and Baron Soontir Fel were watching the carnage outside and pacing around the forward viewports like a pair of expectant fathers, while the shimmering life-sized hologram of a beautiful Chiss female stood above the deck projection pod. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun as dark as the cap it was tucked under and the uniform her lithe frame was poured into. "Admiral," the escorting Chiss replied, stopping beside the platform. "Captain Karrde has arrived." The great command throne swiveled around, and Karrde found himself staring up at Grand Admiral Thrawn. His uniform was as white as it appeared in Karrde's oldest nightmare, with bullion epaulettes draped over his shoulders and the multi-colored rank insignia stitched to his chest. The last Grand Admiral's blue skin seemed a shade paler than it should have been, and his face sunken, but Karrde could barely see anything beyond the burning scarlet eyes staring down at him. "Captain Karrde," Thrawn greeted with a flash of white teeth. "I'm pleased you could make it." "Uhh... yeah," the aging man managed to cough out. "Excuse me a moment." Thrawn's throne turned back towards the blue hologram with the controls in its armrest and Karrde exchanged a look of bewilderment with Shada. In the six months since the Smugglers and Jedi had fled to Chiss space and Thrawn's protection, the Grand Admiral had not communicated with Karrde once. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was all an elaborate setup for the Chiss mastermind to finally take his revenge on him. "Commander Corssa, continue please," Thrawn said from his perch. "The Raithian forces are slowly breaking through our screens, sir," the female Chiss reported, her image blurring in a haze of static for a moment before returning clearly. "They've not only landed troop carriers on Telex's surface, but they now have warships hovering in the atmosphere and firing down at our own soldiers." "We knew the losses would be great today. The Raithians have proved a fierce opponent every step of the way." "How should we proceed?" "Simply dig your heels in, Commander. Make them work for every inch of space," Thrawn explained. "This will all be over shortly. As soon as we've captured the Raider." "And when will that be?" "Mara Jade has just reported that their team is on board and making their way towards the bridge as we speak," Voss Parck reported, his spectral form appearing even frailer than Thrawn. "That's welcome news." "Move the Creshock and half of your fleet into the atmosphere and keep those Raithian ships occupied," Thrawn said, studying a hologrid of Telex and the assault around the planet. "I'll order our CEDF friends to make a stand along the penetration points to see if we can choke the invasion off in the mean time." "Very good, sir," Corssa said, before her image vanished in a blur of flickering light. "The losses are going to be more substantial than we calculated," Soontir Fel announced, his jaw clenching as he turned to Thrawn. "It will be worth it," Thrawn replied dismissively, before turning back to Karrde and Shada. "Now, where were we?" "You were going to tell me why you'd asked to see me now," Karrde said. "Ahh, yes," Thrawn said, before coughing. It was a sickening, wet hack, and the Chiss legend's hand reached down and clutched at his chest. "Excuse me. I'm feeling a bit under the weather." According to Jaina Solo, Thrawn claimed to be dying of the wound he suffered from Rukh's blade at Bilbringi, having spent the years since in stasis so that he would be alive when the Raithians arrived, but Karrde couldn't help but eye him with suspicion. Something didn't seem right... "Before we start, I just wanted to say I hope there are no hard feelings about that whole Myrkr thing," Karrde said. "I.. uhh... didn't know it would escalate the way it did." "A long time ago," Thrawn grinned after wiping his mouth. Karrde spotted blood on the handkerchief. "I suppose the fact that I imprisoned you and kept you living in fear for the better part of a year would bring us about even for your lies and ambush on my forces, hm? As it is, I'm sure you recognize the magnitude of your mistake in retrospect. Had we defeated the New Republic and regained control of the galaxy, we would have been prepared for this invasion and the Raithians would be defeated by now." Karrde didn't know how accurate that was, but he decided not to argue the point. Thrawn claimed to have been preparing for this day since Palpatine had sent him and Parck out on some secret mission in the Unknown Regions. It was hard to imagine them not being better prepared with Thrawn in charge, as he was one of the few beings who even knew there was a threat lurking out there. "There are a lot of people dying out there," he began, trying not to show any fear. Shada helped with that. "I don't understand... Why is it so important that we capture the Raider?" "Actually, that's why I asked you here." "You probably should have let me in on the strategy sessions then." Thrawn smiled again. "I have a plan, Captain Karrde. And I need you to do something for me." "A plan that involves the Raider?" The information broker questioned, his brow furrowed. "It ends with the Raider, Captain Karrde... It starts with Jorj Car'das." The Jedi Interceptor knifed through Telex's lower atmosphere and danced around the dashes of fusillade and antifighter flak so thick that Jagged Fel was certain he would soon be torn to shreds. Each throttled artillery shell that erupted made the hull of his black-plated fighter tremble and the astromech droid stuffed in the dorsal socket beside his canopy shriek in fear. Droids, he lamented. He'd yet to find a real use for the contraptions. The Chiss didn't use them, and even the Empire of the Hand only employed their services sparingly. As soon as the battle was over, he would find a way to jury rig his new starfighter so it could run without the little navigator. Jag had already made several modifications to the Eta-7 Interceptor he'd received as a replacement for his lost clawcraft. The Kuat-engineered starfighters had obviously been designed with Jedi pilots in mind, having only limited sensor and targeting systems and shielding that never seemed to hold under more than a few blasts. Along with the upgrades he'd made, Jag also opted to wear a full flight suit and helmet. Unlike his Jedi wingmates, who had the advantage of precognitive abilities and seemed almost arrogant in their certainty that they would not be shot down, Jag wanted every edge he could drain from his fighter's systems and gear. A trio of blasts hammered his rear deflector shields and sent the young pilot forward against his flight restraints as the crash webbing constricted around his torso. "Damn," he said through his mask, turning to the domed droid outside the transparisteel blister. "Where was the warning on that?" "You've got two warbirds riding your drives," Jaina's voice crackled over the comm. He glanced into his rear viewscreen and saw the angular craft closing the distance in a hail of laser fire and Jaina's yellow fighter whirling close behind. "See if you can get them," Jag replied. He knew as soon as he said it the two pilots were as good as dead. Things had gotten messy since Jaina's brother Anakin was shot down after disobeying orders— Jag and Jaina had been forced to fight their way to Telex's surface minus one Jedi pilot, and that had proved more difficult they could have expected, as there were several massive Raithian warships sitting in the planet's atmosphere, dumping swarms of warbirds from their bays and hurling turbolasers at the ground, scorching blackened swaths across the rocks and sand that would probably never heal. It was Anakin's stalk-in-trade, as far as Jag could tell. The young Jedi always seemed to leap head first into danger and worry about the consequences never. He was actually worse than his sister, which Jag hadn't actually thought possible. The two blips closing on the wedge that represented his starfighter on his tactical displays vanished in a matter of seconds, and Jag turned his attention to banking through the last tufts of clouds and juking around the plasma volleys spraying up from the ground. He leveled out and got his first clear look at the battlefield. The valleys and majestic rock formations were littered with wreckage and bleeding pillars of smoke so thick it seemed to eclipse the sky. Entire warships were buried in the dust, having been torn apart by turbolasers or megamasers above and sucked into Telex's atmosphere where they met their ultimate fate, crashing through the planet's surface and forming smoking craters in the rock, the edges of which still burned with hot embers. Jag spotted dozens of points of conflict just within his field of vision, where thousands of Raithian, Chiss, and Imperial soldiers appeared as a great writhing mass in the valleys and planes, wrapped in clouds of vapor and a haze of energy dispersal that flashed with the endless maelstrom of blue and scarlet blaster bolts flaring in every direction. All terrain assault vehicles, transports, and starfighters strafed the sea of warriors, spewing streams of exhaust-weeping rockets and bright ejecta that detonated in blossoms of orange flame and vaporized hundreds of lives. It was as gruesome and chaotic a battle as Jag had ever seen and it took him a moment to grasp the enormity of the fight blazing across Telex's surface. A warbird rising from the storms below snapped his attention back where it belonged, and the CEDF Commander jerked the yoke and put his interceptor into a tight barrel roll just as he saw the strobbing flashes of his enemy’s laser cannons. The blasts streaked by, coming so close to the pinwheeling fighter that the heat off the bolts raised blisters in the paint on Jag's radiator wings. He came out of his roll and thumbed the firing studs, watching as the long barrels of his own weapons whumpfed in staccato burst of emerald light and pulverized the fuselage of the warbird screaming towards him until it erupted into a shooting ball of flame. "This doesn't look good..." Jaina's voice sounded uncharacteristically meek over the comm, and Jag knew what she really meant— This doesn't look very good for Anakin. Even if he'd survived the crash down to the surface, the odds of him making it out alive in this... "We'll find him," Jag assured, gliding through the cascades of fusillade. Jaina's fighter flashed by, her ion drives flaring a white and blue mist as she took the lead. "Tweeter can't get a lock on his fighter." Jag's eyes were darting across the tangles of moving bodies and streaking energy, looking for some trace of Anakin's interceptor in the horde, when he saw a most peculiar thing— he hadn't been looking for it, and when it caught his eye, he had to blink and narrow his eyes into crisp focus until he was certain what he spotted was more than a mirage in the undulating heat of weapon's discharges: whirling in a mob of metallic armor, was a beam of blue light— not streaking and vanishing in a blackened scorch mark like the maser beams stuttering across the battle field, but permanently ignited, a beacon within the darkness that slashed and spun and weaved. Studying the area around the anomaly, the Chiss-raised pilot's green-eyed gaze settled on what appeared to be the cockpit of an Eta-7, its forward mandibles buried in a pile of uprooted rock and sand and one of its wings little more than a singed stub. "I found him!" He called, not even realizing he'd shouted until he heard his own voice echoing inside his helmet. "What?" "Transmitting the coordinates," Jag commed as he looked over his shoulder and began to plan his route to double back. "They're all over him!" Jaina said in disbelief. Her fighter had already whipped around, and within seconds her laser cannons were alight, boiling dozens of Raithian soldiers in plumes of fire mere meters from the light of her little brother's lightsaber. Jag followed suit, taking careful aim and watching as each chug of his cannons tore a furrow into the orange rock and obliterated the beings that had been inhabiting it. Suddenly his astromech began to screech, and Jag looked up to catch sight of something that made his blood run cold. Raithian Annihilators. There were four of them spread out across the battle field, and one of them was cresting a chasm between two hills of storm-smoothed rock and moving towards Anakin's position in the valley. The Annihilators were the most fierce ground weapon of the Raithian Empire, an all terrain walking tank that was actually a living creature fused in machines— the sort of terror Jag had only seen the Ssi-ruuk unleash with their entechment. It stood nearly eight meters tall on four triple-jointed legs and its crustacean form was covered in a chitinous carapace that was coated in obsidian armor, a maze of veins and circuitry visible in the durasteel-hard shell. The Annihilator's head was barely visible save for two glowing green eyes, and a pair of articulated cables wrapped around holds and grasped ledges in order to help it climb, like corded, metallic tentacles. Jag had only seen the creatures on briefing holos over the last six months, but those had been horrifying enough that he was not looking forward to going nose to nose with one of them. "Jag..." "Keep peeling those soldiers off Anakin," he said, bringing the monstrosity up on his targeting computer. "I'll take care of this." "... Copy." The Annihilator had already moved into the fray, stomping Chiss soldiers into grotesquely twisted heaps of ruptured fractal armor and tossing stormtroopers with its thrashing metal tentacles that poured volts of electricity through the Empire of the Hand's soldiers before bashing them against the rocks. Jag's hands moved away from the secondary firing studs on his controls, knowing that firing his proton torpedoes would mean incinerating his own people, and instead pulled the triggers for the interceptor's ion cannons, watching as volleys of green plasma splashed against the obsidian shell and bounced off alloy-encased legs and pincers. An animal-like screak sounded from below and sent a chill up Jag's spine, as the beast reared back and two legs, revealing its belly launcher an instant before a rocket was flaring towards Jag's cockpit. He dove and rolled, watching in relief as it narrowly missed his portside wing in a mist of flame and trail of thick propellant. But the Annihilator wasn't done, firing with its side-mounted laser cannons at Jag's belly as he attempted to make a strafing run across the top of the creature. Clenching his teeth and tightening his grip on the flight controls, Jag swerved away from the blasts rocking his interceptor only to see one of the creature's tentacles lash out and wrap around his starboard wing. It couldn't hold on to the rocketing fighter, but the coiling limb stripped the armor from the radiator wing like bark off of a Csillia frost tree, exposing bare power couplings, coolant feeds, and heat exchanges. The jolt sent Jag's fighter tumbling, and he fought hard to bring the craft back under control and get his thrusters to push him out of the wild spin before he slammed into the side of one of the unforgiving mountains. "In the name of..." Jag cursed, pushing the yoke forward and kicking the rudders to loop back around. The fighter rocketed at the Annihilator's back and this time Jag loosed a flurry of full-powered salvos that chewed through alloy and chitin, sending hot chunks of shrapnel in all directions. A pained roar emanated from the beast, and it turned, this time spewing a stream of slugs from the railgun mounted on its topside, the pellets drumming against Jag's canopy and leaving a path of divots and pits across the throttling interceptor's black armor. Ascendancy soldiers and stormtroopers were scattering in every direction away from the monster, and this time when the Annihilator reared back to aim its belly launcher, Jag didn't hesitate, thumbing his fighter's secondary firing switches rapidly and watching as four blinding propellant trails billowed away from his viewport. The tails of scorching red proton torpedoes curved in a low arc and collided with the living walker in a series of nova-like bursts that tore the creature in half and sprayed limbs and chitin in a hail of raining detritus. "Jag?" "I'm okay," he said, finding it surprisingly easy to catch his breath. "Where's your brother?" "Still down there. I'm going to make another pass." "I'll be on your wing," he replied, passing through the tendrils of smoke rising from the Annihilator's shattered husk and angling towards Jaina's streaking interceptor. Once Anakin was safe, all they had to do was hold off the enemy long enough for the Jedi strike team to take control of the Raider and execute Thrawn's plan... But how long would that take? Han Solo leaned forward against his restraints, wincing every time his face made the slightest movement, and then wincing more from the pain of wincing. He felt like his head had been wedged in the Death Star's garbage mashers all day. But it would all be worth it if things went according to plan... Looking up, Han saw Lando sitting across from him, still tied to a chair in the same matter as Han, but looking decidedly more comfortable. Thrawn had been certain it was Han the Raithians would torture, but this was definitely one time when Han wished that red-eyed maniac had been wrong. "You doing all right, old buddy?" Lando asked, clearly concerned. "Fantastic—" "No talking!" The two men looked over to see the bulky ensign who had spent the better part of the last two hours beating his fists against Han's face. He was holding a blaster rifle along with the quartet of Raithian guards still stationed in the conference-room-turned-interrogation-suite. "Sorry," Han grumbled. "I said, no talking," the Raithian growled, taking a step towards the bound Captain of the Millennium Falcon. "You need to relax, buddy," Lando said. "There's no reason to be so hostile now, you got what you wanted." "What?" "Yeah, you need to get yourself a date or something. You seem extremely frustrated," Han added. "Yeah, I can tell you're a classy gentleman. I'd bet you'd like to find someone to take long romantic walks on some beach with." "Well, quiet walks," Han said. "No talking, remember?" "That's it," the ensign roared, storming towards Han with murder in his eyes. When he was just one over-sized arm's reach away, the comlink on his belt began to chirp, and for a second he hesitated, as if he couldn't decide whether he wanted to strangle Han first or answer the call. Finally, he sighed and ripped the device from his belt. "Yeah?" He said into the little cylinder. Right on time, Han thought. The strike team had to have boarded by now... "Infiltrated?" The ensign said in disbelief. Han could only hear a static-laden jabbering coming from the soldier's comlink, so he was left with only half of the conversation. "You have to be kidding me... I see... Yes, sir... It will be done." "So you thought you could fool us?" The ensign's accented voice was boiling over with rage as he snapped the comlink back to his belt. "Brought a droid army on board to take over our ship?" "Hey, don't get mad at me," Han insisted. "I was trying to keep you as far away from the Falcon as possible. You were the ones who kept insisting I give you the security codes." The Raithian seemed anything but amused as he moved to stand in front of Han and smashed the butt of his rifle into Han's neck. "Son of a—" Han roared, pain radiating through his every nerve. "Admiral Vox has just asked me to kill you both," the giant man sneered, planting the nozzle of his blaster rifle against Han's forehead. "I wonder how much talking you'll do then—" Han stared up at the man in bewilderment, his vision still blurred from the vicious attack. The ensign stopped talking when his tongue became a shaft of purple light. It was such a peculiar thing to see a man belch fire, and such a peculiar time to do it. Han really didn't know what to make of it until he saw the ensign collapse in a smoking heap and spotted Leia standing behind him, her thrumming lightsaber clutched in a two hand grip and an open vent with smoldering edges in the ceiling behind her where she'd dropped in. "I doubt even that would stop him from talking," Leia said, but before Han could respond, the four guards at the door were sending volleys of crimson energy streaking in the Jedi Knight’s direction. They didn't make it far— Valin Horn, Leia's Noghri bodyguards Meewalh and Cakhmaim, and three Tendrando Arm's war droid came storming in through the door behind the troopers and tore them apart in a hail of cannon fire, vibroknives, and one sweeping green blade. "Gotta love a woman who arrives on time," Lando grinned, looking up from his chair at Leia. The Princess of Alderaan and former Chief of State of the New Republic ignored him and turned back towards Han, deactivating her lightsaber and dropping down beside him to undo his bonds. "Are you okay?" She asked, her eyes frowning with concern. "You look terrible." "I'm still the best looking guy being held prisoner in this room," Han countered through swollen lips. "Thrawn's crazy," Leia said, examining Han's split cheek after she'd severed his bonds with Cakhmaim's vibroknife. "We should have never listened to him." "It worked out all right," Lando argued as his droids cut him free. "Boy am I glad to see you guys." "Captain Solo?" Called a fretful voice from behind. "Thank goodness you're okay! We've been worried sick." C-3PO waddled in, his hands waving in the air as he moved to stand next to Leia. "And here I thought the torture was over," Han groaned, holding his head. Leia leaned forward and kissed Han lightly on his aching mouth. "C'mon. Threepio will tell you all about his exploits on the way to the bridge." "I can hardly wait," Han said dryly as he pushed himself to his feet, but somehow, he was feeling much better. There was something about seeing Leia, about hearing her voice, about touching her, that still made any situation more bearable for him. "Hey, kid, you wanna get my stuff out of that cabinet?" Valin nodded, and jogged to a small storage cabinet on the far side of the conference room where the Raithians had stashed Han and Lando's weapons when they'd first been taken captive and dragged there to be interrogated. "Here you go," the young Jedi said, handing Han a familiar synth-leather thigh holster with a blaster stuffed inside. The old smuggler's hand went around the grip of the weapon inside, and pulled the DL-44 out into the light, admiring how faded and scuffed the black finish had become over the years. "All right," Han grinned. "Now let's go steal a warship." -----signature----- FADA Therapist The Lands of the Dead: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28522077/p1/ Blood Trail: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28636429/p1 "We're Jedi, not assassins."— Anakin Solo
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Clone_Cmdr_Wedge Registered: Mar '06	Date Posted: 7/11 4:40pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/11 - Date Edited: 7/11 5:29pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Clone_Cmdr_Wedge
	First! YK:I used to like the Mandos and Boba Fett... before the dark times. Before the Empire... Why, what's wrong with them now, Yob'ika? Snake is voiced by David Hayter who's actually got quite an impressive body of work, and is a writer. He wrote the screenplays for the first two X-Men movies and is writing the Metal Gear movie. Plus he kind of looks a lot like Snake Yeah, I've heard of him. Saw him in some interview about MGS4 that my brother was watching. Also heard that Kojima (sp?) was doing some work on the Metal Gear movie. Ahh. Okay, I swear I'm going to go buy the first season of BSG this week and try and start watching it </Obi-wan> That's good. You've taken your first step into a larger world. New post on Friday with lots of stuff. We'll see Jag curising around in his new starfighter, check in with Han again and see how he and Lando are doing, and get the POV of a character we have not had all seriees, but will be getting throughout this fic. Also, we'll see Thrawn SWEET!11!!!1!one! Gets ready to play Imperial March It was the first time he'd been invited aboard one of the Hand-class Star Destroyers, but Karrde's curiosity in the clandestine Empire's unique vessels was outweighed by his mistrust of the invitation that had been sent to the Wild Karrde only moments earlier. Almost sounds like he was "invited" aboard the ship, not invited. As if things couldn't get any worse, he was now forced to seek refuge amongst the Chiss and the Empire of the Hand... It all seemed like some cruel joke. Karrde, imagine how the Jedi are feeling. Plus, that's not a cruel joke. LotF is a cruel joke. The great command throne swiveled around, and Karrde found himself staring up at Grand Admiral Thrawn. Strikes up the orchestra According to Jaina Solo, Thrawn claimed to be dying of the wound he suffered from Rukh's blade at Bilbringi, having spent the years since in stasis so that he would be alive when the Raithians arrived, but Karrde couldn't help but eye him with suspicion. Something didn't seem right... If Karrde thinks something is up, there probably is... I know! I'll have this doctor take a look at Thrawn. It was Anakin's stalk-in-trade, as far as Jag could tell. The young Jedi always seemed to leap head first into danger and worry about the consequences never. He was actually worse than his sister, which Jag hadn't actually thought possible. I think he gets it from his grandfather. Not so sure if that's a good thing... "You need to relax, buddy," Lando said. "There's no reason to be so hostile now, you got what you wanted." "What?" "Yeah, you need to get yourself a date or something. You seem extremely frustrated," Han added. "Yeah, I can tell you're a classy gentleman. I'd bet you'd like to find someone to take long romantic walks on some beach with." "Well, quiet walks," Han said. "No talking, remember?" Yeah, sounds like that guy really needs to get some. Han stared up at the man in bewilderment, his vision still blurred from the vicious attack. The ensign stopped talking when his tongue became a shaft of purple light. It was such a peculiar thing to see a man belch fire, and such a peculiar time to do it. Han really didn't know what to make of it until he saw the ensign collapse in a smoking heap and spotted Leia standing behind him, her thrumming lightsaber clutched in a two hand grip and an open vent with smoldering edges in the ceiling behind her where she'd dropped in. Crude, but effective. I kinda like it actually. Leia leaned forward and kissed Han lightly on his aching mouth. "C'mon. Threepio will tell you all about his exploits on the way to the bridge." "I can hardly wait," I'm sure Threepio will be more than happen to oblige you, Han. The old smuggler's hand went around the grip of the weapon inside, and pulled the DL-44 out into the light, admiring how faded and scuffed the black finish had become over the years. "All right," Han grinned. "Now let's go steal a warship." Good, sounds like fun. -----signature----- “You cannot play God then wash your hands of the things that you've created. Sooner or later, the day comes when you can't hide from the things that you've done anymore.”-Admiral Adama, 'Battlestar Galactica' "All warfare is based on deception." -Sun Tzu,
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SilSolo Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 7/11 4:45pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/11
	second -----signature----- http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27517284/p1/?11 Like this quick sketch: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/32848083/ ? Then commission me. Prices are negotiable.
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zonzo Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 7/11 4:57pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/11 - Date Edited: 7/11 5:29pm (1 edits total) Edited By: zonzo
	You guys were so freaking lucky I wasn't paying attention. Anyway, this is great! I can't say Thrawn's plan was the best, but if it works, it works! -----signature----- Awesomesause. New word of the year. Making a Life (Legacy-era, 132 ABY)- http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28526177/p1 To Venture the Dark Places- Dark Luke AU- http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28652606/p1/?9
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Magnuskn Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 7/11 5:10pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/11 - Date Edited: 7/13 1:55am (1 edits total) Edited By: Magnuskn
	This is a wonderful chapter. Can´t really say more about it, perfection needs no further clarification. Edit: This, btw., is the cover for the upcoming KOTOR Campaign Guide for Star Wars: Saga Edition. I know that Darth Malig is modeled on Revan, so maybe someone can use the image. [image= http://www.wizards.com/global/images/starwars_article_KOTORguide_pic1_en.jpg ] Magnus -----signature----- OH! You heroic Gangrel-man! All the ancient tombs you scan! Learn the way it all began! Hot like Croft and cool like Jones, Beckett rules and Beckett owns. Others like you there are none, We all love you, Beckett-san! From: "Gehenna - The Musical!"
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canadianjedimama Registered: Jan '08	Date Posted: 7/11 5:14pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/11
	Ah...I see that Mr. Threep is still in the thick of things...the Raithans have absolutely no chance. And Jaina and Jag look to be just in time to pull Anakin's backside out of the fire... or maybe not, knowing you. Can't wait for that over eager Ensign Happy Fists to get whats coming to him... Nice update! Cyn -----signature----- Lucky member of the Jagateers, my e-sister's of Jag-love! "I like Princess Leia, but that's different Star Wars." Baby Girl on CW Proud co-corrupter of Flowerlady to Twilight... I Wobbler...
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megacrafter2 Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 7/11 6:32pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/11
	why is it i'm eternally cursed to get sixth? maa, anyways good chapter, a little uninteresting, but necessary. i wonder what Thrawn wants with the raider and Jorj Car'das? interesting bit with Jag and the droids. Annihilators sound, um , nice.
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SilverWolf77 Registered: Feb '08	Date Posted: 7/11 7:15pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/11 - Date Edited: 7/11 7:17pm (1 edits total) Edited By: SilverWolf77
	Seventh!! I loved all of Han/Lando/Leia banter. It was so funny!! I is very worried about Anakin. I loved this whole update!! ~SW Oh and thanks for letting me use the quote. You are the best!! -----signature----- Proud supporter of: Benella, Kyp OR Jag OR Zekk/Jaina, Mara/Luke, Tahiri/Anakin, Siriwan, Mirax/Kyp, Syal/Valin & Leia/Han Janson/Kettch '08 "I'm armed only with fluency in six million forms of communication!" -C-3P0 in "The Land of the Dead" By YodaKenob
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GrandMasterKatarn Registered: Feb '08	Date Posted: 7/11 10:34pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/11
	Loved the Karrde&Shada/Thrawn scene. Loved the Jaina/Jag rescue team. Now, I have one question: What happened to KYLE KATARN???????????? -----signature----- Revan+Bane+Exile = Kyle Katarn "Expletive: Damn it, master, I am an assassination droid... not a dictionary!" - HK-47 "My first apprentice was a female Twi'lek named Jaden Korr" - Kyle Katarn
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Draconarius Registered: Feb '05	Date Posted: 7/11 10:38pm Subject: RE: The Lands of the Dead (Post-NJO AU: Anakin Solo, Jacen, Jaina, L/M, H/L, many more) Updated 7/11
	Ninth... this is getting kinda pointless now, isn't it? Excellent update. I know that whatever Thrawn is planning, it is going to be bold, audacious, and work beautifully, but I must wonder just why the Raider is so damn important. And what's with those Annihilators? Enteched AT-ATs on steroids... can't be good. They sound as though they're very hard to kill. Can't wait for the next one. -----signature----- Shattered Mirror - http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28487856/p1/?1 Proudly A/T and J/J Knighted by the wonderful SilSolo "Damned if I'm gonna lose to you!" "Then damned you shall be!" - my brother and I playing Smash Bros.
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