Star Wars: The Forces of Deception pt.3 - The Conclusion

And once again, I am forced to start up a new FoD thread. Not because the other one's destroyed, but because it's getting there. The lengths of the posts are starting to overwhelm the thread. Now, we can post, and you can load, very quickly again. So, without further adieu...

http://209.91.130.12/starwars/OpeningCrawl.jpg

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

Star Wars: The Forces of Deception

It is a time of prosperity for the Galactic Republic. Under Chancellor Durrell Fthyor taxes to the systems have been reduced, and incentives to the Corporate Sector have produced profit across the galaxy.

Luke Skywalker continues his search for the former Emperor Palpatine, heeding his master's final warning. Although his efforts have proven futile thus far, he continues to rebuild the Jedi order, restoring the guardians of peace and unity to the galaxy.

With the defeat of the Imperial Forces at Kashyyk, the threat of the Empire has faded into memory. The years of Imperial rule, however, pushed the Republic to curtail the powers of the Military. A secret faction has formed, unchecked by Galactic Law, with plans to protect the Republic from itself, knowing that if another war were to break out, it would be one that the Republic would be in no condition to fight.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to retain stability within the Republic, the Senate has dispatched a peace-keeping force to the Netarr Sector, whose two dominant cultures are at war after years of peace...

 

Forum9/HTML/000499.htmlWhat If: Skywalker Captured part 1

Forum9/HTML/000582.htmlWhat If: Skywalker Captured part 2

Forum9/HTML/000633.htmlWhat If: Skywalker Captured part 3

Forum9/HTML/000663.htmlWhat If: Skywalker Captured part 4


http://209.91.130.12/starwars/fod/Forces_of_Deception_part_1.htmStar Wars: The Forces of Deception page 1
Republic Diplomats arrive at Netarr. Republic Defense X Wings Sentinal Squadron discover mysteriously decaying freighter. Ambassador Keyaleth finds unwilling leaders in the Netarra and Netari. Durell Fthyor is being slandered by a newsman, and is quite upset about it. A mysterious Jedi views across space and time. Problems between Wedge Antilles and Senate Liason Braythor at Netarr. Kai Renten joins the Republic Academy. Netarra and Netari pilots head into space; Republic ships try to keep the peace. Mysterious Admiral has discussion with Conspiracy. Corran Horn under fire from Netarra fighter. Netarr pilot killed by Republic. Tensions between Darth Malice and Emperor Palpatine. Republic puts garrisons on Netarr worlds. Ambassador Han Solo sent to Corellia to bring system into Republic. Chancellor's health is failing; fires assistant. Mara Jade and Tobin have training session. Netarra and Netari leaders each have secret negotiations with mysterious Senator. Noasire Talloi plays on mountainside on Qualos. Luke Skywalker alerted to Palpatine as fight with Malice begins. Mark Anderson talks about corruption within Republic Chancellorship at Republic News Services. Imperial Shipyards revealed at Bastion. Tusk engages Kai and other student in dogfight in Academy class. Liam Masters has training session with apprentice Skara. Darth Malice and Palpatine fight ends in standoff; Skywalker cannot fix on location. Tensions build at Netarr as citizens resent occupation. Senator Kyne Ducale discusses elections with Sub Chancellor Veylas.

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Hutts on Corellia discuss upcoming birthdays and elections. Chancellor Fthyor gets new, sexy assistant. Leia Organa and Ayleeya Vlenus go to Bespin as Ambassadors. Luke and Finellen Pila train on Swift Current. Mara Jade and apprentice practice, and meet with Liam Masters and apprentice. Conspiracy discusses new threat to Republic. Corran Horn practices, Wedge returns him to duty. Tusk weeds out underperformers from class. Black Raven, under Jayke and Jacinda Hunter, makes delivery in the Kadaan system. Millenium Falcon arrives at Corellia. Jedi Trayach practices with apprentice Dale Gilmer. Imperials Piett and Ysanne Isard discuss Netarr. Mysterious Admiral inspects research on decaying ship. Leia and Ayleeya discuss Bespin, and Lando Calrissian. Security Chiefs Abrack, Blevins and Trahill meet with Chancellor Fthyor. A bomb found on Republic Swift Current; false messages being filtered between Republic and Netarr. Mysterious Senator discusses peace talks with Netarr leaders. Tarra and Roshivva bring boy back to Coruscant to Luke. Chief Blair Blevins drummed out of Security position by scandal. K'kli invade Tatooine. Darth Malice and Palpatine begin second battle. Bearded Jedi senses disturbance in the Force.

http://209.91.130.12/starwars/fod/Forces_of_Deception_part_3.htmStar Wars: The Forces of Deception page 3
Luke senses battling Sith Lords again, this time able to track them. Han prepares to deliver gift; Hutts discuss Corellia-Republic negotiations and gift. Conspiracy discusses K'kli imminant invasion, and plans assassination of Chancellor Fthyor. Darth Malice defeated after long battle with Palpatine. Netarr leaders agree to peace talks. Darth Malice kills Fonia Soor, and leaves Byss for Coruscant. Renovations begin in Fthyor's office. Mysterious Senator talks with ship in Netarr space. Tobin and Mara Jade have premonitions of Darth Malice. Netarr Terrorists plan attack. Mysterious Senator warns Corellian leader of invasion. Woshirra and Joni meet Mara Jade and discuss training. Gyreth Tyrola and Mark Anderson get mysterious messages

 

*Cool!!*

Now I don't have to wait 30 minutes on your home connection (33.6) for the thread to load!!!

*grin*
- pix.

 

Neal Mickes cringed as the dying Victory Star Destroyer was pounded by repeated bursts of emerald-colored energy. Explosions raced along the arrowhead-shaped hull as the K'kli continued their relentless attack. Scattered turbolaser blasts shot out from the Corellian vessel, but few hit their targets. The Star Destroyer began to heave and lurch off course as more energy surged into it. Suddenly, a massive explosion ripped the ship in half and sent the fore and aft sections flying in opposite directions. The two huge pieces of wreckage drifted through space, not returning any more fire, but the K'kli continued to--

"Enemy vessels are coming into range." Neal instinctively glanced up as the booming voice emerged from the Storm's intercom. "All gunners, fire at will."

The young man peered out into the depths of space. A K'kli Invader was coming in hard, and he quickly aimed his turbolaser at it. He glanced down at his display screen just as it began to flash, indicating a good shot. Neal squeezed down the firing triggers and watched as crimson turbolasers lanced out through space toward the alien vessel. The Invader was hit by repeated fire from multiple guns, but showed no signs of damage yet. The K'kli returned fire, sending blasts of green energy toward the Mon Calamari starship. Neal kept up his barrage, and soon small explosions began to appear on the Invader's hull. It began to race past the Storm now, heading for another target, but the young man continued to fire. Bolt after bolt of deadly energy shot out through the cold vacuum and toward the fleeing vessel. . . .

"Kid."

Neal barely even heard the voice as he continued to squeeze hard on the trigger. "Kid!"

"Huh?" Neal shook his head, then turned to look at the older man sitting beside him.

"They're out of range," explained the other, his gaze on the stars.

"Right," replied Neal with a sheepish grin. He looked back to the viewport in search of another target, then nearly fell out of his seat. A K'kli Fighter was heading straight toward him! He tried not to scream as the alien ship bore down on the Mon Cal cruiser. It was damaged, spinning wildly, but it continued to fly right at Neal's turbolaser emplacement. "No!" he exclaimed, but at the last moment a turbolaser blast turned the Fighter into an expanding fireball.

Neal shuddered as he returned his hands to the weapons controls. This was going to be a lot harder than he had thought.

 

Roshivva's olive skin burned, and she knew was likely very red, from the sleet that swirled like a storm around her. She fought with her eyes closed, and had to draw upon her supernatural senses to "see" her Sith opponent.

Darth Malice's otherworldly form shone a fiery red against the swirling colours of the landscape that filled her "sight." She sensed before she "saw" his attack, and her saber was blocking his in an instant. It was difficult, however, to keep the blackness and the shimmering bands of colour to keep from fading back to bright white, as the battering storm that swirled around her body worked continuously to rob her of her concentration.

Roshivva's ears heard, but her mind did not register the hums of the four lightsabers as they clashed against each other, as Tarra bounced through the blowing sphere of ice behind Darth Malice, in an attempt to spread his defenses thin. She could see her Master's aura shining brightly against the darkness, behind the Sith, as she pressed her attack.

Tarra felt, but could not see the Sith's lightsaber blocking hers in sudden movements as she struck out at him. He was on the defensive now, with his concentration seemingly being expended arousing this ice storm that lashed at her skin, leaving it cold but burning, and fending off her attacks, and her apprentices.

Darth Malice tried backing away from her, as her lightsaber struck high to crash with a buzz against one of his, to put the pair of Jedi in front of him on either side, instead of having them diametrically opposed. Despite what the Jedi thought, Malice mused as his lightsaber clashed against Tarra's, his concentration could encompass far more than simply an ice storm and two Jedi.

"Enough!" Darth Malice hissed, and with Tarra and Roshivva in mid stroke, their lightsabers bearing down upon him, the air within the ice storm suddenly expanding outwards, explosively and suddenly, with a sharp crack!!!

Tarra felt her body snap backwards as her lightsaber was about to slip through Malice's defenses. She felt blood trickling out of her nose as she flew through the air, her legs spinning over her head until she impacted against the snow covered ground.

Roshivva struggled to breathe after she hit the ground square on her back. Her head hit the cold ground, but the thick coating of snow kept the impact from doing any serious damage. She gasped for air as she put her red and torn hands into the snow, barely able to feel the snow around them as she pushed herself into a sitting position.

She saw Darth Malice standing in the center of a wide depression in the snow, his feet resting on exposed dirt, with all of the ripped up grass scattered about in the grass outside the hole. His lightsabers were still lit, the tips barely grazing the exposed ground as he turned his baleful gaze from Roshivva to Tarra as she struggled to her feet a dozen meters distant on his other side.

"The time for play has passed," Malice hissed softly, but the words echoed strongly through Roshivva's mind as though he'd shouted it in her ear. She began to crawl backwards as Darth Malice began striding out of the indentation towards her, his twin lightsabers leaving long swaths in the snow as he strode towards her. "I've tested your mettle Jedi, and I've found you sorely wanting..."

 

*raises hands to protect face*

Please don't kill me, Pixel.

Note to Geoff: I'm just doing this here, because it's the only place she checks every day.

Too bad about the old thread...I was able to access it after you posted for the first time, Geoff.

 

In the cockpit of the unarmed freighter K'luutha, Captain Keeler maneuvered quickly from E Section as the K'kli Swarm moved towards the station. "Sons of ---" he cursed as a blast of green energy raced through space past his ship, illuminating the cockpit with an emerald hue.

Captain Keeler looked around in a panic. E Section wasn't firing at the K'kli, which was damned peculiar considering the panic to evacuate it. D Section was firing, however, and the K'kli were avoiding it. Keeler winced when he glanced at one of the cockpit monitors and saw one of the Invaders embed itself into the station hull. He could see thousands of Corellians still in the transparent tubes running along the surface of the station. Easy lunch, he thought ruefully as a second and then a third Invader broke through the outer hull of Unity Station.

"If you're not gonna let me on board, Unity", Keeler muttered as he yanked onto the controls of the small freighter, "Then you're gonna defend me."

Freighter K'luutha, you will pull away from the station immediately a harsh voice crackled, as Keeler drew the freighter closer to the surface of the station, over C Section.

"Negative, Unity, you sons of blasters," Keeler snarled as his ship settled down near the surface of the station, a scant meter above the invisible shield. "I trusted you, and now you're gonna take care of me."

K'luutha, disengage from the surface of the station! the voice crackled with a yell at Captain Keeler. You are dangerously close to one of our turbolaser emitters. We cannot guarantee your safety!!

"You'd better, Unity" Keeler yelled in reply as a K'kl Invader erupted into flames a hundred meters above the station, leaving an emerald fiery trail all the way to the station's surface, where it exploded violently. "Because I'm not leaving!!!"

A trio of Invaders dipped low over the surface of C Section, evading the turbolaser blasts of the station. The emissions increased as the ships got closer to the station, firing wildly into space as the turbolaser gunners grew panicky at the Invaders' proximity.

On board the K'luutha, Captain Keeler noted with worry as the Invaders drew nearer to his position, their green energy blasts erupting from their facets to impact with the shields of the long station. Their shots were causing damage, however, as explosion after explosion sent fireballs into the blackness of space. His eyes widened as the return fire from Unity's gunners began to draw closer and closer, as they tried in vain to shoot down the Invaders so close to their surface.

The K'luutha exploded violently as one of the nearby turbolasers ripped through it, punching a hole through the engine room which instantaneously exploded, tearing the ship apart in less than a second. The turbolaser blast continued through the K'luutha to vapourize one of the Invaders, as the remaining pair continued their strafing run along the station...

[This message has been edited by Geoff Morton (edited 01-23-2000).]

 

Hi, Geoff. As soon as I finish reading the old threads, I'll join up.

~Steven Randolph~

 

"Shields holding sir!!" the Lieutenant yelled as the lights flickered on the bridge of The Tidal.

The ship rocked as the emerald green energy erupted from the facets of several of the K'kli Battle Cruisers nearby. The Bastion and The Stolid were inflicting return fire that glowed a brilliant crimson against the black hulls of the K'kli ships. Red-orange flames were spewing forth from the three Republic Cruisers as they exchanged fire indescriminantly with the trio of K'kli Cruisers in a brilliant but deadly light show.

"Continue firing at will, gunners," Kendrick snarled as his ship rocked again. He saw a Corellian Corvette burst into a fireball, and explode violently against the hull of one of the K'kli Cruisers. Kendrick shook his head as he glanced down at the casulty display on his command chair arm; already the battle was going poorly. If things didn't turn around soon, the K'kli would emerge victorious from this battle, and the Corellian and Republic fleets, not to mention the Corellian system itself, wouldn't emerge at all...

 

Republic Admiral Kyle Teal sat alone in the darkness of his quarters on The Undertow, sitting at chair in front of the tall window. He ran a hand through his sweaty hair as he stared out the window at the stars, hunched over in the chair with a drink in his hand.

"How far does it all have to go?" he asked himself quietly, as he had a number of times over the last few days. When his hand finished running through his damp hair, he rubbed his eyes and yawned. He'd barely slept in days, and his nerves were shot.

Outside the window, he watched Sentinel Squadron mock dogfighting, with low powered laser beams instead of blaster canons, and computers that registered hits and guaged the figurative "damage." He took a sip of his brandy, and winced at the taste. It was warm; he'd been nursing it in front of the window for almost half a day, since the fleet departed for Corellia. Ulendrian brandy was meant to be imbibed cold.

A sudden beep pulled him out of his reverie, and drew his eyes away from the stars. He turned in his chair to his desk, spilling his drink on his leg, and snarled at the comm. "What is it?!?"

A Republic News Servic Shuttle has just emerged from hyperspace, Admiral, the tinny voice of the communications officer filtered through through the communications circuits. A Captain Jayke Hunter is requesting permission to dock.

Admiral Teal felt his stomach churn as he snapped himself from his daze. "Yes, yes, of course," he said, setting the brandy down on his desk. "By all means, let him dock. I'll be down in the docking bay momentarily."

Aye sir.

Kyle Teal stood up from his chair, and ordered the lights on in his quarters. He squinted as they brightened, and he walked over to the holomirror. The true-colour, but still bluish image mirrored his movements and appearance, and he rubbed his chin, shaking his head in disgust. "Need to shave old man," he muttered as he straightened out his jacket. His clothes were still hopelessly wrinkled, and damp with sweat from the overheated room.

"Well, let's go see how they're doing," he muttered, trying to put on a face full of life; far from how he felt.

...

"Jayke, old friend!" Admiral Teal shouted enthusiastically as he walked into the overstocked hangar, as Jayke Hunter ducked his head while he slipped out of the Republic News Services shuttle.

"Kyle, how are you?" Jayke asked excitedly as he put his hands on the Admiral's shoulders. His face lost the smile, and looked at his friend seriously. "You look awful, you know that?"

Teal laughed ruefully as Jayke dropped his arms. "You're right Jayke; and I feel worse."

Jayke sniffed as Mark Anderson slipped out of the shuttle. "Ulendrian Brandy?" Jayke asked. "You used to drink that all the time during the Rebellion, especially when you were assigning the missions that you didn't expect anyone to come back from."

Teal frowned, before running his hands through his hair, and nodding in agreement. "You called it Jayke."

"Something bothering you?" Jayke asked, as Donati slipped from the shuttle, and straightened his clothes.

"Conscience is the first casulty of war, old friend, and mine is dying a slow and painful death..." Admiral Teal said with a sigh. "I'd hoped the fighting was over."

"Anything you want to talk about Kyle?" Jayke asked, concerned.

"Not at all." Admiral Teal replied with a smile, slapping his hand down on Jayke's back.

"Admiral," Mark said with a smile, stepping up beside Jayke.

"Mark, how are you?" Admiral Teal said cheerfully, reaching out to shake Mark's hand. He looked over at Donati, who slunk nervously up behind Mark. "How's the spook business?" Teal whispered, leaning in to speak to the nervous man.

"Uuuh, well," Donati stammered. "If I were, um, to be involved in such a business, I would not be so inclined to admit to it..." Donati looked around the hangar, at the mechanics and astromech droids that worked on a pair of damaged Sentinel Squadron X Wing fighters. "...in such company. But, since I'm not in the 'spook' business, I can say fine, if you catch my drift."

"You lost me after inclin

 

That's good to know Steven. We were wondering if you were still interested. Keep in mind we're not looking for new writers for FoD, since it's almost done, but EoE will be entering it's planning stages soon, so keep in touch.

[This message has been edited by Geoff Morton (edited 01-24-2000).]

 

Joni's heart continued to race as the Jedi jogged down the long, dim corridor. "We're almost there!" cried Mara from up ahead. The young man began to nod, but his expression quickly became a grimace as a sudden burst of pain surged up his injured arm.

[Are you all right?] asked Woshirra, glancing worriedly at his apprentice.

"I'm fine," grunted Joni. Still moving along the hallway, he stretched out to the Force and focused on his arm. This eased the throbbing pain, but exhausted even more of his energy supply.

For a few moments longer, they continued to run. Then Mara said, "Here's the lift," and Joni sighed in relief as the group came to a halt. The female Jedi walked up to the controls beside the large metal door and punched one of the buttons. A low groan was audible as the lift began to move down to the ground level. Joni used the wait to take a series of deep, calming breaths, pulling energy into his tired body. The pain had disappeared now, but for all he knew it could resurface at any moment.

As the Jedi waited for their transport to arrive, Artoo and Threepio came up behind them. Joni glanced back at the droids, who remained uncharacteristically silent. Then, after a too short minute of waiting, the lift door slid open. The five Jedi and the two droids stepped inside, and the door quickly closed behind them. The lift groaned again, then slowly began to pick up speed. Joni glanced up at the ceiling. The lift continued to rise, carrying the Jedi upward toward the throne room. Toward whatever evil awaited them.

Toward their destinies.

[This message has been edited by Jeff 42 (edited 01-26-2000).]

 

"Why aren't they attacking us?!?" Lando had asked in amazement when the Nimrod had first joined battle with the K'kli Swarm. As the smaller K'kli Fighters' space merged with that of the Corellian civilians, voluntarily under the command of the Nimrod's commander, Han Solo, the ship had come under no fire whatsoever.

The civilians weren't so lucky; immediately, emerald green organic energy rained upon them from the cloud of sparkling multifaceted ships. Three freighters had vanished with the first salvo, and several more had been forced to withdraw with their engine rooms burning and their hulls breached, long trails of fire following them as they retreated. None of them made it far, however, as the K'kli Swarm spread out, and several Invaders made short work of the wounded craft.

The Nimrod rocked violently as a bright flash of green illuminated the dark cockpit. "Bet you hadn't wished they'd attack, huh Lando?" Han snarled as he yanked the controls to avoid the shimmering emerald stream from a Battle Cruiser that had drifted close to the ship. "Dammit!"

A pair of glowing red proton torpedoes erupted from two of the torpedo banks on the starboard side of the Nimrod. They exploded violently against the massive Battle Cruiser, their energy biting into the outer shell. When the flames vanished, cracks and scars could be seen on the surface.

From the top of the ship, one of the gunners fired wildly towards a pair of K'kli Fighters. The first of the K'kli ships took two shots dead on the "nose", and exploded violently, it's green flames reflecting from it's brethren's facets. The second ship took a shot in the engine area as it raced past the Nimrod, returning fire, though it failed to connect with the Republic ship. Green flames poured from the rear of the K'kli ship as it lost control and ran headlong into the Battle Cruiser with an explosion that engulfed and destroyed the smaller ship.

"I didn't say that I wanted them to attack!!" Lando protested as he angled the shields to ward off a salvo of fire from a trio of Fighters that had just come into range.

"Yeah?" Han replied as the ship shook. "Well you sure jinxed us. The second you said that, they opened fire on us."

"No!!" Lando yelled as the ship was displaced a full three meters by a turbolaser-type blast from an Invader that had drawn too close without being noticed. "They noticed us when we fired on them!!!"

"Whatever!" Han snarled. "Kedson, keep your blasted eyes on those sensors. Don't let the Invaders get so close to us without warning me!!!"

The stern proton torpedo launchers opened fire on the Battle Cruiser again, and although one of them sailed harmlessly through space beside it, the second connected with an explosion. That'll learn'em! the Republic soldier yelled over the intercom as the Battle Cruiser turned it's attention to a nearby Victory Star Destroyer.

"We can argue about that later," Han muttered as he eyed the position of the Invader that followed them. He activated the intercom. "Torpedo bays, listen closely. We're getting one shot at this. I'm using Lakeur Maneuver three. I hope you remember it. Torpedo station three, you have first shot!"

...

The maneuvering jets of the Nimrod suddenly fired. The ship continued in it's original vector, but with a spin on it's center axis. The first aft torpedo launcher fired, it's crimson projectile colliding with the Invader violently. As the Nimrod continued to spin, the second launcher drew the Invader into it's sights. As the Invader rocked under the second explosion, the next torpedo launcher fired, followed by final launcher, Bay Six, just port of the cockpit.

...

"Look at that!" Lando muttered as the Invader that was previously behind them spun into view in front of them, explosions ripping through it's hull. The ship slipped out of sight again, as the first starboard torpedo launcher fired the killing blow, and the Invader exploded with a massive green fireball. An A Wing fighter that had drawn too near vanished in the emerald flames, as did the trio of K'kli starfighters pursuing it.

Han s

 

Hi gang! as Gen. MacArthur said after being driven out of the Phillipens by the Japanese during World War II

"I Shall Return."

It won't be much longer till i'm back. Keep up the good work guys!

 

The command center of Unity Station was a flurry of activity, as damage reports came in from all over the station, though centered in E Section. The mainlights were dim, and the red alerts were on, bathing the massive room in a crimson hue.

Vice President Retar hung in the background, staying against the wall and letting the men serving under him do their jobs. As much as he'd like to rush in and take command of the situation, it was unfolding very similarily to as it was predicted, though maybe a little worse, and his interferance would have no positive effect.

"Thirty four K'kli Invaders have latched onto the station sir!" a Lieutenant at Station's Sensors reported loudly above the din. "Reporting multiple hull breaches."

"Where Lieutenant?" Sub-Commander Kilgoar asked sharply, looking over in the young man's direction.

"All E Section, sir! Shields holding everywhere else!"

Kilgoar frowned and rubbed his chin. "Evacuation report?"

"Still thousands in E Section, sir!" the young man replied.

Kilgoar bit his lip, and breathed deeply, knowing that his next words were condemning thousands upon thousands to death. "Begin Unity Plan, Phase Two!"

"But sir!" the station manager protested loudly. "We have--"

"I know what we have, blast you!!" Kilgoar yelled, rushing over to the Station Control console. He pushed the manager out of the way, and keyed in a security code. A small hatch in the console sprung open, with a pair of small switches inside.

He pressed the topmost switch.

"Disable warning," Kilgoar said to the computer as a red light lit up. "And may some universal diety have mercy on my soul."

He pressed the bottom button...

...

Kiera Nightless felt relief and excitement in her chest, as she held her three year old child against her. The line was moving quickly now, and she stepped forward with it. After a few brief seconds, she stepped forward again.

On the wall, about two meters in front of her, was a marking on the wall of the tunnel that read E Section. After a break in the section, with a slight protrusion of the wall, the colour of the surface changed, and the marking read D Section.

"We're almost there sweetie!" she said happily to her daughter, who looked up at her innocently, though frightened. Kiera looked around at the crowd. She could see her husband nowhere; they'd been split up by a panic within the crowd twenty minutes ago.

"Kiera!!" a voice called over the crowd's din, and she looked ahead excitedly.

Kiera's face broke with glee as she saw her beloved, about two meters ahead of her. He took another set of steps forward with the crowd, almost to the section division, as her husband began pushing back through the crowd.

As Kiera stepped forward excitedly, there was a sudden shimmer of light, and she felt herself pushed back. "What's going on?!" she yelled in confusion as she fell backwards into the crowd.

"Daddy!!!" her daughter yelled, as she looked up to see her husband banging against the air, less than a meter away. He was yelling something, but she couldn't hear him.

Suddenly, the crowd yelled in surprise, as the station lurched, and Kiera could see the interior of the wall around the station wall on the other side. Her husband began getting smaller as E Section began falling away from the rest of Unity Station, and the crowd began to panic...

[This message has been edited by Geoff Morton (edited 01-30-2000).]

 

The Tidal rocked violently as a blast of emerald energy spewed forth from the K'kli Cruiser near the bow of the ship.

"Target that weakened area," Admiral Kendrick snarled, gripping the arms of his chair as the ship rocked.

His eyes focused on the shimmering green section of the K'kli hull, where cracks had formed in the multifaceted shell, and organic energy was beginning to leak out. Before the gunners could comply, a barrage of emerald energy erupted from several of the facets of the enemy craft, making The Tidal's shields glow with a green haze.

"Hull breaches on deck twelve!" one of his officers yelled as a computer console behind Kendrick blew out in a shower of sparks. Kendrick ducked instinctively as the sparks scattered over the bridge floor, and a damage control crew rushed over to fight the fire.

Kendrick's eyes were drawn back to the K'kli Cruiser outside, as red energy erupted like rain upon the Cruiser. Emerald explosions ripped through the K'kli Battle Cruiser, as facets began to explode outwards in showers of green flame. As the the K'kli Battle Cruiser ceased to exist in one bright, violent convulsion, Kendrick's mind was already elsewhere.

"Sir, The Bastion is listing," his officer on communications reported urgently. "We can't raise her on communications, and the K'kli ship is moving in for the kill."

"Bring us around!!" Kendrick ordered, and within seconds the view of a Republic cruiser, dark against the black of space except for the green glow of sections of hull disintigrating like the edge of paper held atop a burning match. "Fire at will!!!" he ordered as The Tidal moved in to intercept the K'kli Battle Cruiser. Kendrick's ship rocked violently as the K'kli Cruiser struck first.

"Sir!!!" the Lieutenant at sensors yelled over the din of the bridge.

"What is it?" Kendrick asked, jumping over the railing behind the Commander's chair, and rushing over to the station.

"I don't know sir," the Lieutenant replied, confused. He looked down at the screen. "It was at the edge of the system. It's gone now, but I thought I detected --"

The Tidal shook violently, and fire spewed from power conduits in the floor, shooting up through the center of the bridge like a fountain. The K'kli Cruiser continued to rain it's energy blasts upon the battered Republic ship as it struggled to return fire.

"Seal that leak!!!" Kendrick shouted, as he pointed towards the geiser of fire bathing the bridge in a crimson hue; the damage control crew quickly rushed over in response.

"Sir!!!" the engineering bridge station officer yelled. "We've got a flutter in Cell Four!!"

"Blast it!" Kendrick shouted as the ship rocked violently. Bright flashes of green and red illuminated the bridge of The Tidal as the Republic flagship and the K'kli Battle Cruiser exchanged fire. "Can they lock it down!?!"

"They've got it under control now sir!!" the officer replied, looking up at the Admiral with fear. "Engineering reports it was just a fluctuation!"

Kendrick had already turned his attention from the Lieutenant back to the battle, and the K'kli Battle Cruiser in front of it. "Pull power from aft shields, focus on the forward generators!!" he ordered.

"Sir!!" Commander Nea protested, rising from his chair to face the Admiral over the railing. "We need those shields!!"

"We're not under attack from the rear right now Commander!!!" Kendrick bellowed. He turned to the shields officer. "Follow my orders Lieutenant!!!"

Commander Nea seethed and turned back to the battle wordlessly, as the shaking from K'kli attacks diminished, although the bright red and green flares were just as bright as ever as the enemy ship continued to pummel The Tidal mercilessly, and the scarred and torn Republic ship returned fire...

 

"They actually did it!" Wedge Antilles muttered to himself as he banked hard on the controls of his X Wing. For a brief moment, before the view in his cockpit window shifted to the Mon Calamari Battle Cruiser he was skimming, with his wingman in tow and a trio of K'kli starfighters close behind, he could see the kilometer long end section of Unity Station break away from the other four kilometers of station.

E Section's small jets fired briefly as it broke away, giving it momentum enough to pull away from the rest of the station. As the distance between Unity Station and E Section grew, the greater the number of K'kli Invaders that began withdrawing from the battle and swarming the isolated section of station.

Wedge felt great sadness at the thought of the thousands still on Unity. Leia and her apprentice had known what to expect, as had the Republic soldiers stationed in E Section. They were forewarned; they were armed. They could defend themselves. The Corellian civilians on the station could not; moreover, they were lied to by their Vice President, and by Kendrick and the Republic.

Wedge gritted his teeth as he banked hard, and a pair of green energy bolts shot past his X Wing, and collided harmlessly with the shields of The Wake below him. He and his wingman opened fire on a lone K'kli fighter that suddenly appeared over the horizon of The Wake.

Before the K'kli could even open fire, Wedge's blaster cannon had fired the killing blow, and it exploded into green fire, before vanishing completely. "One down," he muttered, before looking out at the battle raging around him. "One down..."

 

doth no one else post to this thread? alas, but i haven't read anything new in here since... thursday last! but anon, i shall perish if my fanfic obsession cannot be sated. i beg of thee...

p o s t

 

After what seemed like an eternity, the slow-moving lift ground to a halt. Mara Jade fingered the hilt of her lightsaber as the metal door opened with a groan. She stretched out with the Force; the Jedi's immediate surroundings were devoid of sentient life. The dark presence, however, was growing stronger still. "Let's go," she said, stepping out into the corridor beyond the doorway.

The other Jedi, along with the droids, quickly followed her out of the lift. Mara looked left and right down the deserted corridor. It continued for a ways in both directions, eventually turning out of sight. "Where's the throne room?" asked Tobin.

"There's a private turbolift leading to it. To the right and around that corner," Mara replied, gesturing with her unlit saber. The Jedi moved off at a brisk walk, Artoo and Threepio following at a slower place. Soon they reached the turn. Suddenly, Mara held out both hands and came to a quick halt.

"I feel it also," said Liam. "Two lifeforms, nearby."

Mara risked a quick glance around the corner. "Stormies," she reported, her voice a whisper. She tried to touch their minds with the Force, but was not surprised when the attempt failed. "I guess we'll have to fight them."

[Shouldn't be much of a problem,] said Woshirra in a low growl.

"Of course," replied Mara. She gestured with her hand, then she, Liam, and Woshirra quickly stepped out into full view of the two stormtroopers.

Green, blue, and yellow blades came blazing to life. The stormtroopers raised their blasters in surprise, firing a few wild shots that exploded against the floor, ceiling, and walls. "Stop right there!" called one of them, as the three Jedi Knights continued to advance. A few of the blaster bolts coming at them were accurate now, but the dancing blades of energy easily turned them aside.

A red bolt came right at Mara. In an instant, she moved her green blade to a precise angle, and the energy was promptly sprayed right back to its source. The stormtrooper went down, his formerly pristine chest plate charred. Seconds later, the second trooper met the same fate as Woshirra's yellow saber returned a shot. Mara quickly reached out toward the fallen soldiers with the Force. They were alive, but unconscious. No time to worry about that now.

Once the fight stopped, Joni and Tobin quickly joined the three Knights. Threepio and Artoo followed close behind. "There it is," said Mara, pointing to a turbolift door behind where the stormtroopers had stood guard. "Ready, everyone?"

Woshirra growled his assent, and the other three Jedi all nodded. The group began to walk toward the door, but a call from behind stopped them. "Ah, excuse me, Mistress Jade?"

Mara turned to stare back at the golden protocol droid See-Threepio. "What is it?" she said coolly, and Threepio somehow seemed to flinch under her gaze.

"I, ah, believe that we shall be staying here. We would not want to be a distraction in any battle that may take place."

Beside the protocol droid, Artoo-Detoo gave a derisive beep. Mara, however, nodded her head. "I agree completely."

"Very well," replied Threepio. "We will be right outside this turbolift. If we could be of assistance in any way, simply--" Threepio's voice trailed off. The Jedi had already disappeared behind the turbolift door.

 

The lights in the outer hull corridor of Unity Station flickered and faded to black as E Section, removed from the power generator in the central station module, kicked into reserves and nonessential power drains were eliminated.

The Corellians in the outer corridor, as well as Commander Kaalen ViNeas' Republic soldiers, fell silent as the slowly spinning space station module pulled away from the rest of the station. The light in the corridor faded, leaving only the glow from the planet below and the red and green flashes from the space battle raging beyond the station.

Kaalen ViNeas gripped his blaster rifle nervously as his eyes gazed out on the K'kli Invaders embedding themselves into the surface of the station. He gulped nervously as he imagined hundreds or thousands of voracious K'kli pouring out of their podlike ships and streaming into the corridors of the jettisoned section.

Too soon! he seethed as he saw the looks of fear on the faces of the civilians around him. Much too soon...

"What's that noise?" someone in the crowd asked; it was hard to tell.

"Sounds like rending metal," someone else observed.

"They're coming for us!!!!" someone shrieked, and the crowd began to murmer and bubble with fear.

Suddenly, the sound of rending metal filled the corridor and ViNeas caught a glimpse of flailing hands that shot up towards the ceiling before slipping back down towards the floor, followed by a second, and another.

It was then that the nervous murmuring of the crowd began to turn into screams...

 

General Charlon Rohan watched the battle silently through his reflective starglasses.  It was against every soldier's instinct to let another soldier die, to let non combatants get caught up in the fighting, and not to attack a foe when he could.  Charlon was denying every one of those instincts in watching the spectacle like it was some sadistic holo-drama unfolding in front of him.  Kendrick had ordered him to guard the shipyards,  Kendrick had organized the Unity plan, and Kendrick had amputated his command.
 
The Tidal being blasted with incredible radiation and was taking a immense amount of punishment. The K'kli battled ships like animals, they always went for the weakest link in any defense.  Despite the obviousness of the trap.  In this case the Admiral courage had led his command ship to the heart of battle where he was now being swarmed by the hordes around him.  They wanted the leader of the pack now.
 
"I hope Admiral Kendrick requests our presence outside this sentry duty sir.  I must admit that seeing the slaughter outside makes me feel...righteous anger.  It seems oddly appropriate we swoop in and add our punches to the fray." Captain Ackbar spoke throwing together a dozen human catch phrases he probably learned hanging around pilots stationed at Mon Calamari.

"We can't do that anymore Ackbar." The Ghost said leaning back into his chair and watching the Dodonna list out all the computer information for the battle with grisly accuracy.  The maneuvers Kendrick had used were suicidally effective and had weakened the swarm immensely...but they were outnumbered worse than ever...and the K'kli were headed past Unity Station with only a few heading to swarm the fighting around it.

They were after bigger game. Corellia Prime and the shipyards directly above it. The Admiral had left them as the last defense before the Swarm attacked the planet and brought down their shields...annihilating the population of the Core World. 

The truth of the situation registered on Alak Ackbar's fish eyes soon enough as he stared at the forces which were being slowly chewed to pieces by the chaotic suicidal madness of their foe. A foe that didn't care if it died as long as it tied with it's claws in your side. 

"Oh....I see.  How long do you speculate General that we have until the Swarm scatters the existing opposition and meets the reserve ships...that we are a part of?"

The General lit another cigarra and sighed.

"Oh...ten minutes."

The Captain sighed as he gathered together some ship reports and looked up at the General.  A look of sick dread on the Mon Calamari's huge eyes "In that case may I ask you a question....Sir?"

"Go right ahead." The Ghost whispered.

"Well it's just been disturbing me to no end sir...why exactly is a General in the starfighter corps commanding a line ship?" Ackbar said with all seriousness. 

The General just turned and stared.

 

Do we have any readers left? Or are we writing for ourselves now? I really think those Platinum Ewoks are the kiss of death for a thread... like the Grammies and the Oscars, they cost your thread all credibility...

just a theory...

 

Still with ya!

 

Ayleeya Vlenus looked towards her Master nervously, as a rending and scratching sound echoed through the air vent in the Unity corridor. They had felt the jolt when E Section had separated from the rest of the station, and the panic of the Corellians in the corridor had begun. It was now rising to a feverish pitch.

"Master?" she asked Leia Organa quietly as the screeching noise grew louder.

"Yes Ayleeya?" Leia asked, holding her father's unlit lightsaber tightly, staring up and down the length of the corridor in anticipation.

"I rescued you from one of their ships," Ayleeya replied. She looked around at the Corellian crowd around them. "There was no hope for so many at Cloud City... what can we do for these people. It's just as bad, if not worse."

Ayleeya saw a crack forming in the ceiling of the corridor, and Leia's lightsaber was suddenly high in the air, pointing upwards. "We fight, and we save who we can," Leia replied as her father's crimson blade erupted from the lightsaber hilt, sliding through the metal of the roof, the snap-hiss of the blade accompanied by a scream of pain and anger from beyond the ceiling.

The crowd began to panic around them, as Corellians began pushing and shoving in all directions. "And those we can't?" Ayleeya asked, igniting her blade with a hiss. There really is no room for us to fight here.

Leia looked at her solemnly, understanding Ayleeya's unspoken thought of their handicap, and the odds against them. "For them we hope for a quick death..."

 

Corran winced as another one of those strange organic energy bursts shot past his X-Wing, bathing his cockpit in an eerie green glow. Throwing his stick to the side, Corran pulled the fighter around in an evasive maneuver that did nothing to shake the trio of K'kli starfighters on his tail. It did, however, pack them together rather nicely for the proton torpedo that shot into them a moment later.

Dazed and reeling from the explosion, it took the K'kli a few seconds to determine where this new threat had come from. By the time they spotted the second X-Wing coming towards them, its lasers had already reduced one of the fighters to organic rubble.

The remaining two fighters tried to orient themselves to the new X-Wing, forgetting all about Corran. A burst of quad laser fire proved that Corran had not forgotten about them. Caught between the two X-Wings, the remaining K'kli hesitated. That moment's hesitation was all that was needed for both X-Wings to blast it out of the sky.

"Good shooting, Nine."

"Thanks, Ten," Corran responded. "Next time, though, you get to be bait."

"As ordered, Nine," his wingman replied with a hint of humor in his voice. A burst of blue energy suddenly shot past his X-Wing, close enough to graze his shields. "Looks like you got your wish," Ten said as he pulled his fighter into an evasive maneuver that would pass through Corran's sights.

A faint glint of light caught Corran's eye. Reacting instinctively, he pulled to the side instants before a K'kli blast would have cut his fighter in half. "I got a tail of my own, Ten," he said, dodging another blast. "Wanna swap?"

"Sounds good to me." Ten opened fire on the fighter following Corran, while Corran attacked Ten's tail. Unlike the previous fighters, these K'kli were still fresh, and their armored hulls repelled the X-Wings' shots.

Corran and his wingman kept up their game of tag, constantly switching their targets and forcing the K'kli to reorient themselves. Within a minute, both of the K'kli fighters had been added to the growing array of battle debris.

Five down, thought Corran, taking a moment to survey the battlefield where K'kli and New Republic craft were hopelessly entangled. Five hundred to go.