Jedi Council Forums - Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors) UPDATE 1/20

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Author	Topic: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors) UPDATE 1/20
WanderingJedi Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 8/30/04 7:29pm Subject: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors) UPDATE 1/20 - Date Edited: 1/20/05 10:27am (15 edits total) Edited By: WanderingJedi
	Before I begin the story, let me give a little explanation on why I'm doing this. Kyle Katarn has been one of my favorite characters in the EU, despite how little he's been used. Other than the horrible (IMO) Soldier for the Empire, Rebel Agent, and Jedi Knight, his deeds haven't really been chronicled. (While I'd like to re-write that trilogy, that's a task I'm not ready to tackle.) The few of us who still play the old Dark Forces game always believed that if Kyle's activities in shutting down the Dark Trooper project were properly novelized, he as a character would receive a little more of the respect he deserves. So, with that, I give you my version of Dark Forces...in text. (Oh, by the way-if any of you are still interested in the old Dark Forces PC/Mac/Playstation game, or are just feeling nostalgic in general, check out www.df-21.net for the only DF site that's still real active.) Prologue: Dark Test A powerful Imperial flotilla orbited an insignificant mid-Rim colony world. Called Talari by its citizens, the planet was almost featureless, save the small capital city of Talay. Neither the planet nor the city had any long-term strategic value in the civil war that wracked the galaxy. In spite of that, the Rebels, scattered by Imperial aggression after the Death Star's destruction, had established a small outpost on the edges of Talay. The mighty Super Star Destroyer Executor was clearly the flagship of the armada. Powerful enough to level the planet itself alone, its escort of six Imperial-class Star Destroyers was pure overkill. Oddly enough, however, the Executor's purpose was not an offensive mission, but one of defense. The incredible array of firepower was silent as the mighty warship shadowed its charge. The space cruiser Arc Hammer led the orbit around Talari. Longer and more slender than an Imperial Star Destroyer, the research vessel boasted a quad of powerful ion engines. Four long, cylindrical superstructures hung from the slender hull; their purpose was not immediately clear from a visual inspection. General Rom Mohc smiled out the viewports from the bridge of the Arc Hammer. Talay laid defenseless below the mighty Imperial fleet. A single order from the Imperial officer would leave the city and, if he wished, the entire planet a smoking ruin. The flotilla was enough to inspire fear, but the presence of one man made the task force terrifying, even to the General. "The Emperor has approved your test demonstration, General Mohc," the deep, booming voice of the dark lord of the Sith stated. "Thank you, Lord Vader," Mohc replied, drying his hands quietly on the back of his uniform. "What I unveil today will mark a new era for the Empire. We will be able to decimate the Rebels, just as we did the Jedi Knights. At last, the Emperor's war will be filled only with the glory and beauty of decisive victory." The most feared man in the galaxy nodded. "A noble cause, General. I hope the demonstration lives up to your claims. Proceed." Mohc smiled genuinely. "With pleasure." He flicked his comlink on, connecting him to the Arc Hammer's launch platform. "Dark Troopers, release." -----signature----- Dark Forces: A tale of mercenary Kyle Katarn and Rebel Jan Ors... http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16822930
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Darth_Digital Registered: Oct '01	Date Posted: 8/30/04 7:36pm Subject: RE: Dark Forces
	A 'novel' interpretation of the video games opening sequence dude. -----signature----- Palpatine; "Execute General Order 66......Okay, that takes care of Plo Koon. How many left?" Mas Ameda; "24,345 your highness. I believe Jo Casta Nu is next..." Palpatine; "I should have used e-mail.....Commander Ramjet. Execute General Order 66...."
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WanderingJedi Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 8/30/04 7:42pm Subject: RE: Dark Forces
	Hey, I like that sequence. Don't worry, this isn't going to be a scene-by-scene regurgitation...;) -----signature----- Dark Forces: A tale of mercenary Kyle Katarn and Rebel Jan Ors... http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16822930
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WanderingJedi Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 8/31/04 11:02am Subject: Smuggler's Run
	Smuggler's Run Jan Ors gently settled the Z-95 Headhunter into an open berth. The fusial thrust engines powered down smoothly as her boards flipped red. Nodding in approval, the Rebel woman popped the aging starfighter's canopy. The stink of the asteroid base wafted into the fighter's cockpit, causing the woman to wrinkle her nose. Kyle had better be here if I'm putting up with that smell, she thought. She rapidly unbuckled her flight harness and pulled her helmet off, allowing her long, dark hair to flow freely from its cramped quarters. She shook her head once, then vaulted over the side of the Headhunter to the rocky flooring below. Jan nearly lost her balance when she hit the ground. The gravity on the asteroid was a bit lighter than what she was accustomed to, and being cramped in a Z-95's cockpit had done nothing for her circulation and balance. She reached out a hand and steadied herself against the Headhunter's long, slender nose, then uprighted herself. A quick look around the cramped bay revealed a multitude of smuggler vessels. Light freighters of nearly every description were crammed in with only, in some cases, a quarter meter of clearance. It took only a few seconds, though, for Jan to spot the ship she was looking for. The Moldy Crow was parked between a battered YT-2400 Corellian light freighter and a heavily modified Cloakshape starfighter. As though there's any "stock" Cloakshapes left, she thought wryly. After paying an exorbitant fee for berthing and refueling her starfighter, Jan headed deeper into the Smuggler's Run. Stepping carefully over channels of sluggish fluid which seemed to be the source of the stink, she headed for the source of the groans and cries of exultation that seemed to congregate around games of chance. A few moments later, Jan emerged into the slightly brighter light of the Smuggler's Run cantina. Glancing around, she saw several games of sabacc in progress, as well as a jubilee wheel which was, at the moment, abandoned. Kyle was nowhere in immediate sight. Sidling up to the bar, the woman pulled up a stool. The Duros bartender, taking note of the typical grey flightsuit used by many a smuggler and pirate who wished no affiliation, leered at her. "What can I get you, pretty lady?" Jan's hand fell to the blaster on her hip, making no mistake about her feelings toward the bartender. "Corellian ale...in a clean glass." The Duro nodded and quickly turned away. A moment later, he slapped a glass down in front of her and poured out a glassful. Apparently not wishing to irritate the armed woman, he quickly turned back to other patrons. Jan smiled and traded a couple of credit coins for the glass on the bar. Drink in hand, she turned to survey the room again. Where are you, Kyle? She frowned as she tried to sort through the wildly sorted denziens of the hideaway. You really should pick better spots to frequent, she silently scolded the mercenary. Your contact could get killed in a place like this. Finally, she spotted the young mercenary. The brown leather jacket, stripped of its Imperial rank and insignia, was distinctive among the less-than-human clothing which made up the majority of the dress in the room. Katarn was only half-visible in one of the small, dark alcoves that ringed the bar. He seemed to be alone, his feet up on the table in the center of the hideaway. Jan finished her drink with one last swallow and slapped her empty glass down on the bar. The credits had long since disappeared. Her hand fell once more to her blaster to ensure it was secure yet accessible. Reassured, she stepped off the barstool and worked her way through the crowds to the alcove where the mercenary waited. It took less than a minute to work her way through the crowd. While it should have taken much less, the crowd of smugglers, bounty hunters, pirates, and privateers were generally unthreatened by a single blaster. Still, no one tried to disrupt her, either, in spite of the leering looks the beautiful woman received from a few of the less-inebriated patrons. Finally, she slid into the booth across from Kyle. A blaster pistol was already pointed at her head. The familiar outline of the Bryar almost made her bolt; while it was familiar, it was nonetheless frightening. "Jan?" the familiar deep voice asked. Jan nodded. "Yeah, it's me, Kyle." The man leaned forward, Bryar dropping. Light slid across his features, highlighting the dark-haired, clean-shaved mercenary. His rugged features were lightly scarred, but he was unarguably handsome. His shift in movement also shifted his leather jacket, allowing Jan a peak of the grey composite armor vest he wore beneath it. "What are you doing here?" Jan bit her lip. "We've got a problem," she said quietly. "Mon Mothma sent me here to get you. It's something we think we need you to fix." Kyle frowned. "Why me?" he asked, picking up a glass that Jan hadn't seen before. From the smell, it was a strong Corellian whiskey. "You haven't employed me since Danuta." "We don't have the resources right now," Jan replied uneasily. "We're kind of scattered right now." "Since Yavin," Kyle commented, taking a drink from his glass. "Since Yavin," Jan agreed. "What kind of 'problem?'" Jan hesitated a moment. "I'm not allowed to tell you. Mon Mothma clearly stated that she is the only one allowed to brief you on our situation." "So, if I'm interested in a job, I need to come with you?" Jan nodded. "Well, you'll need to rendevouz with the flagship. I've just got a Z-95 here. Not enough room for two. You'll need to bring your own ship." Kyle nodded and gently set his glass down. "Sounds fine by me. You'll provide me coordinates?" "When we're outside the Smuggler's Run," she agreed. "I can't give them to you here. Too much of a chance of someone eavesdropping." "Fair enough. I'll meet you outside the asteroid field." "See you there, Kyle," Jan responded. Rising, she nodded to the mercenary and headed back to the hanger. Kyle drained his glass and waited. I'll give Jan a few minutes lead, then follow her out. "Ah, the infamous Kyle Katarn," a voice murmured in gutteral Huttese. Kyle turned his head to look. The Rodian's blaster was on his hip. Kyle relaxed slightly. "What do you want?" "Only to know what your friend wanted. I understand that you sometimes work for the Rebellion." Kyle snorted. "Once," he admitted. "Once, I did a job for them." "Do you have any idea how wealthy one would be who could provide the location of the Rebel fleet?" The mercenary snorted again. "Rest assured, if I knew where it was I'd just be racing out to tell the Imperials," he replied sarcastically. "I'm sure Darth Vader would pay so well." "Perhaps you don't understand me," the Rodian stated calmly. "I want that location." Kyle blinked, suddenly realizing the gravity of the situation. He isn't alone, he realized. Sithspawn. Smiling, the man picked up his glass again. "Sure, I'll get it for you," he said cheerfully. "A toast, to you and me." His glass waving in the air as a distraction, Kyle's other hand slid under the table and tightly gripped his blaster. "I'm not certain I believe you, Katarn." "I wouldn't believe me, either." The Bryar roared. Reddish light flicked out from under the table. The first bolt caught the Rodian in the chest, sending him reeling backwards to the floor with a gaping hole where his lungs once where. The second shot caught his backup, a Weequay who had been pointing his E-11 at Kyle since the Rodian had confronted him. Rising, Kyle holstered his Bryar. Most of the patrons of the bar hadn't even noticed. Kyle shook his head. Gotta love a place that doesn't care when you shoot someone and leave a mess. He stepped over the Rodian's smoking corpse and headed out of the bar, back towards the hanger where his light freighter was resting. -----signature----- Dark Forces: A tale of mercenary Kyle Katarn and Rebel Jan Ors... http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16822930
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WanderingJedi Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 9/3/04 9:07am Subject: RE: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors- UPDATE 8/31)
	Jan watched as the last of the red lights on the Z-95's status boards flickered green. Smiling slightly, she engaged the repulsorlifts and feathered the throttle. The starfighter lifted smoothly from the rocky flooring of the asteroid base's hanger. As the woman ruddered the aging snubfighter around towards the exit, she caught a glimpse of Kyle heading towards the Crow. Her view was quickly obscured by the Headhunter's turn, and she focused on the task at hand. The Headhunter cleared the magnetic containment field which kept atmosphere inside the hanger. Immediately, Jan was thrust into a swirling kaleidoscope of mismatched, pockmarked asteroids. Switching from repulsorlifts to sublight drive, she kept a light hand on the stick as the starfighter plunged into the tight array of space rocks. The Crow was close behind her as she navigated through the asteroids. Jan marveled again at the difficulty of navigating the asteroid field. The Z-95 was swift and maneuverable compared to most smuggler vessels. She couldn't imagine someone flying into the Smuggler's Run in a bulk freighter. A larger ship, in her opinion, was not fast enough nor maneuverable enough to make the approach. Yet somehow the best smugglers in the galaxy did it all the time. The Old Republic starfighter cleared the asteroids in good time. Jan powered down the drives and waited for the Crow to join her. As she waited, she calculated the jump needed to bring herself and Kyle to the small Rebel task force that was their rendezvouz point. Former Senator and now Rebel leader Mon Mothma herself was supposed to be aboard the task force's flagship. Caught up in her musings and calculations, Jan started when the familiar, battered shape of the Moldy Crow filled her viewport. She smiled, though, at its smooth lines. The Crow was a vessel that, as far as Jan could determine, was unique. She suspected it was a prototype of a freighter/starfighter hybrid that had never seen a production line. The vessel, which was best classified as an armed courier ship, consisted of a small cargo compartment and a cockpit big enough to sit three or four comfortably. The ship boasted four sublight drives, making it nearly as swift and maneuverable as Jan's Z-95. Well-armed with both laser cannons and missile launchers, as well as sporting military-grade shields, the Crow was a mean customer in a fight. The comm crackled to life. "Jan, you got a jump plotted?" Kyle's familiar voice crackled over the cockpit's speakers. "Sending you the jump data now," Jan replied, punching a button to feed her nav data into her comm unit. Kyle was silent for a moment. "Got it. You coming with me, or heading elsewhere?" "I'm coming with you. I'll meet you at the fleet." "See you on the other side, Jan." The comm clicked and went dead as Kyle killed his transmission. Jan watched for a moment as the Crow adjusted its heading, then began her own course adjustments. Before she had brought her starfighter in line for the jump, the Crow flickered with pseudomotion and was gone into hyperspace. A moment later, her Z-95 followed suit, leaving the Smuggler's Run behind. -----signature----- Dark Forces: A tale of mercenary Kyle Katarn and Rebel Jan Ors... http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16822930
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WanderingJedi Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 9/9/04 3:56pm Subject: RE: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors- UPDATE 9/9; Comments, criticisms, suggestions appreciated!)
	Trust The Z-95's military-grade hyperdrive was slightly faster than the Moldy Crow's bootleg motivator. Jan knew the courier vessel well, and estimated Kyle would be arriving about thirty minutes after her. The Headhunter had emerged from hyperspace within twenty kilometers from the small Rebel task force. The Nebulon-B Escort Frigate Redemption was escorted by a quartet of Corellian corvettes and two Gallofree medium transports. The fleet itself was orbiting a rocky, uninhabitable planet known only by a survey designation, NX-877472. Like millions of planets, it was unexceptional, making a perfect navigational point for the elusive Rebel forces. "Headhunter Ess-Oh-Nine requesting clearance for landing," Jan called across an open channel. A moment later, one of the flight control officers on the Redemption responded. "Ess-Oh-Nine, you are cleared to land. Welcome back, Lieutenant Ors." "It's good to be back," Jan responded, easing the old starfighter past the Redemption's hanger bay and allowing the Frigate's tractor beam to tow the Z-95 into its berth. The old snubfighter settled easily into its docking slip as Jan extended the landing gear and ran through a brief power-down checklist. Before she had finished, two men in ragged uniforms with blaster rifles slung over their shoulders materialized beside the starfighter. As the system lights flashed back to red, Jan popped the canopy. "Mon Mothma wants to see you immediately," one of the men said. Jan nodded. "Lead the way," she replied, sliding from the cockpit and landing easily on the warship's decking. As the first man stepped out of the slip, the second gestured for Jan to follow. Jan complied after pulling her helmet off and shucking it back into the Z-95's cockpit. As the trio of Rebels rapidly stepped through the corridors of the Redemption, Jan shook her head, allowing her hair to fall back and loosen up from the tight bundle it had become under her flight helmet. Slightly more comfortable, she watched the activities around her. Dozens of wounded from the recent evacuation from Yavin were crammed into every nook and cranny the vessel had. The unofficial medical ship for the Rebel Alliance, the Redemption was pulling double duty as warship and hospital. As always, the Alliance was overtaxed and overstressed. The walls and decking, too, were well-worn. The vessel was well past her prime, but the Alliance could not afford the luxury of new, expensive warships when older vessels were still operational. Though the Redemption was well past decommission age for an Imperial Navy vessel, she still had a few years of service left as far as the Rebels were concerned. Finally, the military guard leading her stopped and stepped aside. Gesturing with his blaster rifle at an unmarked door, he flatly stated, "Through there." Jan nodded. The door was sealed, but a quick retinal scan provided the Rebel agent access to the room. The guards stayed beyond the door as it hissed shut, sealing Jan into the room with the Rebel leader. In spite of the weariness in her eyes and stance, Mon Mothma's very presence was inspiring to the pilot. The charismatic leader of the Alliance had weathered more than her share of war already, especially for a pacifistic Chandrilian, but her dark-haired beauty and white Senatorial robes offered a glimpse of the past, when the Senate was a leading power in the government, and a hope for the future. Mon Mothma's warm smile strengthened Jan. "Lieutenant Ors, I'm so glad to see you made it back. Is Katarn coming?" Jan nodded. "He'll be here within half an hour." Mon Mothma nodded in response. "Jan, I need to ask you something." "What do you need?" The Rebel leader sighed. "I need to know that Katarn is reliable. I don't know enough about him to make that judgement, and up until now, I've trusted your judgement. I want to know, I need to know for myself before he arrives. We could very well be placing the fate of the Alliance in his hands. I cannot, as a person of conscious, do that without knowing that I can rely on him completely." She hesitated. "The fact that he is a mercenary and not one of us is not reassuring. I would be more comfortable if he joined the Alliance." "That," Jan responded, "I doubt he'll ever do." "Tell me, Jan," Mon Mothma said, a spark in her eyes. "Tell me what you know about him." Jan suddenly felt the long hours in her cockpit catching up to her. "May I sit?" "By all means." Jan seated herself on one of the three small chairs in the room. "I understand why you and others in High Command could question his reliability, given his background as an Imperial and as a nonaligned mercenary. And while I understand that those who encountered him or lost loved ones to his operations while he was working for the Empire could harbor doubts about him, I believe it is his experience in the Empire that has turned him solidly against it and will eventually cause him to join the Alliance." Mon Mothma seated herself in a chair across from the pilot. "How can you be certain?" "I know him better than anyone else in the Alliance. He grew up on Sulon. Like a lot of our recruits, even, say, Skywalker and Darklighter, he came from a tight-knit agricultural community. He was very close to his father after his mother died. In fact, he absolutely adored his father. Kyle attended the Academy only to learn more to better follow his father's footsteps." Mon Mothma nodded at that. "I can understand that. But how did he come to becoming a mercenary, and not an Alliance agent?" "That's jumping ahead," Jan said with a smile. Mon Mothma frowned. "We don't have a lot of time, Lieutenant." Jan sighed. "I'll try to keep this brief. At the Academy, Kyle discovered he had natural talent in cybernetic systems theory and information engineering. Between his studies and some extra-curriculars like target shooting and martial arts, he had little time to worry about Imperial policy, and like many citizens in the galaxy, knew little about it. "His student life shattered when he was informed by the Empire that his father had been killed in a Rebel attack on Sulon. He was pushed over the edge, however, when the Academy refused to grant him extended funeral leave." Mon Mothma's eyes misted. "I remember the Imperial attack on Sulon," she whispered. "But why didn't Kyle investigate it?" Jan shrugged. "He had no reason to doubt the Imperials. With a new-found hatred for the Alliance, he joined the Special Operations division of the Imperial Army. It was there that he learned...learned what the Empire's policies are. "I didn't meet him until several years later. At the time, I was working as a mole and double agent in the Imperial Intelligence corps. The more I saw of him, the more I understood that his quiet competence was a veneer for the scars he carried from his father's death. Slowly, though, he was becoming disillusioned with the Empire. "As our friendship deepened, I made sure that reports of the Imperial attack on Sulon found their way to his possession. "The true test of our friendship, though, was when my cover was blown and I was arrested and imprisoned. I thought I would die in an Imperial detention facility somewhere. Instead, Kyle engineered an escape and got me out of Imperial hands and to one of our outposts. "It was several days before he joined me there. When he finally did arrive, he refused to join us and instead headed off to the Outer Rim, where he fell in with pirates and smugglers." "Which is where he learned sabotage and subterfuge," Mon Mothma mused. "The very people that made him so valuable to us also have made him unreliable." Jan shook her head. "I don't believe he's unreliable. I knew, when we said good-bye, that he wasn't ready to commit to the Alliance. The way the Empire manipulated him so easily to their purposes hardened him against all causes. I do know one thing, though." "What's that?" the Rebel leader asked. "He may not trust the Alliance, but he will never forget what the Empire did to him. He may have saved my life and may be my friend, but his hatred for the Empire is what makes him reliable." Jan's voice broke. "It's the Empire's atrocities that are our best hope for recruits like Kyle." Mon Mothma let the silence hang for long moments. Finally, she nodded. "Katarn will be here soon, and I'm going to brief him on what we know. If he takes the assignment, he'll probably ask for you as his partner. I still don't completely trust him, Jan, but I trust you." The eloquent senator reached out and laid a hand on Jan's shoulder. "Katarn may be our best hope for dealing with this project until we've established a new base. And you, I think, are our best hope for Katarn remaining reliable to us. Are you willing to work with him?" Jan nodded. "Of course," she said immediately. "Good." The exiled woman smiled. "Get yourself something to eat and clean up. If Katarn agrees, you are going to be in for a long mission, I think. Say your good-byes to your friends aboard the Redemption." "I will, Mon Mothma." Jan smiled shakily at the woman. "The hopes of the Alliance go with you, Jan," Mon Mothma said. "Good luck, and may the Force be with you." -----signature----- Dark Forces: A tale of mercenary Kyle Katarn and Rebel Jan Ors... http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16822930
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Darth_Timor2 Registered: Jul '04	Date Posted: 9/11/04 4:02am Subject: RE: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors- UPDATE 9/9; Comments, criticisms, suggestions appreciated!)
	good so far i especially like the bit when kyle killed the rodian Very han solo like (before the SE)
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WanderingJedi Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 9/13/04 9:48am Subject: RE: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors- UPDATE 9/13; Comments, criticisms, suggestions appreciated!)
	Briefing Kyle drummed his fingers restlessly on the armrest of the chair he slouched in. His jacket hung open, openly exposing the armor he wore beneath. In spite of protests from the Rebel guards charged with protecting Mon Mothma, his blaster was still snugged in its holster on his hip. He rubbed a hand over the stubble starting to show on his chin again. He usually kept himself clean-shaven, one of the few disciplines instilled at the Imperial Academy that he still followed. "Thank you, Commander Katarn, for responding on such short notice," a vaguely familiar voice called from behind him. The mercenary turned to see the graceful figure of Mon Mothma, still clad in white Senatorial robes, glide through the door and move towards the holoprojector in the middle of the large but empty briefing room. Kyle merely nodded at the comment. "I'm surprised you haven't established yourself a new headquarters," he grunted. "The Empire has been keeping us on the run since the destruction of the Death Star." She smiled. "I know you have little love for small talk, so I'll get straight to the point." When the mercenary nodded, she touched a control on the holoprojector. An image of a blue and green world sprang to life, rotating in the well of the projector. "Five days ago, the Empire attacked a small Rebel outpost on the planet Talari, in the city of Talay. And...well, see for yourself." The hologram of the planet vanished, replaced a moment later by a grainy image of a Mon Calamarian, often disrupted by bursts of static and zagging lines of interference. "...anyone...there? Please, we...under...was no warning...broke through our shields! They broke through our...walls are breached...Please, we..." Kyle's visage was unaffected by the hologram. He frowned, however, as strange sounds played with the hologram. An almost animal-like battle roar obscured some of the final words of the transmission before the Mon Calamarian was completely enveloped in static. "Tak Base was destroyed within minutes." Genuine pain filled the Rebel leader's voice. "Many innocents in the surrounding city, as well as the Rebel staff, were killed in the attack." "Interesting," he said noncommitally as he studied the frozen hologram. "This looks like it could be a normal Imperial attack...except for those sounds." "Very perceptive, Commander," Mon Mothma complimented the mercenary. "We believe the sounds you heard come from a new type of stormtrooper: the Dark Trooper." Kyle snorted. "A new type of stormtrooper that could take out a Rebel base that quickly? I shoulda kept working for the Empire." "Rebel Command is not taking this lightly. I've been authorized to hire you to investigate the project, discover if it is a threat, and, if it is, to shut it down." Kyle gestured at the frozen hologram. "How'd you come about with a name for these things?" he asked. "The Empire doesn't exactly brag to the public about its weapons. They managed to construct a battlestation the size of a moon without anyone being the wiser." The frozen, staticky hologram dissolved to be replaced with a clean, crisp image of a man in an Imperial uniform. "This man, Crix Madine, wishes to defect to the Alliance. He has been providing us what little information he can about the Dark Trooper project." Kyle nodded briefly. He understood well the desire to leave the Empire. Some, he knew, would seek shelter with the Rebel Alliance. "I can offer you the assistance of Lieutenant Ors in your investigations," Mon Mothma continued. She paused for a moment. "That is, if you're still on our side." The mercenary was quiet for a long moment. "Double my usual fee?" When the Rebel leader nodded, he slowly did likewise. "Alright, I'm in." Mon Mothma smiled at Kyle. "Then I'll let Jan brief you further on your objectives. Thank you, Commander, and may the Force be with you." The mercenary snorted at her last proclamation, but was silent as he rose to his feet and headed back to the Redemption's hanger. -----signature----- Dark Forces: A tale of mercenary Kyle Katarn and Rebel Jan Ors... http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16822930
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DreamOfKenobi Registered: Jul '04	Date Posted: 9/13/04 12:27pm Subject: RE: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors- UPDATE 9/13; Comments, criticisms, suggestions appreciated!)
	Very nice! I liked Kyle Katarn and wished he would have shown up in more of the EU. Great story. -----signature----- Counting the days 'til Episode III "What happens in the cave stays in the cave." "You're going to be the death of me..." We are the Vaders and we plan to take over the galaxy!
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Gandhi Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 9/21/04 6:37am Subject: RE: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors- UPDATE 9/13; Comments, criticisms, suggestions appreciated!)
	AWESOME! Keep them coming! Also, how can you not like the dark forces novels?? I loved them! -----signature----- You are a noodle keg.
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WanderingJedi Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 9/21/04 7:05pm Subject: Characterization
	DreamOfKenobi- Meeeeeeeee too. Gandhi- I always felt they were poorly written and didn't really keep with Kyle Katarn's character. Thoughout Dark Forces, Jedi Knight (the game), and Jedi Outcast, Kyle was portrayed as a mercenary. A mercenary working for the Alliance, yes, but a mercenary nonetheless. The graphic novels (Soldier for the Empire, Rebel Agent, and Jedi Knight) characterized him as a more typical Rebel. Character is everything. More coming very soon! -----signature----- Dark Forces: A tale of mercenary Kyle Katarn and Rebel Jan Ors... http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16822930
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Mike-Sunrider Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 9/22/04 12:52pm Subject: RE: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors- UPDATE 9/13; Comments, criticisms, suggestions appreciated!)
	I love what you have written. Keep it up -----signature----- ~~My Fics~~ Check bio for more. Order of the Alliance (Ben Skywalker) : http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/20169930/ Disposable Heroes (Clone Vignette) : http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/19345408/
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WanderingJedi Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 9/23/04 11:35am Subject: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors- UPDATE 9/23; Comments, criticisms, suggestions appreciated!)
	Planet-hopping Jan glanced up from the Crow's controls in time to see Kyle striding easily across the Redemption's hanger. She waved, her smile hiding her uneasiness. While Kyle had just been briefed, Jan had been given the information two days earlier. The Rebel agent forced herself to focus on the Crow's displays. Port side sublight is running a bit hot, she noted. I'll have to keep that in mind. Shields are running at optimal. Lasers are fine. Six concussion missiles loaded. Repulsors showing green. Fuel tanks are topped. Looks ready for our jump to Talari. "How's she look?" Kyle called from two meters below. "Looks pretty good," Jan called distractedly. "Nothing a crateful of credits you haven't earned yet wouldn't fix." "What needs to be fixed?" Kyle asked, surprised. "Well, with what you're going to take from this op, you could buy yourself a whole new ship, for starters," Jan teased. Kyle's response was drowned out by the whine of an X-wing's repulsorlifts as the snubfighter launched on a standard patrol. The little courier ship rocked a bit. Jan looked up and saw Kyle settling into the navigator's chair behind her own pilot's seat. "I take it we're going to Talari?" he asked. Jan nodded. "We had a couple of those new A-wings recon the area. It's not a pretty sight, but the Imperials still have a presence in the area. They usually get sloppy after a big offensive like that, so Command is hoping they left behind some kind of evidence." Kyle snorted. "Am I a mercenary or a detective?" "Mercenary," Jan shot back, "which is why I'm here. Not everything needs to be shot or blown up." "I don't have to destroy everything I see," Kyle defended. "Just anything Imperial." Jan gave a long-suffering sigh. "Are you ready to go?" "As long as my ship is, yeah." "Alright. Here we go." She tapped the comm board. "Redemption flight control, this is independent vessel Moldy Crow, requesting clearance for departure." A moment later, a staticky voice answered. "Moldy Crow, you are cleared for departure. Good luck, Lieutenant Ors." Jan smiled a bit as she cut in the ship's repulsors, smoothly lifting the battered vessel off the Redemption's decking. She gently nosed the vessel forward, not daring to cut in the sublight drives until the Crow was completely clear of the hanger. Once in clear space, she opened up the throttle, secretly thrilling in the acceleration of the tiny ship. "Planet-hopping," Kyle murmured behind her. "Just like old times," she said with a smile, although she knew he couldn't see it. She surpressed a shudder. Not really like old times. Last time he did planet-hopping was as an Imperial agent. She couldn't surpress the shiver running down her spine at the thought of how many members of the Alliance Kyle had killed during his time in the Imperial service. The navicomputer beeped insistently at her, forcing the woman out of her momentary lapse. "It's too early to fall asleep at the stick," Kyle quipped behind her. "You'd better not be doing that when I need pickup." Jan snorted. "I've slept through some of your pickups. Really, Kyle, a woman like me needs more excitement in her life." She reached forward and pulled a small lever back. The Moldy Crow flickered with pseudomotion, then was lost in the mottled blur of hyperspace. -----signature----- Dark Forces: A tale of mercenary Kyle Katarn and Rebel Jan Ors... http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16822930
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WanderingJedi Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 9/26/04 7:44pm Subject: UPDATE 9/26
	Talay The hop was, thankfully, uneventful. Jan spent most of the trip tending the Moldy Crow's controls to ensure the courier ship's smooth transit through hyperspace. Like most illegal ships operating throughout the galaxy, the Crow had its share of modifications. Because of those modifications, the little ship was, like most modified ships, a bit finicky. The fighter-sized freighter had yet to let down either Jan or Kyle in a pinch, though. Kyle, on the other hand, spent most of the three-hour hop checking his equipment. The old modified Bryar was completely stripped-down, cleaned, re-assembled, and recharged to ensure its reliability. The mercenary also checked over his armor vest for severe damage, but it seemed fairly intact. His small headlamp was recharged and the glowbulb replaced. The man's weapon belt was quickly given a once-over with leather cleaner, too, to make sure it was supple and in good condition. The Crow transited out of its first hyperspace jump at the very edge of the target system. Kyle did not question Jan's maneuver. He understood from long experience that she was scanning the system for any sign of Imperial warships. A hop directly to Talari could have ended with the courier under fire from a Star Destroyer. On their first mission together, Jan hadn't been so cautious and the Crow had nearly been captured by an alert Imperial patrol ship. Jan finally nodded in satisfaction and engaged the short microjump to Talari. The jump took only two seconds to complete, leaving the little ship in high orbit over the planet. "Got a fix on the city?" Kyle asked. After a momenet, Jan nodded. "It isn't where Alliance MasterNav estimated it would be, but I've got a fix. I'm picking up at least one Imp transport on the ground down there yet, so we can't drop directly at the base." "Where are you going to set us down?" Kyle asked as the Crow nosed downward into the atmosphere. The little ship shuddered as the air began to bounce them around a bit. "I'm going to set you down on the outskirts of Talay. It looks like...there aren't any survivors down there. The city's empty, and it's nighttime there. You should be able to make your way across the city to the base. Hopefully you can find one of the computers still working and get some hard data." Kyle nodded, absorbing the abbreviated briefing. The Crow's rapid descent slowed as the repulsorlifts whined to life. The little ship leveled off as smoothly as any hotshot X-wing pilot could manage. The repulsors whined louder as Jan cut back the sublight drives to settle the ship down into a shattered courtyard at the very edge of the city. As Jan popped the cockpit to allow the mercenary out, Kyle flicked his comlink on and tapped the transmit button. The Crow's internal comlink popped loudly, drawing an approving nod from the mercenary. With another nod for Jan, he vaulted himself from the cockpit. Surprisingly agile from someone as big and heavily laden as he was, Kyle rolled across the broken stone surface to absorb the shock of the fall. He raised one hand to Jan and watched with satisfaction as the Moldy Crow lifted away on repulsorlifts, blowing up a cloud of dust. Kyle climbed to his feet and checked his blaster. Finding it secure in its holster, he unclipped the tie-down, checked to make sure the weapon was loose enough to draw, and started walking. I hope our drop didn't attract any attention, he thought. It was too much to ask for. Distinctly, he heard a comlink click. "...is MK-472, I'm checking out the disturbance right now, over." Kyle pressed himself against a stone wall in deep shadow. Fortunately, the night, only lit by a partial moon, was enough to hide him from the prying eyes of the stormtrooper as he scanned the area the Crow had vacated only a minute before. As the stormtrooper raked the area with the spot luma mounted to the underside of the E-11 blaster rifle, Kyle ducked spotted a small alcove and ducked into it. To his surprise, it was actually the base of a stairway. Quickly ascending the stairs, he found himself on a long balcony overlooking the ruins of the city. At the very edge of his vision he could see glowing lights. That's gotta be Tak Base. Unfortunately, as he began picking out a route through the wreckage, he was forced to concede a problem: the river. A small river, too swift for an armed and armored man to swim, divided the city into two. There were two bridges spanning the water, but one of them had been shattered by the Imperial attack. The other was guarded by two pairs of stormtroopers, one at either end. The intact bridge was actually closer to the mercenary. To reach it, he would have to drop off the balcony two meters to another stone courtyard and cross thirty meters of open space to reach the first pair of stormtroopers. Suicide, he concluded. Which means I need a distraction. Dropping to his belly, he slowly crawled across the balcony without the cover of darkness. By crawling, however, he managed to keep out of the line of sight of the stormtroopers. Kyle spent a solid five minutes inching across the ten-meter-long balcony. Once he reached the cover of shadows, he stood and pondered his situation. "Jan, you there?" he muttered into his comlink. "I'm here," his partner answered a moment later. "What can you tell me about the city?" he asked. Jan hesitated. "Not much," she said. "It's pretty typical for a fourth-rate colony world. Mostly agricultural economy with a little trade to bring in technology like droids and..." "If this is a typical colony city," Kyle interrupted, "how was Tak Base powering its shields? Colony worlds don't have fusion reactors." "Talay was running off a hydro-electric generator," Jan's tinny voice replied. "It turned out a lot of extra juice, so Tak Base could tap it and raise a shield." "Damn," Kyle muttered. "I was hoping for something I could blow up." "What did I tell you about blowing things up?" Jan asked sardonically. "Yes, mother, I don't have to blow everything up." He pondered for a moment, glancing around at his darkened surroundings. "I wonder..." "I wonder a lot of things, too," Jan quipped. "Like why you're talking to me instead of earning your credits." "You're a tough employer." "To deal with the likes of you, I have to be." "Alright, I've got an idea. Stand by," Kyle muttered, clicking the comlink off and risking another look in the relatively bright moonlight. -----signature----- Dark Forces: A tale of mercenary Kyle Katarn and Rebel Jan Ors... http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16822930
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Thrawn McEwok Title: TFN EU Staff Registered: May '00	Date Posted: 9/28/04 8:35am Subject: RE: Dark Forces (Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors- UPDATE 9/26; Comments, criticisms, suggestions appreciated!)
	Hey! This is good! - The Imperial Ewok -----signature----- A/T = OTP :===8[#]8===: Kyp/Jaina fans: stand up and be counted!
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WanderingJedi Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 9/30/04 10:04am Subject: UPDATE 9/30
	Talay (continued) Finally, the mercenary spotted his target: the hydroelectric generator. He smiled briefly. I'm between the generator and those stormtroopers. Perfect. He glanced across the walkway one more time, than turned and plunged down into the dark stairwell. Moving slowly to keep himself from falling, Kyle descended the stairs towards, hopefully, an exit below. Within moments, it was too dark to see. Deciding to take a risk, the mercenary reached up and flicked on his headlamp. The stairwell immediately lit up, but the little lamp penetrated no more than four or five meters. Now easier to see, it only took Kyle a few moments to reach the bottom of the stairs. The stairs opened into a community area. A quick look around yielded nothing worth scavenging, but Kyle did find a half blown-out door. As he climbed through the wrecked portal, Kyle noted uneasily that he saw no evidence of multiple blaster shots. It's like one shot blew apart the whole door. He emerged into the moonlight again and stood. A moment later he berated himself. That was stupid to leave my lamp on when I was climbing out. I would have made perfect target practice for a couple of trigger-happy stormtroopers. He reached up and flicked the light back off. Kyle was forced to cross one more open courtyard to reach the edge of the river, but there were no cries of surprise or alarm. A moment later, he stood on the edge of the stone embankment and looked at the generator. The generator was an unusual design: instead of a dam, blocking the flow of the river except where water was allowed through select pipes, this generator stood upright and allowed itself to be turned by the gentle flow of the slow-moving stream. The power conduits were all buried below the riverbed to prevent tampering. However, the generator's massive turbine wasn't rotating. It's either jammed or shut down, Kyle noted. Perfect. He backed up a few meters, than took a solid sprint and jumped. The armored mercenary almost didn't make it, landing in a sprawl atop the turbine. He shook his head, then climbed back to his feet to reach the control panels. Shut off. What more could I ask for? With a grin, Kyle wrapped his hand around a lever marked Lock. With a smooth, solid tug he flipped it from locked to unlocked. The generator structure itself shuddered for a moment before the massive turbine began to rotate. Immediately, a third of the streetlights in the city flickered to life. Still smiling broadly, Kyle reversed his last jump and sprinted across the open courtyard back to cover. To his immense satisfaction, the four stormtroopers guarding the bridge raced past him to check on the power generator. Gotta love stormtroopers, he told himself. Loyalty and regulations over brains. As soon as the stormtroopers were past, Kyle sprinted back to the now-clear bridge. A moment later, he was over the river and winding his way through the wreckage of the city. Though he usually didn't allow himself to consider such things, he was shocked by the utter brutality of the Imperial attack. Corpses burned beyond recognition littered the streets and smoldered visibly in houses torn asunder by the mighty firepower the Empire had deployed. Entire walls had been reduced to ashes. Civilians, Kyle thought bitterly. Caught in the crossfire between the Empire and a stupid cause. Blast them! The mercenary managed to avoid any more Imperial patrols until he reached the outskirts of the remains of the Rebel base. Like the city, holes had been blown through walls and mangled corpses littered the ground. It's like a bunch of TIE fighters came in and strafed the place, but there's no way TIEs could punch through a garrison's deflector shield. Whatever these "Dark Troopers" are, they sure pack a punch. "You there! Let's see some ID!" The mechanically filtered voice caught Kyle by surprise. Cursing himself for a moment of inattentiveness, he slowly turned to face the white-armored soldier. "You want ID?" Kyle asked, stammering a bit. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" the stormtrooper asked, stepping closer to threaten the mercenary. Mistake, Kyle thought smugly. He lashed out with his foot, throwing the stormtrooper's E-11 out of line. In an instant he was too close for the Imperial to bring his weapon back to play. A quick uppercut knocked the stormtrooper's helmet clean off, and a follow-up blow sent the dark-haired human to the stone street with a loud thud. Too loud, Kyle berated himself. Stupid way to give away your position and your presence. Scooping up the stormtrooper's fallen blaster rifle, he slung it over his shoulder and sprinted toward the wreckage of Tak Base. -----signature----- Dark Forces: A tale of mercenary Kyle Katarn and Rebel Jan Ors... http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16822930
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