Beyond - Legends Tales of Darkness: The Trial of Grievance Vexx

Title: Tales of Darkness: The Trial of Grievance Vexx
Author(s): @dragonsith13 and @Kaleesh-Cyborg
Timeframe: N/A, exists in an alternate timeline
Opening Characters:

Sith Empire
Grievance Vexx, Kaleesh male - cyborg
Lord Draconis, humanoid male
Vice Admiral Vlloth, Chiss female within Sith Empire
Captain Heruia, human male within Sith Empire Captain of the VSDII Arminius
Commander Irakopa, human male within Sith Empire, Second Officer of the Arminius
Captain Tali, humanoid female within Sith Empire, Captain of the VSDII Tempt
Major human male, special forces commander for the Sith Task force

Pirate and System Rebels
Ramm Mik pirate commander Twi’lek [canopy]
Wey Los Falleen Commando Lieutenant
Shilwa ‘Hutt’ Pirate Lord on planet

Genre: Drama, Action
Keywords: N/A

Summary: Grievance Vexx, apprentice to Darth Draconis, has been tasked with carrying out operations in regard to rooting out pirate and rebel activity throughout the Sith Empire. On the cusp of his potential accession out of the ranks of Apprentice, he must undergo a final campaign to solidify his place among the Sith. Along the way hoping to prove his prowess as a warrior, commander, and tactician. Vexx has only recently begun utilizing the powers, which he has in previous times suppressed and resented. Now he is forced to use them and conquer the conflicted nature within him or risk the wrath of the Sith leadership. If he is to succeed he will have to move beyond what he is.

Notes: My thanks to kaleesh-cyborg for putting up with my endless mind, and allowing me to help him along this journey and trial. A great writer always pushes a storyteller and he certainly did.


Part I

~The Hunt~​

Sith Imperial Task Force Eta Psi
Hyperspace - En route


“Five minutes to arrival Captain.” A navigation Office spoke, chiming in and relaying the updated arrival time to the ship's Captain. Captain Heruia stood on the bridge looking out at the blue curl of hyperspace that was prominent on the bridge of the lead Sith ship a Victory II class Star Destroyer, by all accounts a relic, yet still a formidable platform. Personal moved throughout the bridge busy with operations and preparations for their drop out of lightspeed.

Heruia acknowledged the relay of information with only the slightest of gestures, barely blinking, and offering a side look with his eyes in the direction of the navigation office, before returning to the blue curl. Mopping up a resistance rebel/pirate fleet was the order of the day. Intelligence had placed them operating in the Abbaji Minor system, specifically out of a moon orbiting the gas giant Remsh. Home to countless orbital and surface refinery, it was a system rich in resources, though well beyond the extent of the Empire’s current reach. These mining and refinery facilities has allotted the pirates to operate and refuel as needed, allowing them to strike at the Sith Empire with aggressive force. Intelligence had placed a cruiser and multiple support craft with the rebels, along with fighter and supply ships. Specifics being reserved for those in high command and special operations. Their current task force consisting of Two Victory Class II Star Destroyers, One Acclamator Class Cruiser, Three Carrack Light Cruisers, and Three Mark III Bulk Transports used for supply, repair, and transport were poised to exit hyperspace shortly with the intent of cornering a hostile rebellious pirate fleet, that had been launching attacks against the Empire for months now.

The rebellious pirate fleet had already been engaged previously many times with minimal damage to the pirate forces, the small pirate task force nature had eluded the larger Sith fleets. Allowing it to stay under the sensors and inquiring eyes of the Empire, though the recent placement of their base of operations had been a needed break in the pursuit.

‘Thirty seconds Captain.’ The same navigations officer announced the imminent arrival of the fleet.

The tan, yellow, and orange gas giant of Remsh quickly filled up the viewport as the task force came out of hyperspace. Within seconds, sensor alerts and information was flowing into the bridge. The distant moon of Remsh, the main base of operations was also viewable, the charcoal grey color of a orbiting moon a stark contrast to the swirling gas giant of Remsh.

‘Target their base, full barrage.’ Captain Heruia spoke confidently alluding to an orbital platform and moon identified as their base of operations, almost too confidently.

The orbital platform was not within range at first as the rebellious cruiser and its escorts stood even further off, in a high planetary orbit themselves. The two Victory Star Destroyers opened up with their turbolasers, while the smaller carrack cruisers joined in with their smaller but effective armament. At first their opening barrage was in vain, as if the massive cruisers were intentionally trying to waste armament and litter space with flashed of fire. The Captain continued to look on, lording over his assault. It was true, even though the pirates had a cruiser and some escorts, they were outgunned significantly. Though the tactics of the Sith force resembled that of the larger fleets which had thus far been unsuccessful in wrangling the pirates.

Commander Irakopa leaned over on of the forward targeting stations, keeping to himself his thoughts about the opening barrage. They had come out of hyperspace on the wrong side of the planet, he thought to himself,they knew the fleet had been in orbit and they could have easily come out on the far side using the planet to mask their arrival. The pirate fleet would have practically drifted into them unknowingly. Instead they sprayed turbolaser fire into the empty space around the planet, like some fool academy exercise.

When within range of the platform and moon, the turbolaser batteries began to hit their marks. The shields of the platform were quickly under duress, buckling already under the heavy bombardment. The pirate fleet however made little attempt to form up defensively, as their movements where more evasive as they moved to break there orbit and put distance between the Sith fleet and themselves.

‘Captain, the pirate fleet is moving away from the planet.’ A Junior Officer on the bridge announced from his post below in one of the side deck pits. ‘They do not appear to be launching any fighters.’

Next to the same Junior Officer that had just announced the pirate fleets movements was the XO of the Sith operational force Commander Irakopa, he leaned over staring at a sensor display sensors as it told the unfolding tale of the engagement clear as day. There had been too much initial distance and the pirate fleet given to much room to decide and eventually evade. He would never openly denounce a superior officer, but he sure wished he could have convinced Captain Heruia to recalculate the assault jump. He had respectfully noted it in their planning, but had been denied. The false hubris and overconfidence of Captain Heriua overriding him, and yet they could not even execute a proper main thrust and flanking maneuver, as the carrack cruisers had still not been deployed to cut of the pirate fleets escape.

‘Captain, sensors indicate pirate forces are charging up their hyperdrives.’

‘Move Contingent Norsem to intercept.’ Captain Heruia exclaimed, directing the Carrack Cruisers to plot intercept courses and begin flanking maneuvers to head off the pirate fleet, though it was an order given far too late and a vain attempt to stop them from escaping.

The orbital platform was taking heavy damage as the shields began to give out, though little damage had befallen the pirate fleet as they were still at max range. The quick flashes of ships acceparting to lightspeed was seen from the main bridge as one by one in quick succession they all entered hyperspace, exiting the system and once again eluding the Sith forces.

The orbital platform buckled, notable explosions and flashes across its hull as the barrage continued, the Captain seemingly content on obliterating it above all other concerns, despite the pirate fleet having just escaped the system to lightspeed. It was a bittersweet victory at best, if one could call it such as their quarry had once again escaped. The bridge all stared in silence with the realization of yet the continued need for pursuit. Breaking apart the platform ceased to exist as turbolaser fire continued to pulverize what remained of the intact hull. The brief exchange was over a few patrol craft and straggling fighters moved about, some commercial traffic, but overall the engagement was done.

Initial engagement - Two hours later...

The Victory II Star Destroyers ‘Tempt’ and ‘Arminius’ sat in high orbit with their support ships, the Remsh Moon nearby on this pass around.

Ground patrol detachments that had been deployed were meeting resistance in penetrating the main pirate stronghold. The fluctuating gravitational pulls between the gas giant and the moon created orbital bombardment nearly impossible and far too risky as the effort needed to maintain steady orbit and lines of sight were negated by the shifting fields. This left the forces to battle it out without heavy bombardment support.

Initial engagement - Five hours later…

They had lost nearly a full squadron of fighters due to air to air defenses, as the advances on the ground had stalled. The main base had been breached, but the inability to move up reserves and land shuttles close to the main base has prevented continued advancement. Captain Heriua slammed his fist against his desk as he read the datapad report. There had been no transmission from fleet command nor other channels, which was surprisingly welcomed.

Initial engagement - Seven hours later...

Commander Irakopa stood on the bridge, nearly twenty one hours steady, taking a sip of caf reviewing a datpad streaming updated information from the moon. The Captain had retired to his quarters hours ago, and no doubt he was growing further on edge as his strategy struggled to maintain its grip. The had been completely stalled with the ground operation to ferret out the pirate moon base. Nor had little progress been made in ascertaining potential jump points of the previously escaped pirate fleet. They had sent probe droids along the main system routes, five in total. With one having already reported back with a negative contact regarding the evading fleet.

‘Commander.’ A junior sensor officer spoke up respectfully, as he moved forward coming to attention near the XO. ‘Sensors are tracking a small craft, identified as a ‘Sith’ shuttle.’ The schematics of the craft along with vessel’s identifiers came up on the Commander’s datapad. Identifiers all checked out along with code transmission, though the XO remained on guard. ‘Target forward laser batteries at craft on approach’ The XO commanded, not taking any chances. ‘Commander’ The same junior officer announced. ‘Priority One message coming through.’

‘Raise the Captain.’ The XO pronounced, knowing protocol demanded that the Captain be the one who received the message. The junior officer tried and failed after repeated attempts to reach the Captain’s quarters and personal commlink.The XO grimaced as his nostril flared slightly, annoyed that the Captain was unreachable. The XO adjusted in his on duty combat uniform, the sleek charcoal of the Sith Empire. He knew that such a message was not to be delayed. Having little choice, he knew he had to take it. ‘Link it through.’

A hologram of Vice Admiral Vlloth Sixth fleet Commander, a Chiss female came into view.

‘Frans.’ the initial impersonal statement of the XO’s first name by the Vice Admiral a very personal statement and gesture of somewhat surprise. ‘Where is Captain Heruia?’

Commander Irakopa straightened up even further. At the sight of the entire fleets commander addressing him.

‘Ma’am.’ He spoke with a stern and respectful reply.

‘Captain Heriua is responding to and securing a drive leak as a result of fire taken from the pirate resistance.’

‘Frans’ The Vice Admiral’s red eyes narrows as she addressed him. Almostly chuckling at his response. Commander Irakopa was one of the most astute, talented, and bravest under her fleet command, having taken notice of him continually. Still young and much ahead of him.

‘You are the loyal XO, Frans…’ The Vice Admiral spoke with some disdain and humor in her voice at what she knew was the true reality. That the Captain was cowering in his quarters. The Vice Admiral’s humorous tone turned serious as she spoke.

‘The shuttle approaching is authorized.’ Simply stated her announcement would garner a stand down of the targeting of it.

‘You are to take on personnel who will assist in further operations.’ The order was coming from higher up than her, and on a different level, one she could not resist. The direct Sith Command.

‘Good hunting Commander.’ With that the holo disappeared.

Initial engagement - Eight hours later...

‘Captain, Sir.’ Commander Irakope spoke as he stood in the Captain's quarter as the man dressed himself. ‘Intelligence has pinpointed the jump destination of the pirate fleet.’ The recent development was not from their own such progress, but from the recent arrivals aboard the ‘Arminius’. Detail intelligence having been presented and disseminated throughout the taskforce. The Sith Task force stood at the ready prepared to jump per the recommendations of certain individuals not know to the Captain.


Arminius - Main Bridge
Remsh Orbit

Commander Irakopa was already back on the bridge after having briefed the Captain in his cabin. Steady handed still, having taken a brief rest before returning the bridge. Captain Heruia’s strode on the main bridge gangway peering out the main viewport. “Commander. Are the Nav coordinates of our quarry inputted and ready throughout the task force?” The Captain inquired about the intelligence offered up and now available to them.

Commander Irakopa straightened up. ‘Yes, Captain.’

‘And our all five of our recon ships in the adjoining systems have reported with Eta 5 confirming the intelligence dossier.” The Commander continued trying to relay the pertinent information to his superior, whom had just arrived on the bridge moments earlier. The Sith Empire databases showed a desolate system, abandoned during the Huk Wars across this group of systems. It previously being a Yam'rii colonized world, though it had been ravaged during the multi-system wide conflict. A temperate system with a mix of desert, jungle, and tundra environments, though mostly jungle and rainforests because of its location to the systems sun. Preliminary scans cited a small moon with no atmosphere clinging to an orbit around the planet.

“We are expecting a full system and defense scan shorty Captain.” The threat assessment of the system and assets in it was underway and would be arriving within a few minutes. Giving them a preview of any unexpected items and developments.

“Ready the task group for lightspeed and jump immediately.” The Captain spoke with a sense of urgency in his voice, though it seemed to be rooted in more impatience and desperate measures.

“Captain?” Commander Irakopa spoke have under his breath as to limit those around hearing his inquiry back towards the Captain. Trying to confirm what he had just heard, half wanting it to have not been the order given by the Captain. The Commander stepped forward straightening up and keeping his voice as composed as possible as he addressed the ship's Captain. Taking care as to limit the sound of his voice to just the Captain and him. “Sir, we are at the ready. But recommend we wait for the threat assessment not a moment more near delivery.”

The Captain turned his head towards the Commander next to him, his eyes and scowl wide delivering a silent insulted look of amazement as to why he was being second guessed. In reality it was the XO’s duty to keep his superior in check, to act as a second opinion and voice in decisions. The Commander's inquiry and statement had been pale in comparison to some actions taken by XO’s and more than a nudging reminder of protocol and proper tactics in preparation for a jump and assault into an system. Yet still the Captain took such as an affront to his command. Silently staring at his XO forcing him to back down. Irakopa was young, not yet molded, and while he stood his ground the Captain would not be upstaged.

“Do you want to spend the next 48 hours in the brig Commander!?!?!”

Going from figuratively from full stop to full ahead, the Captain’s statement to the Commander echoed across the bridge. Technicians, Spacemen, and Officer’s stopped in their tracks. Unsure of how to take the Captain's outburst, as a silence hung over the bridge.

“Order the fleet to lightspeed!” The Captain barked, his impatience and break in composure showing. The Captain’s false hubris and confidence in his abilities betrayed the growing fact that he knew he had to finish this quickly owing to the fact that he had not executed this campaign well. His failings and mistakes were showing, and he needed to cover them up quickly. His presumptuous jump was an unnecessary risk as the hostile fleet was already low on fuel and by their calculations had afforded them only enough for one jump, which they had used to escape the latest ill executed assault by the Sith task force.

“Yes… Captain.” The Commander spoke, reluctantly. Knowing all too well, that it was premature.

The on duty navigation officer and technician at station raised the fleet, as the coordinated jump was executed. The flash of white stars and subsequent blue curl of hyperspace engulfed the Arminius and the task force.

Initial Engagement ten hours later...


Sith Imperial Task Force Eta Psi
En route - Fourth planet of Abbaji Minor System

The the Arminuis lurched softly as it came to a halt, coming out of lightspeed. The Fourth planet in view in through the main viewport of the Victory Star Destroyer. Along with it the pirate cruiser, a Bothan Assault Cruiser, two Corellian Corvettes flanked it on either side. Though formidable, previous damage to them had pushed them to the brink, they had already limped from system to system as the Sith forces pursued them. The two Victory II Star Destroyers and their support craft easily outgunning them at this stage. The Captain’s eyes grew wide as he spotted them, ripe for the taking. There was no escaping now. The leaders would be killed and any remaining captured and dragged before the Sith command for their crimes and transgressions against the Empire. Commander Irakopa had been aware of the arrival on the bridge, the Sith Empire’s agent that had arrived while they had been enroute in hyperspace. Silently observing the bridge and it’s personnel. The Captain was not as concerned with the presence as one would expect, but that seemed more a mix of denial and purposefully trying to push out of his mind that an agent of the Sith Empire was now on his bridge.

Following orders, Grievance Vexx had boarded the massive outdated Star Destroyer and joined the crew on the bridge. His senses, both natural and gifted, are heightened by the sense of urgency. He has said very little, speaking only when spoken to, his attention strongly drawn by the knowledge that an all-out battle is fast coming to a head. While he favors the more direct engagement of ground combat, the excitement of a space battle is not lost to him. He will fight anywhere. Anytime. Anyplace. It's in his blood.

However, the Kaleesh warrior's attention is not without distraction as his eyes are fixed on Wild Space beyond the viewport. This place is all too familiar to him despite it being many years since he has been here. His last memory of the Abbaji System before he had left of his own volition had been the long and painful recovery process as Kalee struggled to put itself back together after the Y'amrii had ravaged their world and the Republic-imposed sanctions had crushed them into poverty and starvation.

His homeworld is very close; so close, he can almost sense the heat of Iminec, the singular sun that dominates the climate of Kalee. It would be so easy to slip away right now and, oh, how tempting it is. Knowing where he was headed in his journey to this ship in the first place had been a test of his dedication and focus. Kalee calls to him for her justice; for vengeance upon her enemies; for healing. His blood boils as he ruminates on these memories of the suffering his people had endured. What he wouldn't give to return to them now.

He shakes his head to clear it, withholding the habitual growl of frustration so as not to disturb the company he keeps on the bridge. As far as he is concerned, the less he is noticed, the better. It gives him more opportunity to watch and to listen and to analyze undistracted. Well, undistracted externally anyway. Force knows how much distraction he is battling inside. He is almost too grateful to hear commands given, pulling his mind back to the present.

“Full ahead, ready all batteries to fire.” The Captain spoke overconfident with having eyed his selfish prize. They were still outside range, but closing quickly as the Sith Capital ships began to move forward through the system. The engine roaring to full power and propelling the massive ships ahead.

The faint sound of impacts started. One then two, and more. Pinging and panging against the hull, as massive as it was they rang through the dead of space.

“Commander. Proximity alarms.” A sensor office spoke up, looking up from his station and over to the Commander standing near the Captain.

The pangs grew louder and more frequent with each moment. “Give me a visual!” The Commander ordered as he quickly, but composed strode over to one of the nearest large view screens. A live feed from the outside of the hull and sensors showed an fractal like object impacting the hull and cascading off it from the impact. “Zoom out twenty percent.” The feed grew broader showing. The XO’s eyes grew large. “Fifty.” He spoke indicating he wanted the view expanded. His suspicious confirmed. They were everywhere, and the sensor display in front of him also confirmed it.


Pirate Cruiser “Canopy”
Fourth planet of Abbaji Minor System

The link between the system base and the cruiser was steady. A Male Twi'lek male, his dark green hue blending in with the viewport of the planet and the dark of space. Nearby a female Faleen stood, dressed in combat gear with twin blasters on her hips looking on as the identified commander of the pirate cruiser and fleet communicated with forces in the system.

“Are you sure about this Ramm?” The voice over the comm questioned the Tw’lek pirate commander who was composed and analyzing data on datapad. The pirate bridge was a motley crew but well organized and moving with purpose.

“Yes, move forward with it!”

The Twi’lek male commander turned to the side and barked out orders to the bridge. “Phase one and two are a go! - Launch fighters and move to engage.”

A group of fighter began to leave the cruiser, at this point the three full squadrons were down to barely a squadron because of losses with the Sith fleet in previous engagements. Though from the moon a stream of fighters, was closing on the cruiser to join up. Bolstering their number to almost three full squadrons. The cruiser and corvettes were pivoting and turning, coming about and moving towards one of the Sith fleet’s flanks. The mixture of Z-95 headhunters, I-7 Howlrunners, X-Wings, and Y-wings, began to form up. A small group of Y-wings had already broken off from the main group, as the fighter squadrons and pirate cruiser and corvettes pushed forward towards the Sith flank.

Ramm Mik, the Twi’lek pirate commander stood looking out on the bridge, pressing his finger upon the datapad, which read activation as a toggle switched to red, indicating that they were hot. In rapid succession a cascading command was sent through them all as them became active.

Sith Imperial Task Force Eta Psi - Main bridge - Arminius
Fourth planet of Abbaji Minor System

The threat alarms went berserk. As bridge and display indicators maxed out, the proximity threat alarms instantly buzzing and audibly chiming. The wide view of objects in on the view screen that the Commander looked upon, illuminated as the dense vast arrangement of objects lit up, red lights flashing to live in a cascading wave. Previously the sensors had shown only a few dozen surrounding the ship as their size prevented them from being seen and picked up on the sensors.

“Mines.” Commander muttered under his breath, a stark realization of dire concern for that of inevitably was about to happen.

On cue it began. A single explosion, then another, followed by another, then dozens upon dozens. The cascading explosions grew more frequent as the massive ship was reduced to a punching bag. The mines were organized expertly in unison and stretched for row after row, numbering in the hundreds, if not near a thousand plus. And the Arminius had pushed its way stubbornly into the middle of them.

With explosions happening all around, the bridge was abuzz with frantic activity. The shields were holding as the same sensor officer yelled in a composed tone across the bridge. “Captain. Fighters inbound.” The chaotic mess of the minefield had distracted them from the massing and moving pirate forces. As now a group of fighters was bearing down upon the Arminius. Though there was no way they could make it through the massive minefield as well… right?

A group of Y-wing fighter bombers had broken off from the main fighter thrust, the fighter bombers lumbered through the minefield weaving in and about. The mines curiously not detonating due to their proximity as the mines suddenly went dark their beaming red strobes disappearing as if switched off momentarily. The previous nervousness the Captain had masked was outright showing, bordering on him losing his composure fully.

The Captain is incompetent, that much Vexx has gathered from merely observing the crew. He had made a rash decision that has placed them all in the perilous situation they find themselves currently. The alarms blaring around him are annoying. Loud and obnoxious. More than enough to put him in a testy mood. His dark yellow eyes fix on the Captain with pure disgust. He would like to squeeze the man's head in his talons until it pops like a bloated Hutt.

Puffed up fool, he thinks to himself, I would hate to be you later if we survive this ordeal.

The cyborg anchors his talons as the deck shudders under him with the impact of every projectile launched at the ship's structure, waiting for the moment when the vessel will be in so much distress that its crew ends up sliding from one end of the bridge to the other as its systems begin to fail. It would serve that Captain right. He had put them in danger long before they were ever in range to return fire. At least all this frantic activity is holding his attention from the distraction of knowing his homeworld is so close.

Yes, now would be a good time to begin squirming, Captain, he almost chuckles out loud at the tension he can sense coming from the arrogant man who had made a few severe miscalculations.

He halfheartedly wonders if the mines are controlled remotely as they fail to go off under the closeness of the incoming bombers. Oh, yes. Captain Cocky definitely made a few miscalculations. Despite the severity of the situation, Vexx remains anchored where he stands, hands clasped behind his back under his armor-quilted cloak, eyes shifting from the viewport, to the data panels, to a frantically darting officer, and back again as certain things draw his attention in turn. He can feel the situation intensifying, but he remains in quiet confidence, certain he was not sent on this mission just to become a casualty to one man's mistakes.

“Target those fighters!” The Commander spoke, not waiting for the Captain to give the order. The Y-wings accelerated quickly well beyond their known speed as they closed on the Victory Star Destroyer. Added booster rockets on the six Y-wings took them to almost double their speed, their sturdy shields helped mitigate glancing impacts from the deactivated mines that they screamed by. The laser cannons of the Sith Destroyers targeted the approaching fighter bombers… The Y-Wings were already nearly upon the Star Destroyer, but the expected oncoming torpedo barrage never happened. Instead they continued with speed towards the Arminius. One of the fighters was caught by a laser battery, but again what one would expect to be a small explosion associated with a fighter bomber was replaced with a massive explosion as one of the fighters, like a concentrated powder keg erupting after being struck.

“Why are our fighters not being launched?!?!” Captain Huria barked out, frantic from the fact that their defensive perimeter had been breached. The idea that there was something wrong with the fighter bombers was evident as their bombing run was not the standard of approaches.

Commander Irakopa was busy at on of the nearby stations directing personnel, though he turned to sternly respond the the Captain’s frantic inquiry. “The mine field is too dense any fighter launched would be obliterated.”

Not accepting that answer the Captain shouted. “Take them out NOW!” The Captain shouted as he stepped forward pointing to them in the distance of the main bridge viewport.

“Redirect all power to the starboard shields!” The Commander spoke, a solid tactical response to the oncoming threat. Trying to salvage and command the bridge - since the Captain's knee jerk reactions were futile outbursts and offering no effective response to the imminent threats.

But it was too late. The lead Y-Wing rolled and dove away from the Arminius, while the remaining Y-Wings rocketed forward. The first two drone Y-Wings slammed into the shields of the Destroyer, two massive explosions erupting the destroyers shield already slightly weakened from an assortment of mines detonating, this however pushed them to the brink. The shields buckled further, the flashes of white and blue webbing out in response to the trama done to them, though despite the added power redirected they took a massive hit. A third Y-Wing struck the forward shields and with the corresponding explosion, the blue white hue of shield generators in place fluctuated and disappeared as significant hull damage ensued, breaching the hull slightly. The fourth remaining Y-Wing struck the hull breach of the Star Destroyer without interruption from the shields. As the Y-Wing breached the hull of the Destroyer, the ensuing massive explosion tore into the hull from the inside as the entire bank of starboard side turbolaser batteries were obliterated. The explosion impacting the main superstructure of the Victory II Star Destroyer. A massive hull breach evident as the explosion dissipated. With each impact the Destroyer shook, culminating in the fourth explosion impacting and ripping into the hull.

It was at this point that the noise and chaos of the suicide run subsided. Alarms and stations were blaring as damage reports and indicators lit up the bridge. The forward and starboard shields were gone. Ships stations reporting stable, despite the hull breach and impact to the shields.

Commander Irakopa looked up from the stations he was at, a dire look of concern on his face.

The flash of red strobes came back to life, as the minefield once again became active.

The cascading eruption of mines turned dark space into a fireworks display.

The Arminuis took impact after unshielded impact…


Arminius - Dead in space

The Arminius was not moving, it’s massive engines silent as the ship sat all but completely adrift and unpowered. An explosion could be heard occasionally, as the ship drifted into a mine, but the damage inflicted was negligible considering the ship was already decimated.

The previous frantic pace of the bridge had been replaced with silence, damaged consoles electric fires burned. Damage control teams had brought the majority of the active fires under control throughout the ship, but it was a futile effort as the Arminius had lost main and secondary power. Only the emergency reserve systems provided basic life support and communications. Casualties had be severe with bodies still littering the ship, even on the bridge a few technicians were laying on the floor, a some slumped over dead on their consoles. One of the main viewports shown a massive crack in it, buckled from the hull of the ship being wretched and twisted by countless explosions, though it still held.

Commander Irakopa was under a console on his back, working on some wiring from underneath only the lower portion of his body visible. He had been attempting to re-establish communications, unsuccessfully up until now, having been able to replace a circuit board and reroute power to one of the emergency communications arrays that was still in one piece.

The static of a blue holo-feed came flickering into view, then disappeared. Captain Heriua sat off to the side, as medical officer attended to bandaging his head which was bleeding.

Commander Irakopa continued to adjust things as the holo-feed came back into view this time, while staticy and sporadic the feed was steady. The silhouette of Vice Admiral Vlloth came into view, she quickly began speaking.

“Captain! What… hell ... going on?”

“... ‘Tempt’ reports they… under attack… your ship is unrespon.. Adrift...”

The transmission feed was still garbled as the Commander attempted to concentrate and hone in on the feed. Adjusting the audio, while sacrificing the holo-video feed. Which helped to stabilize and clear the audio feed. The Captain had risen, like a wounded beast he hobbled over towards the feed. Trying to maintain his composure, though everything was in complete silent chaos as he began to speak, trying to save face.

“Admiral. The pirate forces are considerably more organized than we…”

The Captain was cut off abruptly by the Vice Admiral whose voice was raised but still composed, the frustration, anger, and contempt for him evident.

Finally the audio feed came in clearly. ‘You’ve continually botched attempts to resolve this campaign!’ It was true, while all planning and estimates were paced to bring them to this system and ferret out the remaining hostiles irregardless of previous operations. The reality was that at this point the operation should have been wrapping up and the pirate ground forces poised to be wiped of the faces of the moon and planet. Instead they were now seemingly down a Victory Destroyer, and reports were coming in that the rest of the Sith Task force had also taken losses. This all in addition to the fact that earlier in the campaign they had lost one of the two Acclamators Cruisers assigned, leaving them with just the one for low orbit assault and support. Losses were expected in any battle, but the patience for such gross negligence had expired.

‘Lord Vexx.’ The Vice-Admiral’s tone while heightened, grew more sternly respectful towards the operator she now addressed and knew was present. The Sith operative and Warrior was one that she neither commanded nor was entirely subservient to all together, but her understanding and respect for those who rule the Empire afforded her the impulse to be more amicable and agreeable to them having a higher role and place in the structure of things. Along with the fact that for all her military prowess and influence wielded she knew about the stories of those who ultimately held the reins. ‘Please relieve the Captain of his Command.’ Unspoken as the statement was, it was known what that meant. No one was just relieved of their command and reassigned. That was it.

A low growl will serve as the Captain's only warning of the impending doom who has been silent up until now. Annoyed as he is, Vexx cannot deny that the orders given him are a pleasure to carry out, though he's not into long, drawn-out suffering. Force knows he has heard enough of the Captain's squalling already. He stalks over to the quavering human and circles him briefly, as though contemplating the best way to terminate his position.

He stops just behind the Captain, the clank of his talons against the floor punctuating his standstill, then, without warning, he delivers a savage strike with those talons directly dead center to the man's spine, snapping it on impact and sending his seemingly boneless body flying across the bridge to splat against a broken control panel. Vexx doesn't even flinch as the Captain's corpse folds back and drops to the floor.

Satisfied that the man has been put out of his misery and, by extension, out of his crew's misery, Vexx unceremoniously returns to his post as though nothing has occurred. Even in his own native culture, the Captain would have had to be done away with. He made mistakes that cost lives and took risks that gained very little for the height of the stakes. The cyborg has very little remorse over the necessary action he has taken, if any at all.

‘Commander, Lord Vexx now has operational command of the task force.’ It was something a decision made with the Vice Admiral’s consent, ultimately it would have been put through regardless. No military commander liked to see their chain of command being passed over, but it was a decision she agreed with considering the circumstances. ‘However in lieu of his absence, you are to take over and conduct necessary operations. Understood?’ Also agreed upon.

‘Yes Ma’am.’ The commander spoke straightening up.

‘Fix this mess, Commander.’ Though the holo-feed was still frozen, Commander Irakopa could feel the Vice Admiral’s red eyes staring at him, it was a defining feature along with the blue hue skin of the Chiss. ‘I do not want to have to relay any similar order regarding your command in the future.’ With that the frozen holo-feed disappeared and the audio cut out. The Silence of the bridge resumed, the dead body of Captain Heruia laid nearby, they would not even bother to move it. They had to get to work, more important matters were at hand.

Arminius - Secondary Hanger
Dead in Space

Commander Irakope stood in the secondary hanger of the Arminius, the hanger was a mess. Scorch marks and smoke still littered the smaller but still massive Star Destroyer hanger. Lord Vexx stood next to him with a few of the remaining alive Officers, and critical personnel nearby , all of the,standing around a cargo container, which the Commander stood at one end addressing the group. Many of the crew gave the Sith Operative a wide berth as much as they could at the close proximity. The light in the hangar was on emergency lighting, affording only a small bit of light to conduct anything and move about. Commander Irakopa while on a dead in space ship, conducted a war room briefing. About them in the hangar a few remaining personnel continued to salvage what could be and had already began certain procedures and directives per his command.

‘Captain Tali is aware of our status here,’ The Commander spoke referring to the Commanding Officer of the other VSD II in their task force, the only remaining functional one the ‘Tempt’ ‘...along with a few tugs on her end, we have been able to clear a path through the minefield.’

‘Though we are only able to ferry and fly out ships in single file.’ The minefield was still active and they had lost several support ships in just attempting to clear a small path fully through out of the minefield.

‘According to updated information and reports from Captain Tali.’

‘Our task force is here.’ A holo-map of the system appeared above the cargo container they all stood around, with the Commander pointing out the Sith forces. Detailed features of the system evident along with locations of pirate and Sith forces. The refinery and fueling station that the pirates were using along with the moon base, and specific vessel locations, along with the planet itself shown clearly in detail. The Arminius encased in the minefield was clear as well.

‘They were forced to pull back against a formidable fighter and bomber assault.’ The Commander continued to point out and notate on the holo-map. ‘Thus they are still in the system, but remaining out of range for the time being.’ Commander Irakopa pointed out the proximity of the Pirate fleet which maintained a close orbit to the planet and nearby moon. ‘Two of our Bulk Cruisers has moved just beyond the edge of the minefield to help gather personnel, troops, and supplies.

‘We have begun moving any salvageable assets through the minefield and over to our task them, but it will take time.’ The reality was that their losses on the Arminuis had been immense. Troop, crew, ground and space assets had taken a heavy toll. So badly damaged by the suicide Y-wing and minefield which had caused a cascading wave of destruction throughout the ship. Many of the ground compliment remained intact but they could not get to those assets. A few walkers and hovercraft, along with only four TIE fighters, two transports, and three shuttles being accessible let alone viable. As throughout the hangar parts of TIE fighters littered the deck. A few unracked AT-AT walkers had been dislodged and now lay prone, with support and drive legs, rendering the absolutely useless. Though the Commander was determined to salvage every viable crew member, and asset off the Arminius that he could in preparation for the fight he was determined to give in the near future. Despite the grim appraisal of lost assets, Lord Vexx’s shuttle remained intact.

‘While the Tempt and her support ships were force back, they suffered only superficial damage, minor systems. With the expectation that they are still fully operational.’ The Commander had given the good news, but it was time for the bad news.

‘However our fighter strength has been significantly depleted.’ The Commander’s voice grew more concerned, but held onto a confident and upbeat tone. For as young as he was, he was picking up on things and falling into more and more into this role. The statement about their fighter losses was infuriated as it was unnecessary, though so was the Arminius floating dead in space. The listings of their fighters still operation were made clear on the holo-display before them all. Throughout the campaign and with the recent pirate assault against their task force they had eighteen operational fighter along with some additional recon TIEs and craft. Altogether barely two squadrons and that included what was left of the rack mounted fighters from the Carrack Cruisers that had redeployed to the Tempt. They were looking at nearly a four to one disadvantage based up threat estimates now, between the pirate moon base, their fleet, and the outpost on the main planet they were severely outnumbered. ‘Based upon flight paths, and recon we know that the bulk of their fighters are based out of the moon, this explains the rapid ability to deploy them, and why they were so quickly able to bring up support to their fleet.’ The Commander paused, pointing at the moon base. In fact the moon was quiet small, with no atmosphere. The facility was well fortified with air defenses and built into the moon itself. While a bombardment and attack fleet to base would work, they still could not mount a sufficient attack without being seen, which would prompt a fighter dispersal and they would be right back at square one. There was also the pirate fleet, the ragtag group of capital ships and freighters, was no match for the Sith Task force, even in its wounded state, but their position to the moon and fighters amplified their usefulness and potential danger.

Some of the ferrying operation was moving along as the four operational Tie Fighters and a number of barges with ground forces and vehicles were soon to be departing and lining up to traverse the path they had mad though the mines to the larger ships. The one thing they had on their side was that they had plenty of supplies, fuel, and ammo. Just not enough things to put it in. ‘Lord Vexx will be conducting the forward operations, while I rendezvous with Captain Tali on the Tempt and begin to organize our forces for continued operations.’ The Commander looked toward hulking being, as pre-discussed he would be taking over at this point and organizing the next phase.

‘Lord Vexx, your orders?’

The cyborg has been patiently observing all this time, not really making any moves to dominate even though he knows he has already been granted command of this operation. He has been intensely observing and analyzing the young commander, hoping he will bear no resemblance to the late captain he has recently killed for his failure. Thus far, Vexx is pleased by the levelheadedness of this man maintaining a stiff upper lip despite the dire circumstances this ship and its crew have found themselves in. He feels confident in relying on his partnership to see this mission through without any impulsive risks that will cost more than they gain.

"We will launch an infiltration operation," Vexx replies, his yellow eyes fixed on the moon base within the holo-map, "My shuttle will provide sufficient transport for myself and a select few to accompany me. I will take six operators. Only the most levelheaded with nerves of durasteel and I would prefer that they all possess excellent piloting skills. An infiltration is not a mission for those inclined to spook and I have more in mind than simply crippling the base."

He turns away from the map, his talons clanking softly as he paces over to the viewport, literally staring into space as he continues to strategize. This is risky. They have to get in with the intent to destroy as much of the enemy's resources as possible and get back out with their own resources and their lives intact. Possibly, hopefully, more than that. He is not overly concerned. He knows this can be done. Pirates aren't terribly intelligent in most cases. If they were, they wouldn't have to stoop to such slovenly careers now, would they? Still, he knows better than to underestimate the enemy and he is not about to be put to shame by a collection of parasitic scabs that make their living by stealing from others.

"We will target the fueling station," he continues, "I have the means to ignite it and bring it to ruin swiftly and their resources will be their undoing.”

This is not an easy decision for him to make. Destroying so much in fuel feels sacreligious to him, a Kaleesh raised to take nothing for granted; to loot the enemy whenever possible for the good of his people. He tells himself it is not going to waste. It will fuel the inferno that will consume these fool pirates and their thieving ways with them. Vexx remains confident that there will be no one left to pursue them once the fueling station is ignited. He turns back to face the commander and remaining crew members.

"The main objective is destruction to the enemy," he continues, "Secondary objective: hijacking any docked fighters they have on standby. This will require much stealth and it will not be a simple in-and-out mission, but I loathe to allow perfectly good transport and to go to waste when we have need of it.”

This couldn't be more truthful. As a Kaleesh, Vexx had learned at an extremely young age to appreciate what was available and to preserve it if possible. Born and raised on a planet scarce in resources to begin with, where major imports consisted of weapons, technology, and medicine, he is not about to liberally waste precious materials the crew now depending on him can use.

"Any questions, comments, or concerns?" he asks, pausing to examine his claws, "And do not be silent for fear of bodily injury. The only foolish question is the one you fail to ask."

He is giving the murderous appearance on purpose, examining his lethal claws that have crushed more skulls than he can count on both six-fingered hands. It is a test. He wants to know who among them has the guts to ask questions or possibly challenge his plan. He does not want a band of mindless followers. He wants independent thinkers with which he can collaborate to design a tightly-woven operation that will end in success.

‘Lord Vexx,’ A major in a what was more an operation uniform equipped for combat more than an Officer's uniform spoke up. Major Prios continued, ‘I’ve six operators including myself, that can be ready in thirty minutes.’ The Major led the elite Sith detachment of Death trooper on the Arminius, they more than anyone were eager to hit back at the enemy. All of them were elite experienced operators, with communications, slicing, demolition, and flight skills. It went without saying that aside from the Sith the Major addressed, they were among the most deadly group in the Task force thus their elite combat skills, that went without mentioning, were merely a formality and instinctual to them. Their nature, resilience, and survival skills aiding them in surviving the recent events.

‘Once we rendezvous with the remaining task force and the Tempt, we should begin preparing to move against the fleet.’ A junior Officer boldly spoke up, he was outranked by several at the table, but the opportunity presented itself for him to take the chance. ‘Once you are successful,’ The junior unnamed office spoke with confidence towards Lord Vexx, shaking off the intimidation present to many others at the table. ‘The full force of the task force should be ready to seize upon the confusion of the bases destruction.’ Commander Irakop was impressed, offering a nod towards the junior officers bold play and seizing of the moment. While some officers scoffed under their breath, an equal number recognized the young officers assessment with merit and possibility. ‘They will already be counting on the fighter support, once they do not have it. They will be sluggish in getting organized from the main planet and the fleet.’ The junior officer was emboldened and rightly so, his plan was sound.

‘I agree.’ Commander Irakopa spoke up, his acknowledgment of the junior officers words in his latest pronouncement, and thus taking the lead in the conversation once again. ‘If we press immediately with the destruction of the base, they will not be able to mount a coordinated defense.’ The Commander finished.

‘The strike group will need time,’ another nameless officer spoke up, this one of more reaport than just a junior office as he held the rank of 1st lieutenant. ‘Once we have the salvage operations complete, we should maintain the posture… try and present the front that we are still reeling and committed to salvage and rescue operations.’ The lieutenant had a point such would keep the pirates from feeling an attack was imminent and more importantly it would keep those fighters in the moon base, where they could be neutralized where they sat.

Calmly eyeing the first officer to address him, the cyborg nods in acceptance of the major’s eagerness to participate, calling attention to a number of others well fit for the job. He can sense the true fearlessness in him; perhaps even more so in the next man to speak up. Vexx quirks a brow behind his stark white death mask as the junior officer boldly interjects his ideas. His yellow eyes pierce those whom he hears scoffing quietly. He relishes opportunities to defy the odds and admires the young man doing the same, speaking up even though the odds might be him not being heard just for his age and rank alone. Vexx inclined his head in approval of the junior officer, partially to encourage his boldness; partially to spite the scoffers.

“Agreed,” he replies, “Creating mass destruction, chaos, and ultimately confusion will cripple them immensely. Baiting them by appearing crippled ourselves will position them to suffer a killing blow. Thank you, officers, for your input and participation.”

"Assuming there are no further questions or comments at this time," Vexx continues after a long pause, "I would ask that the special forces to accompany me prepare and remain on standby. Expect to be summoned via a coded message sent to your comlink. I do not expect you to interpret the message unless any of you are fluent in Kaleesh, so do not waste time trying. Only respond by reporting to what is left of the hangar bay immediately."

While he knows personally how frustrating it is to not know the full details of when a plan is to be executed, Vexx also recognizes the importance of secrecy in military operations. In this case, the group accompanying him does not know when the summons will come and they really don't need to. Their only concern is to be ready at any given moment. While he is aware that they can be prepared within thirty minutes, his comlink grouping signal still is without a defined time. It builds anxiety among the troops to accompany him, yes, but it will make them that much faster in response. He only pauses long enough to await any questions from the crew before moving back to the holomap to further scrutinize their target and detail the start of the infiltration.

"We will just barely enter the gravity field of the base," he explains, indicating the general area on the map, "At which time we will deploy executing a high altitude low opening jump. This will aid in concealing the initial invasion, eliminating the entrance of a noisy unknown vessel that would draw unwanted attention. I want all personnel accompanying me equipped with a slicer, three thermal detonators, three flash grenades to be used only in an emergency where mass destruction or mass killing is necessary for survival. We do not intend to stay long enough to have to go berserk with explosives, so the less we carry, the better. Force willing, the only explosion will be the one triggered seconds before our departure. I prefer everyone carry an X-8 Night Sniper sidearm. We can silently pick off any potential whistleblowers and move on with continued secrecy."

He touches the map, expanding the view of the base. Another touch causing the image to rotate, exposing all docking ports to view. There are at least a dozen of them. With the number he has chosen for this mission, they could potentially hijack a total of seven of the pirates' fighters providing no lives are lost among his troops.

"If things proceed according to plan and no casualties are incurred, we can save a maximum of seven fighters from the inferno, obviously claiming them for our own uses," he continues, "This is why proficient pilots are needed for this mission. In preparation to evacuate, we will regroup at a designated area within the base and disperse to claim fighters. There will be a synchronized takeoff and role call once evacuation is complete and a safety zone is reached."

The feeling around the table was that this was sound, this could work. The group had undergone hell in the last few hours, losing shipmates and suffering at the hands of ill conceived and selfishly led ambitious plans. The Commander stood confidently, the whole ordeal had shook all of them severally, but from it had come resolute determination and rising of individuals.

Commander Irakopa breathed in silently surveying those around the table. ‘Then we proceed, I will brief Captain Tali as soon as we are aboard with the Tempt.’ The Commander had already briefed the Captain beforehand, regarding their overall plan to continue the fight, the details and her input would be needed in continuing with the full operation. ‘Lord Vexx, I will proceed with further preparations.’ The Commander had shown a new found stalwartness, even in addressing a member of the Empire of the Sith. Neither commanding the superior, nor backing down, it all being done respectfully and with great tact. Perhaps it was his eagerness to avenge what had transpired and a sense of responsibility for not standing up to the Captain earlier.

‘Alright everyone, dismissed.’ The Commander spoke, directing at all of the Officers assembled. The Commander remained at the table respectfully, for the Sith present. While he commanded and had dismissed what was left of his Officer Corps from the Arminius, he remained in place alone at the table should the Sith liaison wish to speak with him. Along with the fact he dare not walk away from the table until he was dismissed by the one who commanded the operation now.

@Kaleesh-Cyborg

 

This was a great start, I didn’t know you wrote Fanfiction! Loved it, and I look forward to the next chapter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Three more parts to go

 

Part II


~Dark Side of the Moon~



The swinging approach had brought them back around the far side of the moon, and while it was small by celestial moon standards only 567 kilometers in diameter, it still was a formidable mass in the system. ‘Five minutes.’ The co-pilot up front had turned and signaled with his gloved hand, mouthing the words to the Major who sat staring through the front viewport. The Major simultaneously turning and echoing it to the other Troopers in the hold. The Major turned back towards Lord Vexx, they had gone over many of the preliminaries and objectives during the shuttle ride enroute. Briefing the team thoroughly, which now was undergoing final preparations checking weapons, equipment, and communications as they came closer to their jump point.


‘Lord Vexx reconnaissance probe droids have identified several exhaust chute for entry.’


‘Here, here, and here.’ The Major notating them on the personal holo-map display projected off his wrist. The team had already been briefed and prepared, as this had also been pre-discussed between the Sith and the team. They had purposefully come taken a long swinging approach to the moon to avoid detection and were now coming down to begin their approach of the moon it which was basically a hunk of grey rock, with a base on one side. At the speed they were moving and the moon not having any atmosphere, they were fast approaching their destination. Each member of the squad was equipped with a thruster pack. Not meant to speed them up, but to slow them down from plastering against the moon and the base itself. Their landing zone was two kilometers outside of the base, just outside visual range. Though a second of hesitation would mean disaster for anyone.


‘Two minutes!’ The pilot in similar fashion as before turned and yelled, holding up his hand to signify the number of minutes remaining to their jump point. Lord Vexx had briefed them all on the fact that this was in fact a high altitude low opening jump, requiring them threading the needle to accomplish their insertion undetected. Just not that the approach would be made along the surface, at minimal height as a direct line across the moon surface. Like a fighter screaming down a canyon, pulling up at the last moment to avoid being pulverised. Though they did not have fighters, just armor and thruster packs.


The pilots had already donned helmets, the cabin of the hold having been depressurized as the main ramp opened revealing the black of space. The team had been standing in two rows, prepared for the moment, the Major among them ready. They were still nearly forty kilometers away from the base, but moving at tremendous speed not limited by an atmosphere. As such when the team left the shuttle they would be traveling at a massive velocity, following a specific trajectory towards the base along the surface. With the slightest mistake sending anyone of them on a path out into deep space.


"Excellent, Major," Vexx replies with a nod, paying attention to the indications on the map, but only with divided attention as he minds careful monitoring of their fast-approaching jump. The opening phase of this mission must be executed flawlessly or everything else to follow will fail.


“Go! Go! Go!” The Major shouted after the co-pilot signaled the all clear. The team had only a few seconds to exit the shuttle, as the insertion had been timed precisely including the path of the shuttle.


The pilot pulled up,not giving a second thought to if the Troopers and Vexx had exited as planned. They either had or they were dead. The margin for error was razor thin and he had his part, which had been done. The shuttle rolled away from the moon, out of sensor range and returning to the task force.


Vexx had begun his rapid descent before the first "go" had fully left the Major's lips. In the exhilarating thrill of a free fall now, he remains unaffected by the harsh elements of open space. Crystallized frost quickly accumulates on his armor from the dead chill of space, but it has no adverse affects on him. An internal thermostat keeps his organic body from freezing and additional durasteel plates have deployed between the metal ribs protecting his organ. Transparisteel shields have sealed the eye holes of his mask, saving his eyes from being sucked out of his head, but doing nothing to dim or obstruct his vision. He can see some of his comrades descending around him, but his focus remains on maintaining his own jump. He doesn't know if everyone is thus far all right and he won't know until they touch down and check in with one another.

Watching the base grow larger beneath him he begins a countdown in his head. The execution of this mission must be as precise as brain surgery if things are to go down without a hitch. Three...two...one...and the soft whoosh as he ignites the jump pack mere seconds before he would have been reduced to a sizable stain on the roof of the base. Once his descent has slowed and he is within safe distance, he cuts the jump pack off again. Leaning on the Force just slightly, he touches down as softly as a feather despite the weight of his heavily armored cybernetic body, reaching out to anchor one taloned foot and then the other. He then ditches the jump pack--it will be a terribly humiliating occurrence should somebody shoot at him and hit the thing--and approaches the nearest exhaust outlet to wait for the rest of the infiltration team. He maintains a loose hold on stealth in the Force to soften and quiet his movement, also taking care to cloak his signature just in case there are other Force-sensitives among the honor-less pirates below.


The team was down, the hair raising skimming of the moon surface culminating in the base coming at them at speed. The flash of thrusters and sudden stops in quick sequence as each member of the six trooper team one after the other touched down. The impact and landing as hard, yet controlled, expected with such a drastic maneuver. But it had succeeded. There was no way to know if further alert from visual or other means was evident. Though the likelihood given what they had just had to do regarding this insertion made such very unlikely. Securing the jump packs and readying weapons, the team moved to the nearest exhaust port meeting up quickly with Lord Vexx.


He listens both naturally and through the Force. Apart from the low hum of power sources, he doesn't detect anything particularly alarming. Shutting down his respirator setting that pulls in external air, he relies on an internal oxygen source built into his cybernetics. With the knowledge that fumes in the access point they will be taking will inevitably trigger a coughing fit, he takes the extra precaution despite the fact that the internal supply is limited and slow to replenish. He doesn't foresee being in the exhaust system for very long.

For the sake of maintaining secrecy, the cyborg does not speak to his comrades. Instead, he relies on a series of military hand signals to communicate with the Major, indicating that he intends to enter and scout out the area. He can easily silence whistleblowers with the Force if necessary, providing easier access for the rest of the team. He draws more on the stealth from the Force to mute his footsteps inside the cavernous exhaust system and he enters, moving like a silent shadow, yellow eyes glowing eerily in the pitch darkness.

Roughly fifteen minutes of twists and turns in the dark maze of pipes finally lets out in an atrium surrounding a massive fuel reservoir. Only a code-sealed grid stands in the way of getting out of the toxic exhaust system. He motions for his slicer to override the code and provide the escape. The slicer obeys and sets straight to work, quickly disabling the grid so that it opens without so much as a squeak. Vexx then cautiously creeps out, the opening just barely big enough for him to angle his broad shoulders through. The fuel containment system is encircled by a sluice-like trench; perfect to conceal explosives against the underside of the fuel tank. He motions as much to the Major.


They had successfully moved to their first objective, the Major gestures to the team, with silent nods four of them move off to the secondary objective, one of the main generators. The Major and the remaining trooper along with Vexx can next move onto one of the hanger control rooms. So much of accomplishing this mission depends on them sealing the main hangar doors, preventing any fighters from launching while the base is in the initial stages of chaos. The secondary hanger is where they will have an opportunity to hijack fighters. The charges being placed on the main reactor will also bring down the main systems and add to the larger destruction of the moon base. So far the team’s presence had been unnoticed, partly due to the meticulous planning and skill present. All phases had to be accomplished, it was all or nothing while here.


The secondary team was nearing the hallway of the main reactor, moving in and out of the corners and doorways avoiding any detection. The main reactor would not be easy to get into, as one of the troopers pulled up to a console plugging into it with a datapad and beginning a slicing process while the team covered her. It would take some time, The major Vexx’s group should be nearing their objective as well. Once everyone was in place, things would begin to heat up…


Vexx moves on past the fuel containment system, leaving the selected team to do their thing and begin rigging the detonators against the base within the sluice, motioning for the Major and single trooper to follow. He then activates a switch under the jawline of his mask that mutes his volcabulator and routes his voice to be heard only within the helmets of his team.

"Attach the charges and await further instruction," his voice rumbles clearly through the private frequency, "Once the hangar doors are disabled, the real fun begins." He looks to the Major with purpose. "I think it will buy us more time if we disable emergency alarms and jam communications as well. It will further ensure no one is aware of the danger until it is fully upon them."

Vexx taps into the Force to help guide him and the others to the hangar control room, relying on it to also alert him to the presence of any lifeforms that might try to impede their progress. So far that he can tell, the coast is clear and they will remain undetected if they move quickly. Again, he takes point, trusting the Major and his trooper to have his back as he will be the first to confront any danger in their path.

The hangar control room is guarded by a single pirate who sits dozing beside the door. Vexx hadn't expected this place to be unguarded, so the presence of the so-called guard comes as no surprise to him. It's no shocker either that the so-called guard is napping on the job. What more could one expect from pirates? He motions for his team to halt with one hand while drawing his X-8 sidearm with the other. Taking aim, he silently ensures the guard will never open his eyes again, then moves on to break the code on the control room door, again trusting the Major and trooper to keep watch while he focuses on breaking in.

After setting his slicer to work on the door's code, he steps back, keeping his sidearm at the ready to quickly pick off any potential whistleblowers that could catch them in the act of gaining access unauthorized. So far that he can tell from the Force, there is no immediate threat. These pirates definitely don't feel a need for vigilance, that's for sure. The Force does alert him that there are at least three warm bodies inside the control room though. He turns to the Major and and motions to the door, then holds up three fingers, tipping his hand in an undecided gesture, indicating that there could be more than that and they should be prepared.

The doors finally retract in their casings and Vexx slips in, keeping to the shadows. Three backs are turned to them; the Force had been dead accurate. They need to eliminate them quickly before they can initiate any alarming sequence or defend themselves. He motions for his companions to take aim and sends out a Force-meld. If they can execute this execution in perfect sync with one another, it will be as if only one silent shot has been fired.


The Major and other commando trooper were in place, with their shots lined up, awaiting the signal.


The generator team had sliced into the generator entry door and were poised to open it upon command, the team of four ready to breach and secure the area and begin planting charges as soon as Lord Vexx’s team gave the signal.


The cyborg utters a single Kaleesh phrase, "Öppen eld", on the private frequency to his team. Immediately thereafter, his finger depresses the trigger and three separate shots fire as one, maintaining their silent and undetected entry into the control room as three bodies go slack at the controls, never knowing what had hit them. Vexx wastes no time crossing the room and plucking one of those bodies from a chair and flinging it aside as he accesses the control panel, shutting down the main hangar doors with the flip of a few switches. He knows the other teams will do their part, for he has done his part in maintaining a meld with them through the Force. After the doors have been locked down, he splits his arms to quad-wield four ignited lightsaber blades and plunges them into the control panel, making it impossible to undo the deed he has done.


The silent singla came through on their wrist comms, as well as their integrated HUDs in their helmets. The door opened trigger by giving merely the command after they had long gain access to the door system. The team of four peeled into the hallway, the generator had a man trap set up, with a single door at the end of this hallway preventing further access. Normally such an obstacle would have stopped anyone, trapping them between two doors and opening them up for capture or an ensuing shooting range. Another coordinated command executed by the team slicer and the door at the end of the hallway opened with a swoosh, the first two troopers entered. A pair of grisly looking mechanics were the only two person present, with rapid succession, both has blasters on them. Everyone here seemed to have such, again they were pirates and mercenaries first. Before either one could unholster their sidearms they were on the deck, the smoke of blaster rising from their chests as multiple bolts hit each ones chest centermass. One Trooper at the generator room door, another at the far door, to ensure the exit route was still secure. As the two breaching troopers, began quickly setting charges. Both of them knowing exactly where to place them which was done seamlessly. The massive generator hummed flashes of light from within the sealed thick viewports at certain points a reminder of the energy pulsating within. On cue everything was in place and the team began to reverse out the way they had came in, reaching the first door and stopping two of the facing out down the hallway, two facing back towards the generator room down at the end of the long access hallway. A signal was sent to Lord Vexx indicating the team was ready to initiate the generator detonation. Once they did so, along with the fuel cells, the base would begin a sequential self destruction that would envelop it.


With things in place the team turned and began to make their way to the secondary hanger to rendezvous with the rest of the infiltration team.


Pirate Cruiser “Canopy”

Fourth planet of Abbaji Minor System


The husk of the Sith Victory Star Destroyer floated in the black of space, the triangular silhouette of the capital ship prominent even at the distance. The minefield surrounding it was but pinpoints in, with the occasional flare of light reflecting off one here and there, a reminder of the trap and danger that was there. Mik was holding a fresh cup of caf, a brief rest and he was back on the bridge. He had expected the Sith forces to be regrouping and potentially undergoing recovery and rescue operations. Strange that they even bothered. Didn’t the Sith hold little value to life to begin with? Wey, is Faleen Lieutenant was away herself resting and preparing for anything to happen next. He had not expected the Sith to just turn and run, after all they had been pushing them through system after system to this point, and despite the crippling of the Victory Star Destroyer, Ramm Mik and the pirate organization Blood Pack were still on the defensive. How had it come to this, gaining the eye of the Sith and drawing unwanted attention? What stupid blighter had provoked such? He had his suspicions. The same people who cowered in the main base and complex on the planet below, and now he had been fighting system to system, trying to stave off this advance from the fleet staring at him through the black of space. The remaining Victory Star Destroyer and support cruisers and ships stared back at him. He knew there was only a thin veil keeping them at bay, there only advantage being being their numbers at this point as they were outgunned fleet wise.


Still this all seemed odd, the Sith could have called up reinforcements. Moved against them, even with the destruction of the main capital ship they would not be able to repel an assault from the remaining capital ships. Again their fighter support was a shield keeping the Sith at bay. But again this rescue operation and recovery, as he looked in at at the placement data, all seemed at odds. He had retired beverly hours ago, just enough to keep his senses and ensure he could continue to think clearly.


It was all wrong. They could had recovered personnel and equipment from three ships and still they moved about the husk of the Destroyer with kid gloves. They were stalling.Mik called up sensor data on his datapad, synced between the fleet, moon base, and system installation. He began quickly browsing and moving through it. Paying close attention and looking for signs of irregular activity.


And there it was. One of the moon’s sensors had reported and anomaly, normally associated with a small impact on its surface. Though this indicated multiple impacts and in rapid coordinated succession, along with a exhaust vapor trail indicative of a sudden exit from the moon's gravity field.


Mik tapped into his commlink attempting to raise the moon base. There was nothing the link appeared to be severed. He rushed over to one of the bridge consoles, tapping into it quickly, pulling up the encrypted channel to the main base. Typing a message, which would go directly to the base commander. ‘Attack-on-base-secure-and-launch-fighter-immediately!’


There was no time, and Mik was infuriated that it might be too late.


Wey was moving through a corridor outside the main hangar in a full sprint. She did not need a direct message from Mik to know what to do, as she rounded a corner into the open hangar. A small shuttle was already preparing for lift off as she ran up the ramp and into the cockpit. Sliding into the seat and revving up the main engines. The shuttle lifted off the deck, the ramp raising to close barely allowing time for a few more personnel to pile in. Wey barely giving them time to secure themselves before hitting the thrusters full, the main ramp closing shut and giving a good seal just in time. Wey twisted the craft away from the cruiser and began a direct route to the moon base.


Moon base

Fourth planet of Abbaji Minor System

Infiltration Team



Through the Force, Vexx can sense that their time to complete this mission just became drastically shorter. Someone knows they are here. He touches the activation switch under his jawline again to communicate with his team.

"The pressure is on," he tells them, "Carry out your orders quickly and prepare to fight if necessary. Take no prisoners. Once all necessary actions have been taken, make haste to the secondary hangar and take care not to let anyone follow you." He turns to the Major. "Come. Let us get to the secondary hangar. We haven't much time before the first of the charges are ready to blow."

He steps away from the melted and smoldering control panel and moves toward the door, his lightsabers extinguished and returned to his hip armor and his arms interlocked once again. He draws his sidearm, keeping it at the ready as he leads his team back out into the maze of corridors where he leans on the Force for a clear sense of direction. They cannot afford to make a wrong turn at this stage. They need to hijack some fighters and get out of here.

Just as he had suspected, there are watchful pirates present, two currently in the hallway, having been alerted to something out of sorts within their base. Blast it! He resists the impulse to curse in Kaleesh. This isn't unmanageable. They just need to maintain secrecy and shoot these jokers before they can process what is going on. He silently motions to the Major to position himself to once again take a synchronized shot.


The major was an instant from depressing the trigger, along with the other trooper. Another synchronized shot on that they had executed throughout their way to the hangar.


The base erupted in a flash of light as alert lights began flashing and alarms blared. The Major took his shot along with the other teammate, the two pirates dropped to the deck, dead from the blaster shots after a brief moment of confusion as they responded to the alarms.


Another two pirates came charging around the corner, almost on top of them. The Major pivoted grabbing on the pirates around by the arm, twisting it and plunged a vibro-blade unsheath from his armor, into the pirates chest. The second pirate was right in the bath of Lord Vexx, but was dropped by several shots to his back from the other Trooper whom felled him quickly upon coming around the corner.


Vexx had been ready use his talons to fling the pirate right over his head to splat against the grid several yards behind him and is admittedly disappointed when his would-be target suddenly falls dead at his feet. He looks up and gives a nod of gratitude to the trooper for the zero hesitation in taking action to protect him nonetheless. He hasn't had this sort of combat experience in years and it draws his heart and soul even more into this mission. He doesn't spare much additional time for gratitude though; it is time to finish this. With the main hangar locked down, they only have so much time to get to the secondary bays.

He moves deeper into the maze of corridors toward the secondary hangar, waiting on purpose. He had already received the signal from the team planting charges at the generator's location and he knows everything is ready, but setting this thing to blow too soon could put them all in imminent danger. Coming to a break where four corridors intersect, he knows the secondary hangar is just a few strides ahead. Now is the time to strike. He signals the major to take point, hanging back while he and the trooper continue on to the hangar.

"Dom på fiendens är här," he growls, queuing the detonation team to initiate the self destruct sequence, "Kasta in dom genom helvetets portar!"

After giving the order in his own language, he turns to follow the Major and the trooper to the hangar, but it is in that moment after the signal has been given to start the sequence that six pirates come skidding down the left and right corridors, three down one and three down the other, blasters drawn and trained on the massive cyborg taking up most of the intersection. Vexx is quick to draw all four lightsabers, employing Soresu immediately as the pirates foolishly open fire, heedless to the fact that, if he moves to follow his team, they are likely to kill each other. The Kaleesh humors their assault briefly, flinging a few bolts back at them and causing them to halt their charge, but they continue to fire on him.

"As much as I would love to stay and humor your pathetic attempts on my life," he grumbles, "I do not wish to partake in your well-deserved demise."

With that, he swiftly retreats down the hallway behind him, leaving the pirates to fire upon each other. He chuckles darkly as he hears several cries of pain and bodies hitting the floor. If any of them are still standing and have the guts to pursue, he will make sure they don't get very far.


The first rumblings rock the base right to its foundation, causing Vexx to stumble into a wall as he charges down the hallway, his shoulder leaving a sizable dent as he bounces off of it, sparks flying from the impact of metal upon metal. Moving on into the secondary hangar, another charge goes off, this time reverberating through the internal structure of the base and causing it to really show signs of detrimental damage. Vexx sends out the Force, wanting to know the whereabouts of his team. He will not see this mission as being a successful one if they do not all get out alive.

Thankfully, he is able to pick up several friendly signatures heading to where he currently is. Good. Things are going well so far. Now if they can just hijack seven fighters. He reverts to his quadruped capabilities, moving in a scorpion-like fashion four times faster than he can move in an upright position. In this manner, he is able to catch up with the major and the trooper in no time. The charges are going off in rapid succession now, shaking everything so much that it makes it a bit of a challenge for him to flip back into an upright position.


"Infiltration team, check in," he grumbles into the private comlink, "I need you all transitioning from the primary to the secondary objective. Do you copy?"

Using the Force, he blasts the doors off the secondary hangar. It is a precautionary measure. If the base really starts to collapse in on itself, the doors could become wedged shut and they will be trapped. The last thing he wants to do is arrange failure. One would never know it by looking at him or listening to him, but Vexx is tense now. Victory and seven lives are at stake and while he knows that war often claims lives sacrificed for a greater good, he would rather cheat that equation and see to it that his team is able to do the same.

Another explosion jostles the hangar and he can feel the floor shifting as support gives way from underneath. On the far end of the hangar, he watches a starfighter get swallowed up by a sinkhole opening up in the floor from one of the explosions below. Well...this team certainly doesn't skimp on powerful explosives, that's for sure. Of course, they are fast running out of time and ground now. Literally.


Vexx turns toward the starfighters lined up and waiting. They need to board now and get out of here while the getting is good. Unfortunately, things are about to go off plan just a bit. The Kaleesh cyborg’s sensitive hearing picks up the sound of frantic footfalls pounding up the corridor he had just come from. He sends out the Force to figure out who or what is coming toward them. The signatures of four pirates come clearly to him; the very same pirates with which he had instigated a shootout. So four out of six were still mobile. Blast.


“Get to the fighters!” he commands his crew, turning to face the oncoming pirates intent on apprehending them. The pirates open fire on sight and Vexx turns just in time to avoid a shot to the face, taking a glancing blow on the shoulder instead. The blaster bolt doesn't penetrate his durasteel armor, but it ricochets off and leaves a painful sting in its wake. Angered, he draws his lightsabers and falls back on Soresu defenses, scattering blaster bolts in all directions. The pirates have gotten smarter; they take cover behind randomly scattered cargo crates.


Vexx is fast getting tired of these nuisances. They are slowing down their progress and could stand to bring this whole mission to absolute failure. He extinguishes one of his blades and returns it to his hip armor, using the other to continue his Soresu defense. He then take his unoccupied hand and aims the upper wrist at the pirates, igniting the flamethrower built into his arm. He usually doesn't resort to this weapon, but time is running out for him and his team. The flamethrower sends a bursting inferno straight at the pirates in a rolling wave of red and white flame, quickly engulfing the crates the pirates are hiding behind and if isn't but an instant later that the fire begins to consume the pirates as well. Vexx turns away as the terrified yelling is drowned out by another explosion from down below. As his father once said, time to abandon ship.


Wey Los - Shuttle

Moonbase - Fourth planet of Abbaji Minor System


The shuttle screamed at full throttle towards the moon base, Wey at the controls with a number of pirates in the main hold near the rear main exit ramp preparing for an assault. Retaliation. They did not know, all they knew was that there was a squad of Sith on the base and things hinged on them quashing any such move against the base which anchored their defense of the system.


They still could not raise the base entirely on the main channels, but at this point it mattered little as Wey already knew what was ensuing. She would roast whomever had she found. The outside of the moon base was quiet, normal as no outward signs of damage or conflict would have been evident. The dark structure almost perfectly camouflaged with the rock of the moon itself. She barely let up on the throttle as she approached the hangar doors of the secondary hanger. Only reversing and firing all reverse thrusters the instance she breached it, despite such still bursting into the hangar with speed. The maneuver just enough to slow down a collision.


Captain Tali

VSDII Tempt - Sith Task Force


‘Any word from Lord Vexx?’ Captain Tali stood on the bridge of the Tempt, observing, ready to initiate the next phase. The question hangin in the air briefly directed at one of the communications officers next to her at a terminal, whom was leaning over an enlisted humanoid staring at multiple screen and feeds.


‘No Captain.’ The officer responded.


Captain Tali breathed in adjusting her uniform as she continued to stare out across the bridge and the open main viewport into space. They had expected them to be moving beyond their secondary objective and alerted by now. The clock was ticking. If they team had not accomplished their infiltration of the base, then their Task Force would be met with and onslaught of fighter that would obliterate the unprotected group If they did not advance with the Task force to support Lord Vexx’s team, then they would be grossly outnumbered and the Sith Task Force to far away to engage and render assistance.


‘Commander?’ Captain Tali again spoke, looking for reassurance in the plan of the Commander and Vexx.


‘The team will break through, we need to move forward and advance Captain.’ Commander Irakopa standing on the bridge of the Acclamator Cruiser, spoke confidently, technically Captain Tali outranked him, despite him being given operational command along with the Sith present. His statement was as much a command as it was a request. He knew where he stood and Captain Tali was well versed in command. They needed to move forward together and turn this tide.


Captain Tali, breathed in once more.


‘Full ahead.’


‘Shields to full power.’


‘Ready all batteries.’


With that command the Task force of the remaining Victory Star Destroyer, Acclamator, three Carrack Cruisers, and three bulk transports moved forward towards the pirate fleet.



Wey Los - Shuttle

Moonbase - Fourth planet of barelAbbaji Minor System


The whole base began to shake, as explosions fought there way out of the structure. The rumblings and shockwaves were felt even from within the shuttle as she pushed down the controls after sighting them, turning without thought.


The surrounding personnel, that had boarded in anticipation of defending the moonbase, barely having time to register the blur of the Falleen warrior moving past them in the cargo hold and through the exit ramp which was barely beginning to open. Exiting without hesitation of thought, she did not wait for any of them and jumped out of the shuttle as it continued to move. A few of them caught on and were able to respond and follow. The rest were unable to respond in time.


The shuttle moved with speed still in the hangar, slowing slightly upon entering it. One of the tips of its dual stabilizing wings sliced across a fighter on the deck as the wing of the shuttle buckled but held. The impact lurching and pulling the now unmanned shuttle closer to an impact with the hangar deck. It's speed, velocity, and angle though were to defined to lurch it from its intended destination.


The Major and Vexx would look up suddenly, Vexx’s danger sense kicking in before such, to see a shuttle careening towards them. The nose of the shuttle lurched further as one of the shuttles wings dug into the hangar deck, carving a deep gash, while sending sparks and debris everywhere. Without little time to react the shuttle slammed into the open doorway and hanger wall near it. Erupting in a small explosion, stay of sparks, and debris. Impacting with a lurch as it came to a sudden halt. The nose of the shuttle crumbling but also piercing the hallway and wall. Sending the Sith Trooper team sprawling out of the way.


One of the team was sent flying back down the hallway the team had just emerged from. Unavoidable the shuttle impact had been. The Trooper was flung back, dead instantly from the nose of the shuttle striking him with force. Another was grazed by the unmanned shuttle now turned projectile, the impact mere inches from being devastating.


Wey rolled onto the deck, the impact was hard, but the adrenaline was flowing. She rolled up and unholsteredher dual blaster pistols from her thigh holsters, raising them and beginning to fire instantly upon having gained her footing. One of the Troopers from the Sith team, still dazed and trying to gain his feet from the suicide shuttle impact, was struck multiple times in the chest from Wey’s dual firing. Falling back dead from several piercing rounds. Wey moved forward in the now chaotic smoke of the hangar as she continued to fire at the Sith team. Out of nowhere she was hit with by a charging Sith Trooper from within the smoke, knocking her back and causing her to lose her grip on one of her blasters. The Trooper drawing a blaster towards her, though Wey had regained her footing and closed in on the Trooper with lightning speed. Smacking the blaster down and away as it discharged and sent a blaster bolt into the floor. The Trooper and Wey engaged in a rapid succession of hand to hand blows blocking and countering in an attempt to find an opening. Wey moved with expert precision and soon gain the upper hand, slapping down the Troopers advances and executing an uppercut with the butt of her blaster, knocking the Trooper’s helmet off and revealing a short haired woman with brown eyes. Her nostrils flared as she tried to counter, but Wey was too fast. A kick to her knee brought the woman down slightly, and with a twist and leap, Wey moved around behind her while simultaneously grabbing the strap of the woman's balster and pulling it tight and up around her neck. With a quick jolt and lurch the Trooper’s neck was snapped and she fell liefless to the hangar floor.


The few pirates that had managed to escape Wey’s kamikaze run had now begun to engage and were firing on the remaining members of the trooper team. Smoke bellowed throughout, as alarms balred and the base continued to rumble and shutter from secondary explosions. Three Sith Troopers were down in a flash, as the Falleen pirate advanced.


Vexx's pupils narrow to hairline slits as the shuttle bursts into the hangar with earsplitting noise as its fins grind over the durasteel floor. He had sensed the danger, but this was not what he had been expecting. There is little time to react. He sends a Force-push toward the Major and a handful of troopers in an attempt to protect them from taking a direct hit. One trooper is just beyond the reach of his push, so he tries to follow up with a second wave, but it is too late. One of the shuttles fins catches him right in his midriff and drags him along its destructive path. He is powerless to save the trooper hit shortly after he is. The man's blood spatters over the cyborg's armor on impact and Vexx feels the trooper's presence fade from the Force.

It is only the reinforced structure of his metal body that saves Vexx from being cut in half as the shuttle screeches to a stop, wedging him against the wall. Fortunately, the hit is below his lungs and doesn't impede his ability to breathe. He struggles to free himself, talons digging into anything within reach as he tries to gain leverage. He remains firmly pinned where he is regardless of how much he writhes and contorts himself in an attempt to be free. At last, he manages to retrieve one of his lightsabers from his hip armor and, upon activating it, he carves away the portion of the shuttle's fin holding him in place. He drops to the ground in a three-point landing and immediately, his eyes fall on the Falleen pirate; the one responsible for the blood now coagulating on his mask and armor. He is mobile again just in time to witness her murder of the female trooper.

"Get to the fighters and kill anyone who tries to stand in your way," he commands the Major, "We stay here any longer and we'll be lucky to get out with our lives, let alone the fighters. I will catch up with you beyond the base."

He cannot abandon this place until he settles the score with the Falleen who has just singlehandedly taken a good chunk out of his team. Coming within striking range behind Wey, he launches himself into the air, intending to crush her under his talons as she so justly deserves.


The base and hangar shuttered violently with a large reverberating boom, the floor shook as a large gangway above in the hangar was sheared at the bolts holding it. The whole gangway came crashing down, twisted metal impacting the hangar floor smashing two fighters underneath it.Secondary explosions cascading throughout the area. The secondary hangar itself originally housed a squadron of fighters. Despite all the damage and chaos ensuing there still sat six fighters undamaged. Hearing Lord Vexx’s commands the Major moved under one of the troopers lifting him up and bracing him under the shoulder as he moved towards the available fighters. Laying down suppressing fire one of the untouched trooper covered the Major and the wounded trooper. ‘Hold still.’ The Major yelled at the Trooper in his arms as he reached into on of his side compartments on his hip. Pulling free a stim-pack, the Major without hesitation drove the stim into the Trooper right at a breach in the armor, the large needle protruding instantly and injecting a cocktail of stims, adrenaline, and meds. The Major with his other free hand fired of several shots from the blaster in it, dropping two pirates that were aiming to cut them down. The Trooper instantly feeling a jolt, allowing him to get back into the fight. The Blood Pack Criminal underground force had certainly hidden their best fighters away here as the Troopers including the Major boarded a trio of StarViper-class attack platform. The whine of their engines and pre-start up with in the cockpit was music to their ears.


Wey spun around looking to find the remaining troopers, the smoke from the burning shuttle and fighters throughout the hangar diminishing long range vision significantly. Ducking and spinning away to avoid falling debris she finally spotted more of the Sith pests, bringing her remaining blaster up poised to fire. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a mechanical beast lurching upon her. Breaking off from her intended target she could barely summon a succession of wild shots in the direction of her attacker, as she dove forward into a roll to try and avoid being stomped into the floor.


The heavy metal Kaleesh warrior swoops down like a massive raptor, deadly talons extended and ready to shed blood. However, he strikes the buckling floor just shy of a direct hit as Wey tries to roll clear of his landing. Her blaster bolts don't faze him. So long as she does not hit an open spot in his armor, he can withstand the barrage and he intends to be in constant motion, making it difficult for her to take aim at his eyes or any other gaps where his armor plates need the room to move.

He uses his fury in the Force to send out a wave as he makes contact with the floor. He wants to strike this pirate woman with as much traumatic impact as she had caused on the first trooper she took out. An eye for an eye. Once he accomplishes that, if it does not kill her, he will follow up by exacting justice for what she did to the female trooper. As this chain of action is mapped out in his mind, he is fully aware that time is rapidly running out for him and his team. The candle has been lit from both ends and if something doesn't go in their favor soon, this mission will ultimately fail with their only success being that they had destroyed the base and sacrificed themselves to do so.

Vexx is not up for dying by his own hand. Though there is some honor to be found in such things, to suffer a demise he designed and intended for someone else is as humiliating as the manner in which his father had died by his own weapon. For Vexx's part, he may look like his father; he may speak, behave, and think like his father; but he will curse himself to hell before he will die like his father.

He gives pause and turns just enough to see that it is the Major and the remnant of the squad that has fired up the engine of a fighter. Finally! They just might get out of here yet. He just has to finish his business with the suicidal pirate he's after now.


After sending out the Force wave, he turns to look toward his team as they fire up the fighters to get out of here. They are going to need someone to cover their backs if they are pursued and he is but one man and he cannot be in multiple places at once. They need help. He activates his comlink to touch base with the Commander.

"Commander Irakopa. My team is preparing to evacuate," he speaks quickly while advancing on Wey, paying no mind to the numerous blaster bolts pinging off his armor from her crew of pirates, "We have suffered casualties and are at risk of being pursued. Be ready, but do not inadvertently shoot us down. I will be trailing the team."

He ends the transmission and focuses his full attention on Wey now, a low growl rumbling in his chest. He will see her burn with the rest of this hornets' nest for her interference that cost him two troopers. Where most Sith rarely place much value on such "commodities" as soldiers and troopers, life is life to the Kaleesh warrior. To him, their lives are just as important as his own.





Commander Irakopa

Acclamator Assault Cruiser ‘Suppressor’

Fourth planet of Abbaji Minor System


The transmission from Lord Vexx came through the comm channels, “Captain Tali you confirm as well?” The Commander spoke quickly. “Confirmed Commander.” The female Sith Officer responded back from the bridge of ‘The Tempt’. It was a good thing they had already past the point of no return with the task force close to being within range of the pirate forces.


Even in the large vastness of the battlefield of space two prominent features stood out aside from the pirate fleet to the front. To the port was the moonbase, the hornets nest of fighters, which now showed signs of distress as several explosions had already breached the structures facility hull, indicating internal turmoil. The sign that Vexx’s team had indeed been successful. To the starboard was the remnants of the minefield and the husk of the Arminius, the minefield still very active and still a formidable feature. Captain Tali and Commander Irakop were taking great care to position the fleet directly down the middle as the task forces thrust surged on. The few fighters they had were already sweeping forward in a tight formation, expecting to be met by several fighter squadrons from the fleet and the planetary system below, though if the move quickly they could try to avoid the pirate forces being allowed to mass up entirely. The three Carrack Cruisers moved quickly in a flanking maneuver, using their small size and speed to gain an angle as in unison they opened up with their turbo lasers. The Acclamator and VSD II moved steadily forward the brunt of their forward turbolaser and missile tubes opening up. One of the closest corvettes, a Corellian model began taking heavy fire immediately and began to break up. The hammerhead bridge exploding, along with one of the main engines rupturing and twisting the capital ship violently.


Pirate Cruiser “Canopy”

Fourth planet of Abbaji Minor System


The bridge of the main pirate cruiser shook as turbo laser fire reached their forward shields. One of the vanguard corvettes ahead was beginning to buckle and break up from an onslaught of turbolaser fire. Ramm Mik stood over a console waiting for a response from the planet and main base, a connection he had opened several minutes before when he first realized what was transpiring. Looking up he saw the triangular shapes of two Sith cruisers and several light cruisers pressing forward. The engine glows of fighters, his own fighters, sweeping across the viewport came into view as what fighters he had on the cruisers and had dispatched formed up. A mix of two squadrons Z-95 Headhunters and X-wings, while organized and ready and still outnumbering the Sith fighter forces by his estimation, their cruiser was already nearly depleted and the remaining two corvettes would not be able to stave off an advance form a Victory Star Destroyer.


Still nothing from the surface, they had two more squadrons of fighters and a number of auxiliary craft available. Despite what Mik surmised as a near total loss of the moon base, the planetary forces would over them more than a fair chance at pushing the Sith back finally.


And yet still nothing. ‘Dammit Shilwa, you son of a…’ The cruiser lurched with a impact causing Mik to fall away from the console. He knew they were listening down there and knew they were ignoring what was unfolding up here. He should have known better..


‘Give me engines all ahead full’ Mik shouted across the bridge at the helm controls. He would win this one despite those slugfaces.


The pirate cruiser ‘Canopy’ sprang to life. One corvette matched the maneuver and fell along side it. The other clearly caught up in the chaos and tumultuous loyalty struggle began to turn, consequently it was broadsided by the three Carrack Cruisers which poured fire into it. Still the Canopy pressed on, returning fire to the oncoming Sith capital ships.


Commander Irakopa stood on the bridge looking out as the pirate cruise began to adjust and make speed towards them. ‘Commander,’ A comms officer spoke up. ‘Transmission planetside requesting the commander of Sith forces.’


‘All batteries concentrate on the main cruiser. Starboard thruster engage bring us down in line.’ The Commander registered the message, but moved to secure the battle-line first and bring the cruiser into a better firing line to support ‘The Tempt’ and Captain Tali. The large cruiser moved, the gravity fields in it keeping things relative despite the initial pull from the sudden change in direction for the large cruiser. Satisfied with the maneuvers execution, and while still intently observing things unfolding, the Commander spoke back to the comms officer. ‘Patch it through to me’’

The blue silhouette of a male hutt came into focus on the Commanders wrist holo-projector. ‘Captain Heruia, your forces advance on the true outlaw Mik…’


‘Captain Heruia is no longer in command sir.’ The commander interrupted, while maintaining his stalwart pose on the bridge. ‘Your forces have moved against the Empire of the Hand, these proceedings are by your extension of you own hand.’


‘No, Nooo’ The hutt slyly attempted to speak. ‘These are the direct result of the outlaw Mik Ramm, the Twi’lek man you face in front of you.’ Even now the ruse and attempted placating was wearing thin on Irakopa as he strained to continue to listen to the forked tongue of the pirate Lord.


The hutt quickly spoke up again, hoping not to loose this opportunity to clearly save his own skin. ‘Given the fact that I withhold aid to him currently, and command my forces not to engage the honorable Sith Empire.’ A smile of betray tugged at the hutt’s lips as he continued to try to squirm his way out of what was unfolding in space above him.


‘I assure you, he moves against the solem and honorable Blood Pack. Surely we can come to some arrangement?’ The hutt smiled, trying to lay on his charismatic bribe put forth.


The commander waited for the hutt to finish his false plea, before he responded in turn. Every part of him wanted to shove his fist down the vile crime and pirate lord’s throat. But yielding to better judgement and tactics he swallowed his anger and began to play along.


‘A wise choice Lord Shilwa,’ the Commander responded. ‘Stay your forces and I will deal with the fleet in your system’ The tactical matter of preventing the additional fighters would give them the chance they needed to route the remaining pirate fleet. ‘I look forward to meeting with you Shilwa when this is all resolved.’ The holgram of the hutt disappeared. Whether there was any potential accord to be had in the future, was dismissed quickly from the Commander’s mind. He knew the hutt was not to be trusted. If the conversation had actually secured the removal of additional pirate fighters and assets from the board, then for now it was taken for what it was. The task at hand remained, and as the Sith task force tightened its grip the Commander watched for signs from the moon base of the infiltration team and Lord Vexx’s emergence.


Wey Los

Moonbase - Fourth planet of Abbaji Minor System


She hears the clang of metal on metal a loud shuddering behind her as she comes out of her roll dodge. As she begins to fluidly move into a spin, the preempt to her opening fire again, she is caught unexpectedly by something that sends her forward into the air. Her back arching slightly as she is thrust forward by an unseen wave of energy only to be stop after grazing the hull of a nearby fighter on the hanger deck. The impact is not severe but it is enough to cause an immediate dull throbbing pain, along with a ringing in her head. Knowing she cannot linger Wey scrambles to her feet, somehow her remaining blaster was still in her grasp. Knowing her attacker would be on her instantly she did not hesitate, detaching a cylinder from her belt she lets the pin fly almost immediately turning and launching it in the direction of the massive cyborg.


Vexx isn't too concerned by the explosive Wey flings at him. A simple gesture of his hand manipulates the Force to toss the thing sideways toward the pirates still shooting at him. He could have reversed its trajectory and thrown it back at Wey, but blowing her up is not part of his plan...yet. He wants her to suffer first as his troopers had suffered. He continues to advance toward her, intimidating; his daunting presence dark and heavy like a culminating storm. Another gesture of his outstretched hand and the Falleen will experience a taste of her own actions against the female trooper as her throat is constricted by an unseen grip. Her death will be most satisfying to the warrior's vendetta.

Unfortunately, her death is not to be in this manner. The floor suddenly bucks and roils under Vexx, breaking his concentration as a major support explodes at ground level and collapses the floor behind him. There is a shriek of metal upon metal as his talons scrape across the floor. He is sliding backwards into a flaming abyss that the floor is tipping down into. Eventually, the tilt will affect everyone standing on this floor, sending them on a one-way trip into an inferno not unlike the fires of hell, so hot they are melting the ragged edges of the broken durasteel floor.

Vexx activates the magnetic traction in his feet and extends his talons in an attempt to find purchase and stop his path into certain death. Sparks fly as those talons dig in desperately until they finally jerk his body to a stop. He now hangs at a steep angle from the tilted floor, staring into an inferno ravenously devouring the moon base. His cold reptilian eyes seem to glow an even more eerie gold as he glares through the smoke, trying to see if the Major and the others have escaped yet, then he looks around for that blasted pirate. He still wants to choke the life out of her, but she may have slid into the flames herself. If she did, it's a pity he missed it.


Wey watches as her grenade is tossed aside with little effort, she should have known, a force user would be leading them. A drip of blood from the corner of her mouth as she raises her blaster to sight and fire from a sitting position next to the fighter she had been flung into, when the hangar deck buckles intensely. A large portion of it giving way and disappearing into a void that opens up. Taking equipment and fighters with it. The mechanical beast slips into the void also, she can hear his talons gouging into metal and durasteel as he slides downward.


Every instinct tells her to run, but she is not that type. The moon base is lost and while the moon itself is in no real danger as the base is but a spec on it. The bases destruction has shattered their ability to operate and defend against the Sith. These thoughts swirl in her mind, she was full of vengeance when she plowed into the hangar, these thoughts still lingered.


The whole hangar shook as she rose to her feet. Surging forward with a newfound resolve towards where the mechanical beast had disappeared. She knew he was still alive, she could feel it.


Vexx would see the edge of a cargo crate appear above him, pushed slowly off the ledge above him where the hangar had split. A crate far too heavy to be pushed by one person. Its origins mattered little though as the end result was that it was teetering on plummeting down in direct line with where he clung to.


Wey was pouring all she could into moving the crate, focussing as it slowly slide across the hanger and to the edge. She felt it begin to move faster as it past the point of no return and began to fall into off the edge down where she knew the cyborg was. The fact that the moon base and hangar she was in was poised to be engulfed in flame was pushed aside. All she could think about was dispatching it.


‘Wey?’ The voice of Mik came through on her commlink, as the crate finally began to fall down towards the cyborg. She tried to shrug it off. Ignore his voice. “Wey! I know you can hear me!” It was true he knew her all too well. Wey looked down eyeing the cyborg clinging to the scraps of hanger above the massive hole in the hangar. Burning with rage she hoped the crate would pummel it. Still trying to ignore her Commander Wey clasped another detonator in her hand, as she began to fling it downward at the cyborg. A fuel cell exploded near her, the shock wave instantly sending her into the air, the detonator falling from her grasp as it bounced off the hangar floor and rolled off the edge down towards the cyborg.


Wey slide across the hangar floor coming to a halt. The ringing bells in her head were deafening, along with the heat she felt on her skin from the fires and explosions that were getting out of control. Screaming as she pushed herself up, broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder causing immense immediate shooting pain. Stumbling around for a brief moment, her head bobbing as she tried to gain focus. “WEY!” The commlink. Mik. The cyborg beast. Things began to come back into focus. The shouting and screaming of her name through the commlink finally breaking her dull gaze and bringing her attention back.


‘WHAT?!?!’ She screamed into the commlink in response finally. Mik’s voice coming over the comm, while with some relief due to finally contacting her...his voice was stern and commanding emphasizing her need to get moving. “Get your azz out of there, NOW!”


Conflicted Wey was draw to go finish off her opponent, though she could barely stand as she stumbled forward. Another explosion sent her sprawling down to the floor, just as she had reach the foot of a fighter that she had been trying to board.


The hangar was engulfed. There was little escape for anyone now.


Ramm Mik

Pirate Cruiser Canopy


Ramm Mik yelled into the commlink, even as the cruiser was beginning to engage the Sith capital ships. The green turbo laser fire from their ships impacting the shields through the viewport ahead. She had finally responded, damn her! She was the best. Headstrong and stubborn alway impulsive, yet coming out on top. Mik could not dwell on her, the brief moment of contact would either be there last moments or he would see her again, he took solace in the fact that she had emerged from far worse situations. This gave him strength to focus on what he now needed to do.


Captain Tali

VSDII Tempt - Main bridge


“Forward batteries concentrate on the main cruiser.” Captain Tali spoke, ordering as she observed the maneuver of the pirate forces trying to press towards them. The Carrack cruisers were already sending significant fire towards the cruiser softening up it's shields as their speed and maneuverability had allowed them to gain a more broadside angle, while the main Sith cruiser pushed forward. The corvette they had initially engaged now hung in the dead of space, their attention turning to the main cruiser. The remaining pirate corvette pressed forward despite it being outgunned it quickly gained an angle on the larger Sith cruiser, targeting its engines.


Catching the maneuver out of the corner of her eye, and seeing it on her personal sensor display Captain Tali called out orders quickly in response. “Thrusters hard to port.” The order was echoed across the bridge. The Victory Destroyer lurched to the side trying to diminish the angle that the corvette had. Maneuvering was tenuous as the pirate fleet had always clung to the edges of their minefield which while showed signs of being deactivated loomed near.


Commander Irakopa stood on the bridge of the Acclamator Cruiser which was adjacent in formation the VSDII The Tempt. There was still no sign of Lord Vexx and the infiltration team as the Sith fighters began to engage the formed up pirate fighters. Despite the external signs of explosions and systems going dark from the moon base, the Commander still felt uneasy. The infiltration mission seemed to be going perfectly, there was little signs of launch from the base. A few fighters and transport were on sensors as having exited the moon base, escaping its implosion,but the chaos of it all had prevented them thus far from forming up with the rest of the fleet. A few of the transport had even made jumps to lightspeed, while others made speed for the planetary surface. Like rats fleeing a sinking ship the frail bonds of the pirate organization showing its true colors.


Still no word from Lord Vexx…



Grievance Vexx
Moonbase - Fourth Planet of Abbaji Minor System

The heat is intense from where Vexx clings precariously suspended at an odd angle above his doom. A normal being may have passed out by now from just the heat alone. His respirator hisses in a rapid pattern interrupted by coughing triggered by the toxic smoke hanging heavily in the air. As he looks down at the flames competing to climb high enough to consume him, his danger sense warns him of an attack from above and his sensitive hearing draws his attention in that very direction as he hears something grating heavily across the floor. He doesn't waste time trying to figure out what it is; his gift has already alerted him that he is not safe in his current location and he must escape. He looks across the gapping fiery abyss to the opposite side mirroring the vertically tipped floor he now clings to. It is a long jump and terribly risky, even for him. There is no guarantee he will be able to get a good grip on the opposite floor-turned-wall once he jumps, but what choice does he have?

He closes his eyes briefly, summoning the Force to be swift to compensate his physical strength as he again focuses on his target. He pushes off the wall with as much power as a furious kick from a guarlara. It feels like the jump is in slow motion as he sails over the fiery portal to hell below. He turns himself in mid-flight, aiming to strike the surface feet first. His heavy metal talons meet the durasteel surface like a crack of thunder, followed by a brief shriek as he slides downward slightly after the impact. He doesn't stay there long before he launches himself across the abyss again in a perfectly timed jump as the crate falls over the edge where he once was. All four limbs land on the top of the crate and, like a quadruped beast, he leaps again, using the crate as a springboard to land him on level ground up above.

Though he is tired and short of breath from the heat and smoke, he struggles to his two-legged stance and moves quickly to the nearest fighter which, incidentally, happens to be the one the fallen Wey had tried to escape in. The cyborg clanks toward her, eyes narrowed with palpable hate. He could kill her now; he wants to kill her. Badly. But another explosion rocks the base and reality kicks in. There is no time if he plans on getting out of here alive. He reaches out and closes his deadly talons around her ribs, clenching down hard then flinging her backwards to slide across the floor and out of his way. If she burns, so be it. If not, he may be granted another chance to destroy her later in life. For now, he scrambles into the fighter and fires up the engines. Chain reactions are happening all around him now as the base descends into rapid collapse. A burst from the thrusters sends him through a ragged gaping hole in the side of the base, one final explosion tipping the fighter sideways violently enough to bash the cyborg's head against the transparisteel dome sheltering the cockpit. He curses in Kaleesh and jukes the fighter to correct its way of going, plowing through the noxious clouds of smoke in search of his comrades, praying they had made it out alive. He activates his comlink and tries to contact the team.

"Infiltration team, this is Vexx," he rumbles, stifling another cough, "If any of you are still alive, check in." He switches the outgoing frequency to contact Irakopa next. "Irakopa, Vexx reporting. The base is finished. I am in the clear awaiting responses from...what is left of the team." The regret is not hidden from his voice as he spares a glance back at the blazing inferno blemishing the moon shrinking into the distance behind him. The mission had not been a total failure, yet Vexx feels the weight of personal failure come to rest heavily on his shoulders. That blasted pirate woman! He should have killed her when he'd had the chance.


The Major brought his StarViper around, a second attack class platform on its wing. They had hoped to get six fighters out of the hangar they had two, as the Major flew with on of the injured commandos secured in a snub seat behind him. They had been circling the hanger opening awaiting Lord Vexx and they finally spotted him. ‘Lord Vexx we are on your port wing’ The stolen pirate fights still held the same threat identifier as the rest of the pirate fleet, effectively masking them from detection. Thought to the Sith forces they would be seen as threats, it was a calculated gamble that they could take advantage of. The remaining pirate fighters and cruisers were center front of them with their rear lines completely exposed as their focus was entirely to their fronts. One of the pirate corvettes buckled and was taking damage and began to break up as laser cannon fire was poured into it by the Carrack Cruisers within the task force.


Ramm Mik

Pirate Cruiser Canopy


Ramm saw that the corvettes were taking significant damage, sensors were picking up some fighters that seemed to have escaped from the moonbase. Still nothing further from Wey and the cruiser was taking a beating against the Sith cruisers.


Vexx heaves a sigh of relief upon hearing the Major respond and learning the team's whereabouts are close by. He would have rather they didn't wait up for him, but he doesn't get into that. He had made it out so their waiting was not in vain. He looks down at the radar. So far, they have not been detected as a threat. This is a huge advantage for the Sith, though it would have been so much better if they amounted to the intended total instead of only three fighters, but there is no sense in bemoaning this. Glancing back at the moon base gives Vexx cause to be grateful these chosen few along with himself have survived.

"Form up and maintain the appearance that we are with the pirate fleet," he instructs the team, "We are still infiltrating and this is an excellent position to take advantage of. We shall be like spontaneous combustion on this fleet and pick them off from behind as they are attacked from the front by our comrades."

With that thought in mind, Vexx tails a pirate fighter, his four claw-like thumbs hovering over the buttons that will unleash a barrage from the double laser cannons and launch proton torpedoes as soon as he depresses them. Not yet though. There is a time and a place for everything and Vexx is more than willing to lean on patience and await the rewards. For now, he takes up a position that makes it look like he is acting as a wingman for the pirate piloting the fighter just ahead of him. He will watch and wait and strike when the pilot is fully occupied by a frontal assault. There is no point in making a move on the corvette and exposing their position prematurely; the Carrack Cruisers are doing just fine on their own so far.


As another round of battery comes mercilessly from the Sith forces, Vexx gives the word to the infiltration team. "Move in."

Tightening up behind the pirate fleet and accelerating to achieve a closer range of fire, Vexx unloads a barrage from his laser cannons on the rear of the fighter in front of him, aiming for the shield generators first. At the close range he's moved to, it isn't long before a burst of angry red and orange announces that one of the generators has buckled under the assault. Tilting the steering yoke just a hair, he shifts his fire to target a second shield generator.

Through the Force, he can sense the fear rising in the pilot of his target and he feeds off of it, channeling it to fuel his own rage as he fires off one of the proton torpedoes immediately after the second shield generator fails. He spits a curse in Kaleesh as the pirate fighter barrel rolls and evades the torpedo, though Vexx easily shadows the maneuver and stays on the fighter's tail, continuing to unleash his wrath on the failing vessel. The pilot tries desperately to regroup with the rest of the fleet, but Vexx takes great care to keep him isolated as a predator picking off prey from the safety of the herd.

As the pilot turns his focus to retreat and attempts to outrun his assailant, Vexx launches another torpedo that makes impact on one of the fighter's microthrusters, throwing it off balance with enough speed to liquefy the pilot's brains inside his skull. A blossom of red, white, and orange lights up the black canvas of space as the fighter explodes. One down. Of course, now the pirate fleet is aware that at least Vexx's fighter is piloted by the enemy and two of their fighters have him locked within their sights.


He completely alters his position, facing the incoming fighters head-on. Now the fun begins. They open fire on him simultaneously, sending streaks of deadly red and yellow flying at him in rapid succession. Vexx sets his fighter in ceaseless motion; dipping, weaving, juking, and rolling to avoid detrimental damage. His shields are up and fully powered, but that will not last if he stays in one place for any length of time.

He sails straight toward his assailants, wishing he were in his own customized starfighter so he could pull off a more ideal move for playing chicken. Because of the StarViper shape, he cannot slice between the two pirates as he would prefer. It will either be a sudden jerk upward or downward at the last minute. He returns fire when he reaches a range that appeals to him, continuing to barrel toward the two fighters at top speed.

At the last possible second, he jerks up on the steering yoke, taking the high road as the tips of the lower wings on his fighter barely clear the upper wing tips of the pirate fighters. He may be older and less fiery than he was before his transformation, but he still catches an exhilarating rush as he manages to cheat death one more time and the pirates make their moves to turn around and give chase.

"Major. They're hot on bringing me down. I think I got their attention as an enemy pilot," he cannot hide the chuckle of satisfaction from his voice as he speaks through their private comlink, "You up for staging an ambush? They do not know you and the other fighter are enemies as well. I can bring them right across your path and you can make space dust out of both of them."


‘I am on it Milord.’ A flurry of laser fire erupts from the Major’s fighter, the pirate fighter in his sight buckles and one of its gnines erupts, and a subsequent flash and explosion engulfs it in a starburst of sparks and debris. A second pirate fighter erupts as the other member of the infiltration team has successfully tracked and targeted a fighter also blowing it to sparks.

Tag: @dragonsith13

 

Part III

~Desperate times~​

Captain Tali
VSDII Tempt - Main bridge

The transmission of Lord Vexx’s emergence from the moon base was heard by the Captain as she stood on the bridge of the ‘Tempt’. The pirate fighters were scattering a result of Vexx’s rear assault, the remaining corvette had all but been disabled, and the cruiser that had pushed forward would not be able to continue to withstand the assault from the task force which was now turning all its attention to it.


Ramm Mik
Pirate Cruiser Canopy

There was no need to call for an abandonment of the ship as most of the crew had already fled. There was no call to stop anyone and hold to quarters, they were expected to be as loyal as the money and lifestyle was. Any transport and escape pods available were being used by anyone still on the ship. The cruiser was taking heavy damage and the shields were nearly spent, Ramm ran over to a nearby station adjusting the shields to forward full redirecting the little bit which was left.


Command Irakopa
Bridge if the Acclamator Assault Cruiser ‘Suppressor’

It all melds with precise calculated chaos, Commander Irakopa observes from the bridge of the Acclamator Cruiser. A volley of laser fire erupts from the rear of the pirate line of fighters, sending their line into chaos. Just as the precious remaining number of Sith fighters meets the fighter line as well. The result is decimation, the formations of the pirate fighters break and become easy targets for the Sith force whom begin to wear them down quickly. The Commander holds in a sigh, knowing they are far from completing this operation, despite their move on the moon base seemingly have succeeded. Thought the threat indicators on a trio of fighters says otherwise, Irakopa knows who is behind their controls as they cut through fighter after fighter. Lord Vexx, the Major, and infiltration team.

Out of the corner of his eye the Commander spots the Bothan Assault cruiser leading the desperate and futile push against their task force executing a tight turn. A turn right into the VSD ‘Tempt’


Captain Tali
VSDII Tempt - Main bridge

‘ALL STARBOARD THRUSTER FULL!!!’

‘THIRTY DEGREE DOWN ANGLE ON THE NOSE’

‘ENGINES FULL POWER!!!’

The Commands from the VSD ‘Tempt’s’ CO echoed with a screaming urgency across the bridge as they were only as good as the crew carrying them out. The crazy bastard, Captain Tali thought. Through the desperation did not surprise her, as she had anticipated the fool moving to ram them. These vessels however did not respond like fighters and seeing something ahead of time did not necessarily mean it was avoidable. Turbolaser fire continued to pour into the pirate cruiser, though it hardly mattered anymore as the cruiser was itself erupting in its last moments. Despite such it’s forward momentum carried it into the VSD ‘Tempt’

‘BRACE!’ The Lieutenant Commander at the Captain’s side yelled as the reality of it hit.

The large Star Destroyer was twisting and driving downward, the maneuver sending it into a slight roll, which for such a large ship seemed futile but every meter was going to count. Even with the gravity controls the angle of the bridge seemed to lurch and angle, as crew members struggled to remain at their stations as the massive ship rolled. Loose datapads fell off consoles and slide downward across the angled bridge floor. The command crew including the Captain leaned drastically to compensate, with the Captain even reaching and clasping the edge of a command console to brace herself from moving. The rumbling and scrapping of hulls impacting echoed, the outer layers of two massive ships impacting and eating away at their superficial outer hulls, until the main frames of the two ships snagged. And the real impact was felt. The VSD lurched from the impact, as it continued to roll and drive downward in an attempt to avoid the full force of the impact. The pirate cruiser had hit the destroyer center port side-center, it was only because of the downward angle and roll, that the bow of the pirate cruiser had not impaled it. Instead the hulls grated against each other in passing, scraping and tearing off a scar of layers in a line diagonally across the axis of the VSD, culminating in the massive bow of the pirate cruiser passing across the viewport of the bridge. Captain Tali observing the rushing hull passing by meters from ripping through the bridge. Another lurch signified a secondary impact, as the starboard shield dome on the VSD was ripped off by the passing Bothan Assault cruiser.

Lights and consoles throughout the destroyer and main bridge flickered as alarms blared. The tip of pirate cruiser tail offered one last impact thought it was an afterthought compared to the previous impacts. The pirate cruiser passed over the VSD, showing signs of it being completely disabled.


Infiltration Team

Vexx chuckles darkly in satisfaction as he leads the two pirate fighters straight into hell. The major's words are enough to give him confidence that the fighters will be no more in mere seconds and his good faith is rewarded as he swings a wide arc to come back and regroup with the team shortly after the two fighters burst into flames. He then takes point to go after any remaining fighters.

He zeros in on a trio and opens fire, expecting the major and the rest of the team to follow his lead and go on the attack as well. He decimates another handful of fighters with the help of his team and swings around toward the pirate cruiser. Things definitely don't look good for the pirate fleet and it becomes clear that the pirates are aware of as much as escape pods start deploying from the massive vessel.

"Oh, no you don't," he grumbles spitefully as he speeds toward the pods, obliterating the first one he gets his sights on and moving on to the next. He still has not forgotten nor forgiven the cost of this mission. Three Sith troopers. The sweetness of vengeance is addicting and he executes it in unbridled form. However, he decelerates abruptly as he sees the massive Bothan Assault Cruiser making a sharp turn--too sharp to be an accident.

"What the hell?!" Vexx knows he is watching a move of absolute desperation. That cruiser is likely to incur more damage than it causes, but the explosive scene is no less terrifying; a train wreck the Kaleesh warrior cannot look away from. The impact thunders through space and the terror of various lifeforms in the Force is overwhelming.

Why did they never fire their ion cannons? Vexx wonders silently. It seems peculiar that they would opt for possible suicide before exhausting all other options. Ion cannons are any spacefarers worst nightmare and could have afforded them an advantage. As pirates, they should have known this.

"I'm going in," he informs the major, "Cover me."

If the ion cannons were not damaged in the collision, those fool pirates might still have an advantage even after the damage hey have sustained by their own hands. Vexx is determined to investigate and attempt to disable those cannons if they are still in fact an option.

The Major hears the command from Lord Vexx and tightens up into the formation with the other fighter flanking Lord Vexx’s other wing. The trio of fighters moves through a number of straggling fighters being chased and targeted by Sith fighters. As they approach the listing pirate cruiser, flashes of onboard lights and fires are visible.

The scene of battle continued with laser fire being returned between fighters and small craft, until it became less and less frequent. Then the flashes of battle ceased and dark hulls of starship floated in the cold of space.

~Eye of the storm~​

Command Irakopa
Communications center - the Acclamator Assault Cruiser ‘Suppressor’

The blue holograms of the ranking Sith officers and personnel within the task force and still alive were visible across a briefing table that they all surrounded. Commander Irakopa and two of his officers were the only ones physically present as the briefing was being done from the Suppressor. Captain Tali, the Major, and several others were present. Space and ground forces included.

‘No more contacts have been reported from the Blood Pack pirate fleet.’ One of the Suppressor’s and Irakopa’s Officers reported to the group as a whole. ‘Prisoners have been taken, but we have suspended such operations to concentrate on preparations.’ Pausing to allow several points on the display visible to all to go through their actions, indicating recorded and assessed tracks of ships and fighters. ‘Any remaining pirate forces… fighter, escape pods, and transports have fled to the systems surface.’

‘Based on their losses we estimate less than a squadron of fighters in support at this point.’

The Officer lowered his data pad and yielded to the Commander, whom still aside from Lord Vexx maintain operational control, despite Captain Tali outranking him. The Commander confidently began to speak to the situation that was in front of them.

The main pirate facility was a formidable position, a complex of dens, bunkers, and spaceports. The main structure being a spiral that rose a half a dozen stories above the main level. The complex as a whole was positioned on a plateau, which had two sheer cliff faces on two sides, preventing direct ground assault. A slow and steady hill fronted the facility, with minimal resistance, and a massive jungle engulfed the backside of the complex which extended hundreds of square miles into the wilderness of the planet. The front of the facility while open was the most heavily defended. Anti-aircraft batteries defended the cliff faces. The summary of the defensive mechanisms both natural and built was concise.

The Commander awaited the arrival of Lord Vexx, whom would be heading the final assault on the pirate forces.

His investigation of the suicidal pirate cruiser and its unused ion cannons had rendered no definite answers, though even now, Vexx is still plagued with questions. However, he is forced to push them from his mind; it doesn't matter now. They must proceed to the next phase of this detailed operation. He docks his stolen fighter in one of the hangar bays of the Suppressor and makes his way through the maze of corridors and turbolifts that will lead him to the briefing room where he will join the rest of the forces, most attending via hologram.

He calmly strides through the doors as they yield to his presence at the sensor, permitting him access and, aside from the soft metal clanking of his talons against the floor, he quietly slips in as one of Irakopa's officers is speaking. He makes eye contact briefly with Irakopa and inclines his head politely, then stands among the others, hands clasped behind his back as his unblinking eyes remain fixed on the layout of the pirate stronghold. Quiet eagerness burns in his gaze. He prefers to be in the blood and guts of ground combat as opposed to chasing spacecrafts around where the only option is to shoot. Well...unless you have a death wish like the pirates at the helm of the Bothan assault cruiser.

He studies the layout in silence, noting the advantages of the location. No way to flank them, so it would seem. Although he could deploy teams at the bases of the cliffs. Anti-aircraft doesn't mean they couldn't slip in that way on foot, using grappling hooks to climb the rock faces. It presents a substantial amount of risk though. He eyes the jungle-shrouded backside of the stronghold. They definitely could take advantage of the thick foliage there. It could just as easily be to their own detriment though, especially if the pirates know the terrain better than he and his forces do.

That leaves only the option of a frontal assault, which he is in no way opposed to. He prefers to be direct in most of his dealings; war is no exception. The fact that it is the most heavily guarded is of little concern to him. He knows what he has at his disposal and there certainly is no skimping on the supply of heavy artillery. Wiping them out will be a challenge, but most definitely nothing he cannot handle. Vengeance is his specialty and in his mind, the score is still not settled over the troopers he had lost in the infiltration mission. That blasted pirate woman he had failed to annihilate remains like a stubborn arrow stuck in a joint in his armor; burning, stinging, and stoking the fire of his hunger for enemy bloodshed. He will not let her escape a second time.

"We shall make a direct attack from the front," Vexx speaks slowly and calmly despite the blood boiling in his veins, "Draw all of their attention to where they obviously expect to be attacked. I prefer to place a great number of our forces on the frontal assault to make them think that is where we are bent on breaking through. They will in turn focus their greatest efforts on pushing us back. At that time, we will deploy a battalion of defoliator tanks on the jungle and burn it up."

He pulls up a data feed of information on the planet, detailing prevailing wind directions and such. As he had suspected, the complex is built facing east. Any architect with common sense will do this as wind rarely comes from the easterly direction. To place main entrances on this side of any structure is to the safety and preservation of it. Naturally, the rear of the complex faces west and this is to the Sith's advantage. Prevailing winds from the west will aid in their efforts to destroy the pirates and their stronghold with them if the element is used wisely and Vexx knows this realm of space; he will use it wisely.

"We can deploy the tanks from the northern and the southern edges of the jungle as close as we can safely get to the complex without drawing attention prematurely," he continues, "We work our way in and then turn east, torching the jungle as we go. Providing the wind is with us, the fire will be set in motion and begin traveling east--straight for the complex. Meanwhile, as the fire closes in from behind, we will withdraw the frontal assault for two reasons: to make the pirates think they have weakened us and to keep ourselves clear of the hazards of the fire, namely, smoke. We will pull back and from there, we will stage an ambush for when the pirates are forced to flee their burning complex. They have set themselves up in a trap if we play our cards right. They will leap from the fire straight into the frying pan--literally."

He allows himself a sinister chuckle. He can only hope that female pirate is present for this. The opportunity to deliver her just desserts would be most gratifying to his vendetta against her. Of course, he knows that in any war, one must come to expect losses. However, there would have been no losses to the infiltration team if she had never shown up and a little vengeful motivation just makes fighting even more worth the time and energy to him, so he keeps it at the forefront of his mind on purpose.

"Again, I would like our heaviest assault focused on the eastern side of their stronghold," he reiterates, "That includes walkers, both AT-AT and AT-ST. We will also need a battalion of T-4 vehicles as a means to move troops quickly in and, if necessary, quickly out of battle. As for the attack from the rear, after the defoliators burn a path through the jungle, we shall deploy AT-AP vehicles to blast the backside of the complex. More T-4s will follow to deploy ground troops once the pathway has been cleared. I will divide my attention between both assaults and maintain mobility to be available where I am needed for support up until the western wall is penetrated. I will enter the stronghold from the backend with the most elite troops accompanying me to target those who rule this despicable pirate faction. No doubt, they will be using their forces as living shields and avoid engaging the battle until they are left with no other options."

Vexx narrows his piercing gaze on the map of the complex. He loathes the cowardice behavior of these so-called leaders. According to him, a leaders place is among his troops, not hiding behind them hoping their lives will be enough to protect his own. Punishing this twisted behavior will be a pleasure, to be sure.He pushes his vindictive thoughts from his mind and continues.

"Defoliators will be on standby to loose another inferno on what is left of the jungle between us and them once my team and I have entered the complex. If the wind is with us, we will have to sweep through quickly before the fire catches up with us." He turns to the major. "Major Prios. Your actions during the infiltration are commendable and you have my trust and respect," he says with a solemn nod of his head, "I would like for you to head up the frontal assault while I focus my efforts on initiating the approach from the backside. I am confident that you can keep everything on point. Do you agree?"

The major acknowledges the cyborg's praise with a humble nod of his head. "I am under your orders, sir. I am honored to be so trusted and I will serve wherever you see fit for me to be."

"Excellent," Vexx replies, "Then the front is where I want you to be. We will maintain steady communication with each other as we did during the infiltration. At the time the western wall is penetrated, I will expect you to enter from the front and bring your most elite in from that end as well. Be ready with your troops and the necessary transports within twenty-four hours. I will inform you of the exact time to launch the attack shortly."


Grievance Vexx
Acclamator Assault Cruiser
En Route to Fourth Planet of Abbaji Minor System

Vexx stands on the bridge of the Acclamator assault cruiser on a steady course to the planet's surface to finish off the rest of the pirate organization. The fact that he is so close to home still hangs prominently in his mind, pulling at his focus; making it difficult to concentrate. Perhaps he should feel a form of gratitude toward those cowardly thieves. After all, it is their presence in this area that has placed him here; so close to his people; so close to Kalee. So close...

He curses under his breath in his native tongue, willing his mind to hold fast to the mission at hand. He is supervising the transit of over a dozen DDTs along with two dozen 2-M hover tanks and AT-APs. They will be dropping six DDTs each on the southern and northern boundaries of the jungle and the operators will await his command to begin burning their way in. He will remain aboard the command ship until the defoliators meet in the middle of the jungle and turn their destruction to the east to cut a path to the pirate complex. Now the waiting begins.

"The defoliators are in position, Lord Vexx," a trooper reports after pinging the cyborg's comlink and being patched through, "We are ready to initiate the task at your command."

"Proceed, Lieutenant," Vexx replies, able to see their positions on the holotable at the center of the room, "Report back for further instructions when a clear path has been burned from the north to the south across the jungle."

"Yes, m'lord. Out."

Just as the comlink closes the connection, another ping blips in Vexx's ears. He activates the link switch under his jaw, already knowing who is contacting him. "Go ahead, Major."

"All troops and artillery are assembled in the designated area, Lord Vexx," the Major informs him, "We are beyond radar detection and will press in toward the complex at your orders."

"Excellent," Vexx almost purrs as he considers the amount of destruction they are about to rain down on these pirates, "Stand down and hold your position for now. The western assault crew has just touched down on the edges of the jungle and are initiating the burnout. We will give them time to cut across from north to south and when they begin their track eastward, I will give you the word to proceed with your attack. In the meantime, send out a few troopers to scout the area. We will need to know what is out there in the event that we launch our attack at dusk."

"Understood , sir. It shall be done."

"Good. Vexx, out."

The cyborg kills the transmission and paces over to the viewport. The planet sprawls below him with its mass of deep green that is the vast jungle. They are several miles away from the complex. It will take time to burn their way to it. Vexx wagers they should be in position before nightfall. Striking from the front at dusk will have its advantages, especially if the area is scouted ahead of time to get the lay of the terrain leading up to the complex.


He turns his attention back to the jungle on the holomap of the area. There is only so much he can determine from it and this frustrates him. He is not one to favor giving commands from afar. He would much rather be among the boots on the ground, hands-on with forming a plan. This of course comes from his primitive upbringing in which technology was extremely limited and battle strategies relied heavily on scouting and studying the enemy from as close a proximity as one dared to get.

As he passes the time brooding over these things, awaiting word from the Major positioned on the front and the Lieutenant taking charge of the approach from behind, he finds himself again reflecting on the fact that he is so painfully close to his homeworld. He is tempted to reach out through the Force and search for the signatures of his people, just to know they are there, though they no longer await his return. Their waiting had ceased many years ago when reason enough to presume him dead had gotten back to Kalee. His intentions had come so close to full fruition. What he wouldn't give to rend the head from the shoulders of that sadistic piece of cosmic dung that had stripped him of everything he once had been...

"Lord Vexx."

The cyborg had been so lost in thought that he hadn't even heard the Major patch through to him. Had that much time passed in his idle reflections? "Go for Vexx."

"Scouts have reported back. Not much natural cover to be taken from the front. It's all open ground, which can swing as a win or a lose for us if we aren't careful."

"Agreed," Vexx rumbles in response, pausing to consider this piece of information, "Use the T-4s as shields. Make sure the openings are facing east to let the troops out so the T-4s stand between them and the complex at all times. They will serve as cover to retreat to should there be a need for retreat at all.”

"Yes, sir."

"Lord Vexx."

The Kaleesh cyborg Sith growls softly as the Lieutenant makes contact through the comlink and he switches frequencies to address the one he has put in charge of setting the stage for the attack from the rear. "Go for Vexx."

"We are in position with a path burned from the north to the south through the jungle. We are preparing to set our course to the east."

"Excellent," Vexx replies. This is good. It means he can get into the heart of the battle soon and not a moment too soon. Perhaps part of his anxiousness comes from the fact that he does not truly trust anyone. The Major is an exception; the Lieutenant has not yet proven his worth. This is why Vexx has positioned himself to oversee the battle from this end.

He cuts the comlink transmission and departs for his fighter, checking his personal inventory of weaponry along the way. Four custom designed lightsabers, a DT-57 blaster, and a pair of lig swords. Plenty to wreak havoc, pain, dismemberment, and death upon more than a few members of this crooked organization.


Ramm & Wey
Fourth Planet of Abbaji Minor System ~ Small Supply Transport

‘You son of a bochi!’ Wey cursed as she manned the controls of a non-descript damaged transport. Mik was laying on the floor behind her, as he finally had begun to come to. She had found him unconscious on the bridge of ‘The Canopy’. The half of the ship was depressurized and the life support in the remaining sections was near failing due to full power loss. With a groan, he slowly began to raise himself up. Pausing as he braced himself with his two arms against the floor, before reaching up and using the back of the co-pilot's seat to help brace and lift himself up. A sharp pain in his side, most likely several broken ribs. Mik could feel the gashes and cuts all over as he slide past Wey and sat gingerly into the co-pilot seat next to her. Glancing over at Wey he could see she was in no-less greater shape than he, in face she seemed even more hurt though Mik knew she was the tough one and would not admit to being hurt. ‘I could say the same about you my dear. Charging into that hanger…’ Mik retorted regarding her equally reckless behavior, they both were guilty. This whole campaign had pushed them into this corner and in desperation they had turned to desperate measures to stave off their destruction. The writing however seemed to be on the wall. Mik stared out through the cockpit, Wey was hugging the hull of the now dead Bothan Assault cruiser with their transport, using it to screen their flight path. Mik leaned forward staring up a bit to see the triangular shapes of the two main Sith cruisers. Keeping a close eye to the activity going on as they tried to put distance between them and the Sith cruisers.

‘If we can get clear, I’ll begin making calculations for the jump to hyperspace.’ Mik began to reach forward and access the Nav computer. Wey interrupted him.‘Not going to happen, Nav computer is damaged beyond repair.’

Frustrated with all that had happened thus-far Mik responded. ‘You could not find a better ship?’

Wey was getting annoyed with her Commander. ‘This was the BETTER ship.’

Mik let out a sigh, it figured. He reached up placing a hand on his head which was still throbbing. Wey had managed to survive the moonbase and escape execution at the hands of the Sith Warrior, the mere thought of him burned her blood. Limping her way to a still functioning shuttle, evading Sith forces further still as she watched Mik use ‘The Canopy’ to ram the remaining Sith Star Destroyer. Wey had finally been able to navigate the dead cruiser and reach Mik, whom was somehow still alive. The ship had been nearly completely abandon before he had executed the maneuver in a last effort to take out the remaining Sith Destroyer. Along the way, she had managed to evade that Sith cyborg whom had combed the cruiser for survivors and signs of life.

The tension was thick as they drifted closer the planet after Wey had executed a long burn of the engines, they were already dangerously low on fuel. So even if the Nav computer had been functioning they would not have the ability to make a jump to hyperspace. Mik knew it, the reality setting in as they move closer to the planet. There was a lull in the action, with the Sith forces having wiped out their forces in space. Mik knew they would not be able to withstand a ground assault from the task force, even given the fact that it was not a large task force. The firepower that they could bring to bear was more than enough to overrun their main complex. The Blood Pack leadership had foolishly tried to draw out a truce and loose alliance. Mik knew better, that coward Shilwa would think he could buy and swindle his way out of this. The Sith would pulverise the whole complex. Mik would not even bother to stop it, he had tried to remain the lolay, fighting for his fellow Blood Pack beings. Now nearly everyone had been killed or captured in weeks of being pursued by the Sith. Wey continued to move the transport down as now finally they had begun to descend into the upper atmosphere of the planet, somehow escaping the gaze of the Sith task force. The main complex was on their sensors quickly, Mik had no intention of landing at the front gate. But Shilwa would be lucky if the Sith got to him first. Their transponders would still allow them to land undetected and where they wished. Wey turned the transport and dove down further as the tall spire of the complex was now visible. ‘We need to patch you up first!’ Wey spoke eluding to Mik’s battered condition. ‘We need to patch YOU up too!’ Mik was not having any of Wey’s tough facade. Mik feared that them even attempting to come to this place would seal their fate, as he knew the Sith would be raining down on this place shortly. He wanted to squeeze the life out of that Hutt with his bare hands.

Wey had picked on of the outlying landing pads, rarely used as she brought the transport down to land. With a thud and the sound of compressors the shuttle was landed. A pause of relief as Wey turned to Mik, ‘We do not have to do this.’ Wey was usually the headstrong one, but there was a bit of fear in her voice. ‘Grab what you can for medical supplies and we make for the main hanger.’ Mik had every intention of grabbing the fastest ship they could and making a hasty escape as soon as possible. There was nothing for them here and he knew pursuing anything other than escape would mean their death. ‘Alright.’ Wey nodded as for once they she knew they had no choice, normally they would be the first to stand and fight. But had no intention of fighting for the shattered and betrayed Blood Pack. This place would soon be a grave, neither of them intended to be here when it was.


Grievance Vexx
Besieging the Pirate Complex
Fourth Planet of the Abbaji Minor System

Vexx had touched down on the western front behind the line of literal fire and is now overseeing the incineration of the jungle. The air is heavy with smoke and ash, forcing him to remain inside one of the transports for the time being. No sense burdening his respirator or what is left of his lungs prematurely. He will get more than his share when the actual assault begins. They are still several miles out at the moment.

"Major Prios," he grumbles into his comlink, "Status report."

"All set. Waiting on you, sir."

"Any enemy activity on the front?"

"Nothing more than routine sentry duty, sir. We have stayed hidden beyond their perimeter as instructed and remain undetected."

"Excellent," the satisfied smile can be heard in Vexx's tone, "It will be a few more hours before we are in position on the western side. Remain as you are until then. Weather readings are forecasting a shift and acceleration of winds from the west within the hour. That should speed up our progress as it will push the inferno eastward without us having to put out more firepower. Stand by, Major."

"Roger that."

Vexx killed the transmission and glowered out the viewport at the progressing damage cutting through the jungle outside. A few more hours. Do they really have that much time? If the wind shifts unexpectedly, it could carry the smoke to the complex and alert the pirates to their presence, completely destroying the element of surprise. Vexx would rather not take that risk. He contacts the Major again.

"Change of plans, Major," he speaks with haste, but confidence, "Commence the attack. We will be arriving sooner than later."

"Are you certain, sir?" the Major asks, a bit taken aback by Vexx's sudden change of plans.

"I am positive," Vexx growls back, "Go now. I shall be joining you shortly."

"Yes, sir."

The cyborg once again kills the transmission and leaves his seat in the transport. Depressing the control that lowers the ramp, he lets himself out into the smoldering air. Troopers part in synchronized movement, giving Grievance Vexx a wide berth as he passes through them, his eyes fixed on the blazing inferno slowly progressing through the jungle that stretches between them and victory.

"Lord Vexx?" the Lieutenant asks as the cyborg strides past him, "Sir, I assure you, everything is going according to your orders--"

"Very good," Vexx replies with no hostility in his voice, but just a touch of mild impatience, "As you were, Lieutenant."

The Lieutenant steps back respectfully and Vexx forges on ahead between the towering trees snapping and hissing as the fire eats through their trunks. He stops not ten feet from where the blaze burns slowly eastward. His eyes narrow on the leaping flames and he swiftly raises his right hand, sending out a Force wave that connects with the fire and pushes it in the form of a huge tight sphere several miles through the jungle in a short amount of time, incinerating everything in its path.

"We needn't waste time if we do not have to," he calls back to the troops, "Move further in. We will catch up with the blaze and push it forward. I would like to have that complex leveled within the next twenty-four hours."

Meanwhile on the front, Major Prios had assembled the troops and they now stand ready to launch their attack. The Major had decided to take the option of stealth to start the attack so that they might be able to whittle away a good portion of the pirates' defenses before ever having to actually engage them in active two-way combat. He has canvased the area with strategically placed snipers setting their sights on the bored and oblivious sentries posted the furthest away from the complex. They lie in wait, poised and ready to open fire as soon as Prios gives the word.

"Proceed with Operation: Target Practice," Prios speaks clearly into his comlink and almost immediately, a silenced shot from a sniper blaster rifle drops the first of what will be many pirates milling about in front of the complex. Seconds later, another pirate drops swiftly followed by two more.

"Child's play," one of the snipers chuckles, picking off another oblivious pirate.

"Keep your guard up, trooper," Prios warns him, "Never underestimate the enemy. Close in. If we can flatten all the guards before anyone knows we're here, all the better."

As a unit, the troops press in, strategically picking off pirates as they go. The sharpshooters are flawless. By the time a pirate turns to at the sound of a body hitting the ground, he or she becomes another counted among the casualties. Vexx himself would be impressed as the skill rivals that of his father during the Huk War. As the troops continue to close in on the complex, they are followed by T-4 transports and tank-mounted turrets, which the Major intends to use as battering rams should the pirates choose to seal themselves inside their fortress rather than come out and fight them back.

They take a substantial amount of ground without incident; that is until they begin to near the crest of the hill. All at once, fire is returned by a wall of pirates and artillery. Somehow, they had discovered the approach and assembled themselves in a counter-ambush.

"Fall back!" Prios calls, gesturing for the troops to retreat to take cover behind the T-4s. With the pirates on the high ground, proceeding with minimal casualties will be difficult, but not impossible. He activates his comlink and contacts Vexx. "Sir, they know we are here. We are engaging them presently."

The Major can hear his commander grumble what he assumes to be a curse in his native tongue. Vexx had wanted to maintain the element of surprise for as long as possible and it seems as long as possible had not been long enough.

"We will make due, Major," he replies calmly, "Hold your ground and shoot to kill. Use the T-4s as cover. What else have you managed to bring in to close the gap?"

"We have half a dozen TMTs, sir."

"Blast them," Vexx orders, "Hold nothing back and keep their defenses thick up there. They will be helpless when we strike from behind. Keep me updated on the status of your position, Major. If necessary, I will send in an orbital strike to buy you some relief."

"Thank you, sir. It shall be done. Prios, out."

Vexx growls in frustration. Now they definitely need to cover ground faster. A gesture from his clawed hand signals his troops to pause while he again moves into the inferno to accelerate it with a Force-wave. His Dark Side energy is thick and growing stronger by the moment as his anger culminates against the pirates. As the Force obeys his will, the fire roars further into the jungle, blazing a clear path eastward. Another gesture and he is swiftly flanked by his army and the DDT vehicles, following the roiling firestorm forward to their target.

"We haven't much further to go," he tells the Lieutenant, "I will extinguish the blaze at half a mile out and a select few of us will infiltrate before we openly blow their world apart. If we can seize control of the complex prior to its destruction, it will make our task that much easier."

"What of the artillery, sir?" the Lieutenant asks, gesturing broadly to the DDTs and other assorted assault vehicles that have since assembled behind them.

"It will be on standby awaiting my command," Vexx replies, "We will still have need of it later."

He moves on, leading his troops further in after the blaze while pulling up an aerial view of where they are on a data pad. They are approximately three miles from the complex itself. He can push the fire one last time before putting it out so they can cut individual paths through what is left of the jungle. As they continue closing in, he pulls up data on specific targets suspected to be inside the complex One in particular catches his interest; a Hutt by the name of Shilwa who considers himself a "lord" over the pirates. Vexx makes a sound somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. The day a Hutt seriously assumes the title of lord over anything will be the day he keels over dead from laughing too much.

"I should like to arrange a meeting with you, Lord Shilwa," he chuckles darkly, closing the data pad and glaring through the remnants of the jungle ahead, "Slave trading oversized fat cell. I will see you shiver and shake."

Hutts have never set well with Vexx. They are disgusting, gluttonous, small-minded creatures and he knows they are some of the type to willingly purchase slaves from Kalee. Doubtless, this Shilwa individual has partaken in slave trading and purchasing. This planet is far too close to Kalee to believe otherwise. Shilwa will pay and pay dearly he will.


The fire snarls before him. Having lost momentum from the Force-wave ebbing away, it slowly eats at the new foliage it has come to rest upon. Vexx stretches out his hand and draws it toward himself, slowly closing his fist and pulling the power of the flames back into himself until they smother and die, leaving blackened and charred trees and scorched earth in their wake. He raises his hand and gives a few silent signals, suggesting ten men are to accompany him on foot through what is left of the jungle while the rest of the battalion remains on standby.

Obediently and without question, ten of the most elite of this group assemble themselves and follow as Vexx ignites two of his custom designed dual-bladed light sabers and starts cutting through what is left of the foliage, blazing a path for them in a whirling dervish of crimson plasma.

The jungle literally butts up against the backside of the complex. After slicing and dicing through half a mile of overgrowth and underbrush, they are met with a ceramasteel wall with no visible way to get in. Not that such things present much of a problem for a cyborg armed with blazing hot lightsabers. Without a moment's hesitation, Vexx uses one of his blades to pierce the wall and proceeds to cut a large circle in it, leaving a line of melted material wherever his lightsabers make contact. When the circle his complete, he rears back and delivers a powerful driving kick to the center of the circular cutout and sends it flying into the interior of the complex, smashing a few dozen pirates in the process as the heavy chunk of ceramaplast goes sailing across the room.

"What the--?!"

Pirates scatter in all directions as bodies of their comrades are cut down unceremoniously by an airborne piece of the wall. Many turn toward where the unexpected attack his come from to see a skeletal figure stepping through a large hole in the wall, emerging from the smoke of charred ceramaplast like a glowing-eyed demon followed by other shadows sent to bring hellfire on this complex.

The pirates immediately open fire on the intruders and Vexx takes his battle stance at the front of his ranks, employing Soresu as a defensive means to deal with the blaster bolts while his own men open fire in return. Behind his blaster bolt deflecting form, Vexx presses further into the stronghold, cutting down pirates as he comes within striking range.

"Where is that coward Shilwa that you so blindly serve?" he demands, seizing a pirate by his throat in his free hand.

"I...I d-don't know his w-whereabouts!" his captive yelps, squirming like a foul Neomoidian in his grasp.

"Wrong answer," Vexx growls, slamming the pirate to the floor and stepping on him as though he were little more than an insect to be crushed. Bystanding pirates trying to maintain their defenses cringe as they hear their fellow man's bones crunch under the weight of the three-hundred-fifty pound bio-droid. Vexx then sends out the Force like a sweeping searchlight, scanning, testing, sensing. He senses many lies here.

Lies make him very angry.

"Where is Shilwa the Hutt?!" he roars in fury, "Tell me his location or I swear not one of you will leave this place with your life!"

He does not wait for an answer. He just starts slaughtering pirates left and right while his men split into teams to search out different rooms throughout the complex.

"Lord Vexx," the Major's voice comes clearly through the cyborg's private comlink, "We are still pinned under heavy fire on the front despite our best efforts. If you can make good on that orbital strike you mentioned, now would be as good a time as any."

"Consider it done, Major Prios, and take cover," Vexx replies, then switches the frequency to contact a carrack cruiser on standby, "Launch the orbital strike on the frontal defense immediately."

"Roger that, sir."

From inside the complex, Vexx can hear the roar of the cruiser's approach, followed by a bombardment that shakes the complex right to its foundation. The frightened shouts and curses of pirates ring out as shortly thereafter, a hover tank plows straight through the main entrance. Major Prios and his carefully-selected troops swiftly come swarming through the ragged opening that used to be a well-constructed door and they waste no time in joining Vexx and his men in exterminating this nest of bilge rats.

On the upper level overlooking the central atrium of the complex, a massive slug of a Hutt slithers out, looking rather panicked as he views the chaos erupting below. He shrieks in his slimy, slobber-laden language and flees across the upper deck, trying to get to a secure place to take cover.

"Lord Vexx!" a female Twi'lek trooper shouts and gestures to the fleeing Hutt above them with her blaster.

"Hold your fire on him," Vexx commands, excusing himself from the skirmish as he nonchalantly bats pirates out of his way, "He is mine."


Vexx is in no hurry in his pursuit of Shilwa. He takes the stairs three at a time in slow, long strides, heaving pirates over the railing as he goes. His Force sense is still extended. He knows where the Hutt is without having eyes on him at all. A wall of pirates await him at the top of the stairs, blasters trained on him.

"Blast him back to hell where he came from!" one of them shouts.

Vexx only chuckles in response and springs to land right in the middle of them, crushing a few under his talons upon landing and cutting through the rest as though they are little more than flimsiplast. Shilwa doesn't stand a snowball's chance. Pirate bodies lay strewn about like dismantled dolls. The smell of charred flesh pierced by hot plasma hangs heavy in the air. The mechanical beast moves on from the destruction he has caused, his Force sense tracking every nervous move of the cowardly Hutt hiding from his due justice. Even without the Force, Vexx's animalistic senses can track the slimy creature's fear. Though he is physically incapable of it, he might as well be able to smell the fear; taste it; feed off of it like life-sustaining manna.

Shilwa has sealed himself off inside a durasteel room surrounded inside and out by pirates willing to defend him. The Hutt has done his best to set up a spur-of-the-moment ambush for the merciless cyborg killer coming for him. He himself is armed and ready should the situation become so desperate that he is forced to personally defend himself.

Death comes in the form of that skeletal bio-droid aligned with the Sith Empire and not a moment too soon. He has decided to take a "diplomatic" approach to entering Shilwa's bunker. Instead of blowing up doors or destroying walls, he has calmly destroyed the door's control panel with his lightsaber and pried the doors open with his clawed hands. Shilwa cowers behind a pile of upended furniture as his forces of defense close ranks to block Vexx from advancing any further. The cyborg doesn't even give them a glance of acknowledgement. His sallow eyes are fixed on the cowering blob behind the haphazardly piled furniture.

"Lord Shilwa," the cyborg speaks as cordially as his electronically simulated voice will allow, "I believe you have some unfinished business with the Sith. I have come as a representative to close these dealings with you."

"I am sure you have, you mechanized monster," Shilwa does his best to sound tough in his Huttese-accented basic that turns Vexx's stomach, "You are here to murder me."

"Murder," Vexx chuckles lightly, "Is it murder when I only wish to recompense your 'gift' upon my organization? I believe you are the one who attempted murder in the first place, my friend."

"You are outnumbered, Sith Lord!" Shilwa blurts out, pointing a trembling blaster at Vexx and signaling his pirate protectors to do the same. "Surrender your weapons and by that I mean all of them. Lightsabers, firearms, traditional blades, and anything else you carry on that clanking, clattering body of yours, you mindless droid."

Vexx's blood boils in the syntheskin tubing that carries it through his partially artificial circulatory system. Being called a droid tries his temper, but he stifles it and lets the comment roll off. Instead, he cooperates with Shilwa's demands and surrenders his weapons to the pirates surrounding him. They follow up by securing him with stun cuffs.

"A wise decision you have made, cyborg," the Hutt gloats, "I can assure you a swift and relatively painless execution. Your head will fetch a good price on the black market along with the rest of you, being that your parts once belonged to the infamous Separatist General who terrorized the galaxy throughout the duration of the Clone Wars."

"Oh. You want my head, do you?" Vexx asks as though the Hutt has merely asked to borrow pocket change, "Very well. Take it."

"On your knees, droid," Shilwa commands and Vexx can feel the pirates attempting to force him into the position, which he allows them to do, submissively lowering himself to his durasteel knees. One of the pirates hands Shilwa one of Vexx's pronged dual blades and the Hutt examines it with admiration. "Very nice. Not like a traditional Jedi weapon. Dual blades should ensure your execution is swift and thorough."

Vexx offers no reply. The Hutt really should know better than to try this on a Sith apprenticed to one who was a master at mind games and trickery. This is all a ruse and Shilwa is consuming the bait as greedily as he consumes food. Vexx growls as one of the pirates seizes him by either side of his faceplate and pulls, forcing him to extend his neck. He puts on a good act. Flesh and blood could never force him--ninety percent machine--to do anything against his will through brute strength alone. He finds the whole thing absolutely hilarious and almost finds it necessary to suggest that they use an ionized electrostaff on him first as a precaution.

Almost.

Shilwa raises the dual-pronged blood-red lightsaber, preparing to slice down through circuits, joints, nerves, and blood. This will be giving the Sith notice that they cannot exact their vengeance on him, Shilwa the Hutt, lord of the Blood Pack pirates. Vexx closes his eyes as though readying himself for his death blow, but reality is he is meditating. All hell is about to break loose from his weaponless hands.

In the instant before the blade severs his mechanical neck, he erects a Force barrier that all but shatters the crimson energized plasma on contact. The bone-hilted lightsaber bounces hard off the invisible shield and flips clear out of Shilwa's grasp, deactivating and clattering to the floor. As though it is all happening in slow motion, the Force becomes a highly charged vortex of power in the room, slamming pirates against walls and pinning them there as if they are in motion on a high speed vessel triggering gravity force. Vexx head-butts the pirate who had been so "solidly" holding him by his faceplate, knocking him out cold, then he rises to his full intimidating height and only looks at Shilwa, the look alone lifting the heavy blob off the ground and constricting his fat throat. The Hutt writhes and squirms like a worm on a hook in Vexx's grasp, gasping and begging for his life.

"Please! Don't do this!" he squeals, "I'm not the one who started this war with the Sith! Honest! I am just a pawn. Ramm Mik and Wey Los! They are the ones behind the whole thing, I swear! I was just following orders when I made the move to behead you!"

"Since when does one of your status--a lord--take orders from anyone?" Vexx asks calmly, tightening his hold.

"Please! I'm begging you!" Shilwa insists, "Ramm and Wey--they are killers! He is a Twi'lek and she is a Faleen and they will stop at nothing to get what they want."

Vexx pauses at the mention of a female Faleen. Though he doesn't believe she outranks the Hutt in the grand scheme of things, he is reminded that he personally needs to exact justice on her for taking out three of his troopers. He should have killed her when he had the chance. At least it would have pulled one rug out from under this lying Hutt squirming in his grasp now. He is about to crush the life out of Shilwa when a blaster bolt embeds itself in a jointed piece of his armor from behind, lodging itself dangerously close to his organic spinal cord. Pain resounds through his senses and he loses his Force-grasp on the Hutt's throat.

"Kill him!" Shilwa shrieks, "Serve me his head on a plate!"

The pirates close in on command and Vexx, who has appeared to be bound by stun cuffs all this time, reveals otherwise. Prior to invading the room, he had split his arms apart and hid two beneath his cloak, allowing the pirates to stun cuff the other two. Now he reveals his free hands and calls his weapons--all of them--back into his grasp. His four lightsabers, his sidearm DT-57, and his lig swords rush back to their owner like a pack of faithful hounds. He uses one of his lightsabers to slice the stun cuffs from his wrists and becomes fully mobile again, though the pain still burns in the center of his spine and makes it difficult to move freely.

As soon as the Annihilator blaster is in his hands, he takes a couple of potshots at a few pirates as though to make sure it still works before tucking it away inside a compartment in his upper leg then he turns Soresu on the shooting pirates once again, returning their fire and knocking them down like so many bowling pins. Truth be told, he is quite enjoying this, save for the wound that has burned through his armor, but even that is a minimal inconvenience. He is drawing on the pain, fueling his Dark Side energy. These pirates haven't seen anything yet.

The energy from the jungle fires which he had consumed earlier burns like a fiery furnace at the seat of his soul, unseen flames licking at his extraordinary self control, bidding him to set them free, but timing is everything. These pirates will recognize him as the harbinger of a fight they cannot win; the Sith are backed by forces their ignorant ways could never even begin to comprehend.

Shilwa has since retrieved his own blaster and is firing like a madman at Vexx, but his shots are only sad and pathetic wastes of ammunition as the cyborg turns every bolt against Shilwa's own men, putting holes through them left and right and felling them like the trees he destroyed in the jungle. This is child's play, but he lets Shilwa continue to cling to vain hope. His time will come soon enough, Vexx notes as more than a few pirates are beginning to flee, their loyalty and bravery snuffed out in the face of the war machine they have come to realize is beyond being defeated. Time to reignite them in other ways; literal ways.

"Major, advise all troops to clear the stairwell," he says into his comlink, "I am about to initiate a much-needed purge in this rathole."

"I read you, m'lord. We are in the clear. Fire at will."

"Indeed, I will," Vexx chuckles darkly, turning to the pirates fleeing through the door.

"Come back here, you cowards!" Shilwa squeals angrily, shaking a fat fist at his fleeing defenses. "You're supposed to defend this complex at all costs!"

"You would know a lot about cowards, wouldn't you, Lord Shilwa?" Vexx asks calmly, looking over his shoulder with a foot casually propped up on the body of a random dead pirate. He turns back toward the door as the remaining pirates pause at Shilwa's command; a pause that would be a fatal mistake.

Calling on the energy drained from the jungle fires, Vexx sets a blast off from his flamethrower and infuses it with the Dark Side energy he had collected in reserve, culminating a deadly firestorm inferno that moves like a cyclone, incinerating every living thing in its path in a death swifter than the one Shilwa had promised him only a few moments earlier. The Hutt watches in horror, his fat face paling with the realization that he is about to face the killing machine all alone.

The base was shaking under bombardment from the air and ground, Mik stuffed several medi-packs, rations, and additional med-tool and supplies into a large backpack. Wey was doing the same down the corridor in a different room. The application of bacta patches provided instant relief for many of the minor injuries, but they both need more extensive care. Now however was not the time as the base was fully under siege and overwhelmed. The Sith’s multi-prong attack had breached multiple parts of the complex a slaughter ensuing. Mik and Wey met as they both peered out into the corridor, linking up after making sure the coast was clear. Running down around another corridor they were met by a pair of Sith soldiers, with several blaster shots flying past them bot they returned fire, hugging the corner and dropping the two troopers allowing them to continue running down the corridor. Their path took them near one of the main halls, the blaster fire and troop activity was strong as it was closer to the heart of the complex. The main hanger being across it and holding their best chance for a ship to allow them to evade the Sith and their fleet. Using the corners and corridors to defilade and maintain cover they made their way avoiding more troopers, until the hanger was at last in sight. Down one of the corridors lay the main room of Shilwa the Hutt’s audience chamber. They both could hear the sniveling shrill voice of Shilwa begging for his life and trying desperately to swindle his way out of it. Wey turned to look at Mik, whom was staring intently down the hallway at the audience chamber. Clearly his thoughts on charging down it and taking his revenge on the Hutt. Wey could see him slowly moving leaning to do so. When she grabbed him by the shoulder. “Ramm!” she spoke forcefully but in a hushed voice. She knew he wanted to finish the traitor off, she was the one acting rational as normally she was the hot headed and steam driven being. Ramm was pulled back into reality as Wey grabbed and called his name. Shaking his head and looking back to her. This was their only chance, she was right without saying it, he knew she was right. They had to go.

It was then that the skeletal cyborg frame from before was visible, present also was the waste of life Shilwa begging for his life. Wey instantly recognized the Sith Commander, and where she was once cool, calm, and determined for them to make their escape. Her anger impulsively flared screaming out and firing her blaster at him, and it was Mik whom had to calm down and restrain her this time. Pulling her back around the corner. “No! We have to go now!” Wey could not stand to see that monster alive as she wish nothing more than to finish what they had started, Ramm pulled her down the hallway kicking and screaming.

The blaster fire would no doubt draw the cyborgs attention as both of them would have been visibly exposed and easily sighted by the Sith Commander whom looked poised to kill Shilwa.

A gesture of Vexx's hand and the charred doors to Shilwa's bunker through which he had come slide shut with an obedient hiss. The Kaleesh eyes behind the skull-like mask shine with lethal intent as he stalks toward the cowering Hutt, savoring his fear; relishing his anxiety. Were Shilwa any other creature, Vexx might have displayed a bit more mercy and just exterminated him quickly, but he is a gluttonous beast who'd had the audacity to think a Sith Lord would surrender to him. Furthermore, he is more than certain this glorified thief has had a hand in abusing his people on Kalee.

"So...it is just the two of us now," the cyborg muses with a passivity that can only be interpreted as the calm before the storm, "Perhaps we can negotiate without any interference from subordinates. Management of so many is a tedious thing, isn't it? Oh, wait. That's right. I just wiped out what was left of your personal defenses. My apologies."

"If you are trying to be funny, you are failing, droid," Shilwa spits angrily, not surprisingly eliciting a growl from Vexx.

"And you haven't learned a blasted thing," he retorts, using a gesture of the Force to pluck Shilwa up off the floor and yet another gesture to subsequently plaster him against a wall. In a single bound, Vexx is on him, laying his heavy durasteel arm across the Hutt's fat throat. "You think a droid can do this? Do you?"

A gesture of his free hand causes a stabbing pain in Shilwa's side as though one of his organs has ruptured and the Hutt writhes in agony, but Vexx doesn't stop there. Tapping into the crucitorn power of the Force, he magnifies the intensity of the pain, strangling a mortally terrified squeal from his captive.

"Still think me to be a droid?" Vexx asks calmly, bringing his face mere inches from that of Shilwa, forcing him to look into his amber predatorial eyes.

"No! No, you are clearly not a droid," Shilwa half gasps, half moans, "You are endowed with the Force; something a droid could never be."

"Very good," Vexx replies, releasing Shilwa as though his temper has been quelled. "Perhaps next time you should be more careful of how you judge others. Oh, silly me. I forgot. There will not be a next time for yo--"

He pauses abruptly as what appears to be a misfire of a blaster bolt rips around the corner that leads into another maze of corridors out the other end of the room. It just barely misses embedding itself in his neck. He senses a familiar presence in the Force and all his rage begins to surface as he recognizes that presence. It is the one responsible for the loss of half his team. Unfortunately, this untimely distraction will cost him.

"That's what you think." Shilwa slobbers in response to Vexx's claim as he throws a flash grenade right at the cyborg. It bursts into a blinding blast of energy and deafening noise. Were he fully organic, Vexx's worries would be minimal, but the grenade has also had an impact on his mechanical parts, disabling his circuitry and causing him to drop to the floor like a shot-down shuttle.

Concerned only with escaping with his life, Shilwa pries the doors open and barely manages to squeeze his slimy body through the opening, slithering away and hoping to put as much distance between himself and the Sith cyborg as possible before the effects of the grenade wear off. Unfortunately, he has leaped from the frying pan into the fire. As he clears the doors and starts down the stairs, he realizes the entire complex is a war zone swarming with Sith troopers. Maybe he should have just taken his chances with Vexx after all.

"Major!" one of the troopers calls, "There's the Hutt!"

"Where is Vexx?" Major Prios asks, turning and looking in every direction possible for the lead figure of this operation as he finds it impossible to believe that Shilwa could have killed Vexx in order to make his escape. He charges up the stairs straight toward the Hutt, who shrieks in terror and slithers back in the direction he had come, but knowing Vexx is still in that chamber, he chooses another one to hunker down in.

Prios slips through the crack in the bunker doors, blaster drawn and at the ready in front of him. The room is vacant except for a tangled heap of metal lying on the floor. Recognizing that heap as his commander, he wastes no time coming to his side.

"Lord Vexx! What happened?"

"I will kill that gutless gravy-sucking piece of cosmic dung!" Vexx growls vehemently, struggling to rise in an ungainly manner as the effects of the flash grenade begin to dissipate from his circuitry.

"Sir, you're wounded," the Major notes with concern, "It looks like you took a blaster bolt awfully close to--"

"My spinal cord, I know!" Vexx spits impatiently, "I will deal with it later. I want that Hutt dead! I will smear him from one end of this rathole to the other!"

"It looks like the bolt is extinguished anyway," Prios offers, doing his best to avoid provoking Vexx's temper any further, "It can't burn through anymore than it already has..."

Vexx ignores the Major's concerns and lurches to his feet, the snap-hiss of two of his blades igniting punctuate his decision to end this now. Prios follows the cyborg, covering him from behind as he storms down the corridors, sending out the Force to locate hat sniveling piece of galactic garbage who dares to call himself a lord. He is through with diplomacy. The Hutt will die painfully and without mercy.

The Force readily reveals Shilwa's new hiding place and Vexx loses no time placing himself at the door and using his power to blast it right out of its casings. He then leaps through the door, sparks flying from his talons as he lands hard on the durasteel floor and stalks forward to find Shilwa cowering in a closet.

"This ends now, slug," he snarls drawing on the Force for the strength to pick up the massive blob and heave him out of the closet. He then leaps and delivers a savage kick that sends the Hutt skidding across the floor. "I have little doubt that you have made a substantial amount of your living off the price of many a Kaleesh slave. The writing is on the wall."

"What? What are you talking about?" Shilwa groans, struggling to pick himself up, "I have had no dealings with the Kaleesh."

"Perhaps not personally," Vexx agrees, "But it is individuals like you who keep the fire burning. May you be one less curse to my people's existence; you and your foul greed."

Another kick followed by a Force wave that sends Shilwa the Hutt crashing right through an exterior transparisteel window. The oversized slug's scream of terror ceases abruptly with the sickening splat of his heavy body making contact with the ground below. Vexx sticks his head out to have a look and make sure the deed is done. The mess below leaves little doubt that Shilwa the Hutt is no more. He can now turn his attention to that blasted woman who had caused all hell to break loose on his infiltration team.

The main hangar was a mess, but several fighters and ships remained intact. A modified light transport used for smuggling and outrunning cruisers was sighted and the pair quickly boarded and began the preflight sequences, Wey sliding into the cockpit, while Ramm slid about the ship securing things and making sure essential systems were ready and detaching a fuel line as it finished pumping, Raam again came up the ramp as it began to rise. The engines began to glow as they were primed, the cockpit lights sequentially coming on panel after panel. The rocking and shaking of the complex continued around them at the thunderous assault of the Sith had no intentions of ending.They would be airborne in less than two minutes. “We are all secure, ready to go.” Ramm spoke into his commlink, Wey hearing it through the cockpit speakers. “Two minutes and we are out of here!” Wey spoke back.

The doors to the hangar suddenly blow out of their casings, unable to withstand the hurricane of Vexx's wrath in the Force. He enters, seething with pure vengeance as his piercing eyes shift through the interior of the hangar. It doesn't take him long to figure out which fighter is being jacked. The engines are ablaze and he spots a fuel line being disconnected and a male Twi'lek ascending the ramp shortly thereafter. Without a moment's hesitation, he taps into what is left of his reserved energy from the jungle fires and triggers combustion in the fuel container they had just refueled from. The tank seems to implode in a burst of flame that quickly travels the length of the line still lying under the fighter like a fuse on its way to ignite a charge. From there, Vexx feeds the flame through the Force and starts a violent blaze directly under the fighter. While he would rather destroy Wey face to face, he wants her dead either way. If she evacuates the fighter now being scorched from underneath, at least he may still get his chance to kill her as he would like to.

Ramm’s eyes grew wide as the doors burst, snapping the casings as their echo was heard even with the roar of the transports engines revving. A blaster was upholstered instinctively and a number of shot fired in the direction of the cyborg whom had burst into the hanger. Fuel containers are suddenly set ablaze and the ensuing explosions begin to cascade around the hanger.

Wey is alerted by the rumblings and taps into one of the cockpits video displays showing a view of part of the hanger and the form of the cyborg. At the same time Ramm’s voice comes over the commlink again, this time with a much more urgent and heightened tone. “Wey, we need to go NOW!” He had already hit the ramp, and it was beginning to raise and retract. The pre-flights were barely complete, the engines still coming up. But that had rarely stopped many from doing what Wey did anyways. Hitting the repulsor engines the transport began to rise, as it drifted slightly. She was already transferring power to the engines to compensate. A few more seconds. Even before the ramp was fully up Ramm had toggled the controls for the aft cannons and began firing in the direction of the cyborg. While powerful, they were just not angled and far too close within range to effectively track his target. Another explosion from exploding fuel rocket the transport as it began to rise higher, coming level with the open roof of this hanger. Another explosion rocked the ship, this one too close for comfort as the shrapnel and debris from the explosion peppered one side of the transport. Alarms blared in the cockpit, the deflector shields were not fully charged.

@Kaleesh-Cyborg

 

Part IV


~Chasing Ghosts~


"Oh, no, you don't," Vexx growls, storming through the smoke and flames straight toward the idling fighter, "Circumstances are different now, Faleen. I control them. My will be done! And my will is that you shall not escape me a second time."

Heedless of the rising heat spreading through the hangar and causing chain reactions across the fuel systems, Vexx doesn't even blink as the transport attempts to fire its cannons on him. Typical. A move of impulsive desperation lacking thought and direction. The cyborg is not at all impressed. He uses the Force to still a cloud of shrapnel that would have otherwise blistered his side. The fragments drop like so many dead bloodflies as Vexx uses tutaminis to absorb the velocity of their deadly path. He will need all the dark energy he can get for what he is about to do.


Ramm was making his way towards the cockpit, racing around a corner when the shuttle shook slightly causing him to lose his footing and slide briefly. He was quickly back up and making his way to the cockpit. The transport began to rise the engines roared to life as Wey guided it out of the hanger and angled the nose up into the air. Grasping the throttle and throttling up, the engines roared, even as on of the transports wings scrapped a portion of the hanger opening. She was cutting it close, too close but all that mattered was getting out of this place.


Vexx comes within roughly fifteen feet of the awkwardly rising transport being jostled by destruction like a leaf tossed by the wind. His skeletal form crouches low and with all the speed and grace of a tusk cat, he springs up and forward, pouncing on the ship as though it is prey. The occupants inside will not be ignorant of his landing. It comes hard and it comes heavy like a crack of thunder on the topside, the descent of three-hundred-fifty pounds dipping the vessel to the side on impact. The blood-curdling screech of deadly durasteel talons finding purchase on the metal above Wey and Ramm's heads further announces the lethal and possibly insane intent of the Kaleesh Sith encased in a living coffin.


Before Ramm could make it to the cockpit her heard the thud and impact. ‘That wasn’t a blast, something…’ He cut himself short as he toggled a nearby display which had slammed up against, his eyes grew wide as one of the outside cameras showed the frame of the cyborg attached to the hull of the ship. “Wey we’ve got company!!! Lose that hunk of scrap!”


Wey looked over and toggled another view of the outside cameras, until she saw the Sith Commander latched onto their hull. “Son of a HUTT!” she exclaimed.


“HOLD ON!” she yelled to Ramm. She drove the controls forward and rolled the transport. They were already very low attempting to avoid detection from the Sith forces pummeling the now crater of their former base. Skimming the forests and jungle, the wing tips of the shuttle grazing the canopy. This did not stop Wey from pulling up on the stick and executing a quick pull up, only to roll the transport and drive it back down onto the campoy inverted. Grazing the top of the transport into the trees. Like trying to rack pests off of their back, using the trees to try and do so. Ramm felt the maneuver and tried to brace, holding on for dear life as he felt himself weightless for a second and holding on upside down.


Vexx can feel the mounting fear of the two in the transport and he savors it. May they know the same fear preceding imminent death that his troopers had tasted before they were no more. Like a monster from a horror flick, he purposely grinds his claws across the metal of the hull, creating a hellish racket as though he were peeling the exterior of the transport like the rind of a Kaleesh daelfruit. He clings to the surface easily by way of his talons and the magnetics engaged in his limbs and doesn't seem at all concerned as the ship surges into motion. Now the fun begins.

As the ship flips upside down, he lets himself go with the motion, joints just loose enough to dispel any possible jarring that could occur. The treetops come at him rapidly like thousands of hands reaching up to try to help his captives by prying him off like a bantha tick. Good luck with that. He shrinks down, flattening himself against the hull and shielding his eyes as the trees rake down the length of his body. Were he fully organic, he would be little more than shredded meat, but so far the most damage he has suffered is hunks of leaves and twigs getting lodged in his joints. Most annoying. Time to show them just how irritated he's becoming.

Despite still being flogged by branches, he drags himself along the hull and ignites one of his lightsabers, swinging it in a wide arc to slice cleanly through one of the rudder fins. He then starts his trek across the breadth of the ship to whack off another one. There is a sound akin to a minor explosion as the sliced off fin crashes down onto the trees, propelled by the velocity of the transport's speed.


Wey could see the cyborg still latched on as she pulled up and righted the transport. Without hesitation she went into a tight turn, which she reversed and suddenly one more time. This bastard would not shake loose. She could see more alarms blaring as there was significant hull damage from the cyborg. “He is tearing us apart!” Wey cursed as she split her attention between the videos screen and the transport controls. Ramm clasped a handrail near one of the access ports, firmly clasping another to brace himself and find footing, as he looked up at a access door above him. Clasping the rails of a ladder as he began to ascend up it, one hand over the other. A quick toggle of the access door and it slid open, revealing the exterior access panel. A few more rails and he was there as the exterior access door to the top part of the transport opened.


A rush of air and sound immediately filled the corridor. Wey, felt the lurch of the transport and compensated quickly. ‘What the hell is he doing!” Wey remarked to hat she knew Ramm was doing and knowing that Ramm had access the external airlock. Obviously they were still hugging the surface of the planet, racing along to put distance between the battle and themselves. Ramm’s Lekku blew in the rush of wind, as the sight of trees and jungle passing by at a furious blazing speed at the edge of the transport briefly reminded him of the suicidal aspect of what he was doing. His head rising out and seeing the Sith clutched onto the hull. Firing a blaster bolt which misses close overhead of his intended target.


The sudden reeling of the ship as Wey tries to shake the Sith cyborg would be enough to sicken just about anyone. Anyone other than Grievance Vexx. To him, it is not much different than wrestling an enraged mumuu on his homeworld. All he has to do is ride it out and strike when the operator grows tired from the effort of trying to juke a vessel that isn't exactly equipped for juking anymore. For just a moment, he could kid himself into thinking he was a young, fully organic warrior on Kalee again, waging war against a huge beast just to prove he is ready and worthy to be called a warrior.

Vexx had never paused in his movement to reach the opposite fin to remove it. In fact, he had just started cutting into it when the Twi'lek appears and fires a poorly aimed shot at him. Flattened out as he is, unless the wind were to swiftly redirect a bolt downward, there is very little chance of him being hit by blasterfire in this fashion. His piercing reptilian eyes fix on the offender whom he can see is very much afraid. That's good. He should be.

"Hello there," Vexx greets him, eyes narrowing and shoulders shifting as though he just might pounce on the Twi'lek so bold as to stick his head out here. He takes a sudden swipe with his blade, attempting to lop that head right off the shoulders it's attached to, sparks flying as the plasma beam glides over the surface of the transport, searing off protective layers of duranium in the process.


Wey was piloting the transport up, the cockpit was still lit up like a Alderaanian sunburst video, with alarms all over. There was a significant loss in power which she felt in the controls. Steering grew sluggish. A sudden explosion in one of the aft quarters blew out a large outer hull section, clipping the tail. The transport rocked violently and she felt her arms yanked forward as the controls grew stiff, nearly pulling one of her arms out of its socket. The nose of the transport dipped without warning. They were still only a few hundred feet above the jungle canopy. Wey reached over priming the auxiliaries of several systems, but nothing responds. The transport fought her, pulling itself back toward the ground. The realization that she could not keep the transport a flight quickly hit her. She toggled all power to the engines to give them as much lfit as she could manage. They were going down.


The bucking of the transport forces Vexx to anchor himself and forgo any further attacks on Ramm. The lurching becomes so intense that even he feels a trace of motion sickness, but it only reassures him that his victims must be all that much more terrified. As the ship begins its descent that could very well end in a fiery explosion, Vexx resigns himself to the fact that this mission may include the death of him as well as his targets. It's just as well. He will die fighting and his death in all actuality would come about by his own hand, not by means of a lucky shot fired from a blaster.


All she could hear was the rush of wind in Ramm’s commlink as she screamed. “WE ARE GOING DOWN!” Wey’s eyes grew big as the shuttle began to graze the jungle again. She was aiming for a slight clearing ahead, but they would not make it cleanly.


“HANG ONTO SOMETHING!”


The wings of the shuttle began to impact the canopy of the jungle. Slight impacts one after another in quick succession, before the jungle ripped off the two wings and the shuttles nose began impacting trees. The shuttled bursted through a few dozen meters of jungle and into the open clearing, rotating slightly to the starboard. It was in an instant that the shuttle bottomed out, impacting the ground, jolting it up into the from the impact before it again came down and impacted with the ground. The hull digging into the ground and finally coming to a rest.


Vexx cringes as trees once again batter his metal body. While it doesn't hurt in the same sense as it would if he were fully organic, pain is experienced nonetheless as branches smash into his metal ribs where the impact jars his insides significantly enough to elicit a coughing spell. He braces himself for the final impact, only half expecting to survive the crash.

As the shuttle pounds against the ground, sending up a shower of earth, rocks, and splintered trees, Vexx loses his grip and flies off the back of the shuttle like a launched missile. The air is driven from his four lungs as his back strikes hard against a massive boulder, then he crashes to the jungle floor in a heap, barely conscious. A cough-interrupted growl rumbles in his chest as he struggles to rise, but then collapses again. His last conscious thought is that he has to be sure those two cowards are dead, then his world ebbs away into blackness.


Ramm’s eyes opened wide as he took in a hurried and startled breath regaining consciousness. Without hesitation he rose up and started to make his way to the cockpit. A large portion of the transport next to him was simply gone. What should have been durasteel, showed trees and dirt like a living window. Ramm stumbled and howled with a scream, the initial rush of adrenaline had masked the fact that he had a compound fracture on one of his legs and he quickly crumbled and fell to the floor. Wey’s heard the scream which consequently cause her to regain a bit of consciousness after having blacked out as well. Still strapped in she struggled with the harness and slid out of the pilot seat, stumbling forward to the edge of the cockpit entrance. Pausing a moment to shake her head and gain some sense of orientation. She felt a coursing pain in her side as she was finally able to focus and could see Ramm trying to pull himself forward across the corridor towards her.


One hour later…


The trail was clearly visible. Both of them were wounded, with on nearly being imobilized and ragging their steps. As well the blood was fresh. The trail leading off into the jungle…


Pain is the first indicator to Vexx that he still lives. His respirator sounds strained as it forces air into his lungs, the expansion of said organs making him aware that his insides are badly bruised. He is not surprised nor is he terribly concerned. His first conscious thought matches his last conscious thought: he must know that the Twi'lek and the Faleen are dead. Dragging himself forward one clawed hand at a time, he reaches out to brace himself on a massive fallen tree and uses it as leverage to rise. His head is throbbing and his vision is blurry; dizzy. Concussed, no doubt. He growls in annoyance and lurches to his feet, staggering unsteadily as he approaches the demolished bones of the shuttle.

The cyborg attacks the transport's carcass, ripping pieces of metal away from it as he searches for his two targets. He doesn't care if he finds them alive or dead; he just wants to find them. If they are dead, his job is done. If they are not dead, they will be. He rummages around in the shuttle like a mindless beast, flinging parts in all directions as he searches, only to turn up absolutely nothing. No cowering pirates; no lifeless corpses. They have escaped! Vexx curses in Kaleesh and smashes his fist on the side of the shuttle, glowering around in pure, vengeful hatred. It is then that he does a double take at the trail of blood leading into the jungle. Reassured that his mission is not a failure, Vexx ignites his lightsaber, the blood red blade illuminating the bloodlust in his eyes as he chuckles darkly, "You can run, pirate scum, but you cannot hide."


“Stay with me Ramm.” Wey spoke as they both labored through the jungle.


“You need to go, leave me.” Ramm spoke staring at Wey.


“That’s not going to happen!” Wey retorted with a confident but angry tone. She leaned in an kissed him. A long time coming. It was brief, they had shared their moment before, but it reiterated their bond. They both surged forward, exhausted and beaten. The jungle was thick and hard to navigate. They knew he would be hunting them, though they desperately wished that since there was no sign of him at the crash sight they had been rid of him. Still the sinking feeling in Wey’s gutt let her know that they needed to keep moving no matter what. The sun was growing dimmer as the night was fast approaching. Ramm and Wey fell forward, the result of exhaustion and fatigue.


They had not noticed they had been being followed and tracked. Wey’s eyes tracked several individuals in her vision which she struggled to maintain. Their forms growing more distinct and visible as they slowly and cautiously approached until one of the beings was nearly in her face. The beings almost reptilian face staring at her with glowing yellow eyes from behind a primitive mask. Unable to respond due to exhaustion Wey was helpless. The last sight she saw was Ramm being lifted up by several of the beings, feeling the same sensation herself as she passed out.


Not even relying on the Force to guide him so much as he is pure animalistic instinct, Vexx cuts his path through the jungle, using his lightsabers to slice through the foliage trying in vain to conceal the trail of the two pirates on the run. In his mind, he is a warrior on Kalee, hunting down the soulless bugs who had killed his comrades. They asked for this. That female Faleen never had to interfere with the infiltration mission. She has brought this upon herself and her Twi'lek companion.

He stays laser focused on the trail. The approach of night has no bearing on his hunt. His eyes are naturally equipped for the dark and for all intents and purposes, he has become a creature at one with the darkness. It will not hinder his progress. No. Rather, it will empower him. He will find them in the night faster than he could by day. Such is the nature of the beast he has become.

He comes to a place where a significant amount of blood has coagulated on the earth and the foliage is flattened. He recognizes it as a site where the two must have collapsed. He inspects the foliage and touches the ground through the Force, feeling a dim warmth and a faint signature. They haven't been gone from this spot for very long. What confuses him is the faint presence of others--many others. He cannot distinguish who or what they are in the Force, but he suspects that perhaps Ramm and Wey had managed to rendezvous with some of their pirate friends who had helped them escape. Fortunately, the fact that there were many of them has only made things easier. They have worn an easily followed path through the thick of the jungle.


Wey and Ramm both woke up in the same hutt, groggy and overcome with pain. Though a feeling of comfort and stability present inside what they both surmised to be more primitive dwellings as they stared at the inside of a fairly large constructed hutt.


“You need to rest.” A voice from the faint light within the hutt echoed. As a being stepped forward placing a calming hand on Wey and Ramm simultaneously.


There was the sound of rustling outside, as the attention of the man was drawn away.


“Rest”


“You are safe here.”


Two more beings emerged distinctively female, as they approached Ramm and Wey with care and began to further tend to them. The male ebing turning and existing the hutt.


Out of the hutt rose a large being, proud, strong, and confident in his stature. The village was active as the over one hundred inhabitants went about their business and lives. The arrival of the two outsiders had caused some particular interest and draw seme gazes from the children and curious eyes. For the most part the village was at ease, though several warrior had already assembled at one end of the village. The being that had recently emerged from the hutt, was adorned in a primitive but rather ornate robe and light armor. His otherwise clean clean white mask showing a few red painted streaks, with several gouges, and marks on it from his life and experiences. His right leg was amputated and replaced with a bracing appenditure which allowed him to stand, but walk with a significant draw and limb.


The Chief made his way to where the warrior were assembled. Brandishing a mix of archaic and primitive laser bowcasters, swords, shields, and spears.


The Kaleesh Chieftain stood awaiting the arrival of the one they knew was coming. There was a sternness to their line, but in a non-threatening manner. This was their village and they had tracked him through the forest. He was familiar to them, but foreign.


Inexhaustible in his determination, Vexx continues his search. He knows he's not too far behind them; just far enough to keep him frustrated and try his patience. The presence of the others is still indistinguishable to him. It feels like chasing smoke; ghosts of the past. Like a fact his mind simply refuses to believe. He cannot know that he is so close to his people; his home. The ability to believe such a thing is beyond him and so he tells himself he will find a hoard of pirates when he finally catches up with them and that is all he will find.


The path of the two pirates was easily traceable even in the dense jungle and trees, with Vexx narrowing in on them despite the time lapsed since the crash. Even through the dense jungle he would now begin to make out the traces of the village and movement. Along with know that he himself had been being tracked for the last few miles. There was no movement upon him, just observation from those shadowing him. It was then that his commlink vibrated on a frequency reserved for one person currently. His Master.


Vexx freezes like stone as his master contacts him. Draconis is a paradox from his perspective. A massive paradox that he cannot unravel. The man evokes compliance and resistance; obedience and rebellion; order and chaos. All of these things centralize themselves in the cyborg's soul as Draconis appears on his holoprojector. He narrows his eyes at his master as he interrupts his hunt. This is certainly not what he had expected. Not now anyway. Maybe later. After he has finished what he started.

This had better be important. He thinks it, but he doesn't dare speak it. Such disrespect is not in him, but in the heat of the moment, he is focused and Draconis is a distraction he is helpless to ignore.


The small blue form of a cloaked being on Vexx’s personal holo-projector showed Draconis the image only a few inches big. “Apprentice.”


“Word of the operations success has reach us through preliminary reports with Commander Irakopa and Vice Admiral Vlloth signifying the campaigns success despite the losses.”


“You have cemented your status within the ranks of the military and the Sith Order with your efforts.”


“They say your exemplary heroics being the catalyst to its success.”


Draconis’ words were uncharacteristically upbeat and although decidedly genuine they were clearly weighted, as he almost mocked him with praises. Goading him with the success of a campaign that the Empire recognized as well done. As Draconis spoke to Vexx, Vexx could see the village through the jungle. Vexx would continue to see several figures gathered at the edge of the village, an assembled gathering of several warriors and someone of higher stature. He would recognize them for what they were, as he was of them.

Draconis knew that underneath, as he heaped praised upon his Apprentices, there was conflict and rage boiling. Continuing to press he spoke, knowing his next words would cut through all of it and right down to the core of the Kaleesh Warrior Sith


“You have accomplished your mission, you can return and receive your title.”


Draconis could sense the conflict and turmoil in his Apprentice even systems apart from each other. His last statement baiting Vexx to turn and walk away. Its false bravado tugging at Vexx’s honor and sense of duty, yet none of that mattered as the pull of something deeper would be governing him. The Darkside.


“I sense conflict in you Grievance Vexx?”


“Seeming not satisfied with your accomplishments…”


Draconis’ grinned sinisterly under his cowl, knowing exactly what was transpiring within Vexx and where he stood.


Beyond the blue hologram of his Master and through the jungle again stood the assembled gathering at the edge of the village. Piercingly reminding him of what lay ahead.


The cyborg's amber eyes shift uneasily as Draconis speaks, glorifying his accomplishments and deeming him worthy of his place among the Sith. Something just doesn't feel right and he seems to fidget with every word his master says to him, though none of it is negative or reprimanding. He glances through the jungle a moment before turning his eyes back to the holoprojector. He cringes inwardly as Draconis calls him out on his sense of conflict.

"The mission is incomplete, m'lord," he replies with decisiveness, "The pirate who took the lives of three of my troopers remains at large and I cannot accept any recognition until recompense for the loss has been made."

He thinks that is the root cause of his hesitancy, but even he knows there is something deeper and it lies with these ghosts that seem to call from his past. His eyes shift between the projection of his master and what lies beyond the jungle as he takes slow and deliberate steps in that direction. Then it hits him like a ton of bricks. The ghosts evading his identification, they are not ghosts at all. They are his people.


As he clears the last of the obscuring foliage, all at once he becomes anchored where he stands, unable to move for a time as he stares at the sight before him. After all this time, he is looking at other Kaleesh people again. His eyes hungrily take in every detail; their clawed feet shrouded in customary warrior's bandages; tunics adorned with feathers and beads and intricately woven designs; handcrafted armor of bone and leather; their clawed hands, each one bearing two opposable thumbs; finally their masks crafted from skulls of the predatory beasts that freely roam Kalee. Each one is decorated with different patterns identifying the clans they hail from. He recognizes a few patterns symbolizing some of the desert dwellers from the same region in which he was born. He finally turns his eyes to the one clearly to be recognized as the chieftain among those gathered and inclines his head respectfully. In his own language, he greets the chieftain.

"Greetings, fellow warrior," he tries to keep his electronic voice from sounding too intimidating, "I mean you no harm. I know it doesn't appear as such, but I am a native of your planet. I have been tracking two fugitives who have committed crimes across the galaxy and I have reason to believe they have fallen into your hands."


The chieftain heard their own language, and as stoic and focused as the warriors surrounding him tried to remain. It was clear there was a hint of surprise in what they had heard from the massive warrior before them. A moment of silent inquiry surrounded the chieftain as he gazed at the armor clad being before him. A few slow steps brought him closer to Vexx, the warriors instinctively nervous could be seen leaning forward ever so slightly. The chieftain saw inside Vexx something familiar. His hand grazing over the battle damaged white armor, feeling it against his hands. Looking up the older chieftain’s eyes met with Vexx’s a stare deep into both their souls. These tense moments for the warriors, were ones of wonderment and familiarity to the chieftain. “I see you son of Kalee.” The man spoke. The utterance of the words and realization to the rest of the warriors present must have come as some of a shock. While no doubt they had wondered and had strong inclinations as to the origins of the foreign warrior before them, the words form their chieftain would no doubt ring with a unexpected truth.


The chieftain let his hand fall back to his side and grasping the side of his robes while he adjusted his stance on his prosthetic. There was really no doubt in the chieftain's mind as to why the Kaleesh warrior had come to the edge of their village. Before he had spoken and uttered his intent to pursue those within the village it was known as they all knew why he was here. “I am Slipsten Av’Klipporna of the Klipporna tribe, come son of Kalee… we will talk.” The chieftain spoke turning expecting Vexx to follow, instinctively the warriors kept their posture, neither relaxing or giving ground, simply just allowing for Vex to pass as they watched him like raptors. The chieftain slowly but steadily made his way to his hutt, passing through the leather flapped doors he made his way to the far side. For a hutt it was quite lavish, with multiple chambers. A fire and cauldron situated in the main room, which the chieftain turned around in. Facing Vexx, whom he knew would have followed he gestured for the main to sit. The seats which was made of bone and wood, was covered in dried carcass. And while it would be a bit small for Vexx’s frame he could still mage if he so chose. The chieftain waited and finally sat himself. Several servants and maids were already moving about, delivering a platter of fruits and dried meats to each of them, along with a goblet of liquid. The chieftain allowed the servants to finish their routine given the circumstance surrounding visitors in the chieftain's hutt. Soon it was just the chieftain, Vexx, and two of the Kaleesh warriors from before.. No doubt his two most trusted and skillful.


The refreshments remained where they had been placed as the chieftain spoke. “You are of the desert tribes are you not my warrior?” It was clear from his words the chieftain knew of extensively about the homeworld of Kalee, with the ability to surmise an very educated guess about Vexx’s upbringing and origins. “Our tribe was from the cliff regions.” The man spoke with a bit of pride mixed in with somberness. “The Huk wars, decades before devastated our villages and tribe… we never recovered.”


It was at this point the chieftain reached over clasping on of the simple goblets left by the servants. Taking a sip as he raised his head allowing for the glass to slip under his mask. Vexx would see a scared and worn face. Clearly a veteran of countless conflicts. The goblet was placed down as he resumed speaking.


“We were unable to defend ourselves against rival tribes, and were forced off world.” Vexx would be able to tell that despite the survival of his people and tribe, which was recovering. The chieftain’s demeanor and words regarding his testament at the having to leave Kalee was in his eyes almost a fate worse than death. Still he led his people, and prepared them to carry on for their sake and future.


Vexx follows the chieftain peaceably enough, inclining his head respectfully to the warriors as he passes through them. A strong sense of familiarity floods over him as he follows the chieftain inside his dwelling place. The warmth of the hut and the soft glow of the fire draws his mind deep into years long passed and he realizes just how much he has missed this type of environment. For just a moment, the two pirates he is pursuing are far from his mind.

Upon entering the main chamber of the hut, Vexx instinctively knows he is expected to sit and accept the hospitality of the elder Kaleesh, but he is beginning to realize that as close as he is to his people right now, there is a vast chasm that has eroded between them. He is no longer Kaleesh; he has been made into a machine designed to kill. In his current state, he feels ashamed and undeserving to even set foot inside this man’s home, let alone be seated in his presence. He watches as the chieftain’s attendants bring in food and drink—neither of which he can partake in—and he can’t help but feel awkward and a little rude as he cannot properly appreciate the gesture. Pushing the bitterness of his reality from his mind, he focuses on what the chieftain is saying.

“I am, sir,” Vexx nods in affirmation of his origins, “I am—was...of the Sheelal tribe many years ago. Your regions bordered my own. We were practically neighbors.” He affords the chieftain sincere empathy as the aged one speaks of a war Vexx clearly remembers having ravaged Kalee and its people. “I am familiar with the longevity of the suffering the Huk War caused to our home world.” He stumbles over using the word “our”. He has been gone so long; can he even call Kalee his home anymore? Does he still have that right? A sense of disassociation casts its shadow over him and almost stirs a feeling of panic and desperation, but he is abruptly drawn from his thoughts as he learns that other tribes had driven this warrior and his clan from the planet.

“Why did they not rally together with you?” he asks incredulously, feeling the familiar burn of anger deep in his chest, like a furnace with no outlet to vent the pressure, “What made them gang up on you like that? It is not the way of the Kaleesh. At least...it is not the way of the Kaleesh as I remember it.”

There are no words needed to describe the shame this fate has brought about. Vexx already knows. Most Kaleesh would sooner die with their honor intact than to live out their years in a state of shame and disgrace. It is this preference that has driven him to perform as he has within the Sith Empire, striving to uphold his honor as a warrior and not allow himself to be driven away by those who disdain him for his very existence as a bio-droid. While fighting among clans is a common occurrence within the Kaleesh culture, for one tribe to drive another off the planet is extreme and Vexx can’t help but wonder if this Kaleesh chieftain is withholding something; a reason for exile perhaps.


In a nearby hutt…. Raam and Wey were both trying to bring themselves to their feet. Wey was managing much better than Raam, who was still clearly suffering from wounds more severe than Wey’s. Why Wey’s body burned, the pain was masked by an anxious sense of the unknown. She had watched the cyborg and the chieftain parade past their hutt and into another larger one. The thoughts about what was transpiring swirled in her head. They ahd to get out of here and now! It was then that Raam, grabbed the arm of Wey. He could see what she was intending and thinking of acting upon. “I do not know why, but we have to trust that chief.” Raam said under labored breathe. Grimacing from pain as he had leaned up in his bed and swung his legs and feet about to be able to reach Wey. “These Kaleesh… are honorable…”

Raam hoped he was right, though in the back of his mind he wondered if even all the warriors in the village could stop that cyborg beast. Still in the back of his mind he knew they had to be ready. In no condition to really run, he knew they had to prepare to fight regardless and Wry knew that to as they looked each other in the eyes. “Just be ready.” Raam spoke as he laid back down.


Their gear was still at the far side of the hutt and Wey moved to secure it her belts and attached blaster. The pack held some grenades, which she brought over next to Raam’s bed, placing a laster upon his chest which she had pulled from his belt that had been laying in the corner. Wey pressed the blaster into Raam’s chest simply holding it there, allowing Raam to grab a hold of it. Wey purposefully not releasing it as Raam grabbed a hold of it as Wey looked into his eyes. “We leave her together!” With Raam nodding, she released her hold on it and sprang up, moving toward the door flap where she took up position spying on the large hutt of the chief. Multiple warriors were now gathered outside it and standing with their weapons, as Wey pressed her face hiding it against the leather slit in the door opening… trying to gauge any semblance of what was going on in it.


The chieftain listened as Vexx made his inquiries, he could tell that the foreign warrior held passion for their homeworld and equally those of their kind. The frustration and confusion in the summary of their leaving Kalee clearly troubling him. “You are aware of the suffering of it, our people were nearly driven to extinction our world, as you know ravaged.”


“You are right in the account that while our people are not ones to fully go to such lengths regarding other tribes… “ Chieftain Av’Klipporna spoke with a heavy heart. “Desperate times as you know, call for equally desperate measures.” It was with great pain Vexx would be able to tell that he spoke of such things.

“We had little choice and found safe passage off world… eventually settling where you now see.”


“There is more to the story, but that is for another time and place.” Cheiftain Av’Klipporna’s statement was not about disrepect nor about seeing Vexx as unworthy of such, the aged Kaleesh knew what hour it was, knew what was before them and it was time to address such.


“Those you seek are here, as I already know you know such.” There was no hiding it, and the chieftain was not going to insult the warriors prowess by putting on in any matter.


“And I know that you understand the position we are both in.” The chieftain spoke regarding their traditions and laws to which he knew Vexx would be aware of. While conflicts within Kaleesh society were brutal and violent, honor and order were paramount to how it was waged. Respect amongst warriors who fought honorably was never lost when done so according to their traditions and laws. Even when the brutal reality of death and loss set in and was seen. As such the chieftain knew that there was really no way around what was going to happen.


“I cannot let you have them…”


“And I can see in your eyes you must have them warrior Vexx of Sheelal tribe.” The chieftain purposefully using his name and tribe as a sign of respect. The chieftain treating him as equal and no different despite his foreign appearance.


Cheiftain Av’Klipporna rose slowly, gathering himself and movign forward, his cane aiding him as he leaned towards the side of his prosthetic. Slowly coming up to Vexx and speaking.


“I pray we meet again in the next life Vexx, as the gods of our sons and daughters, under better circumstances son of Kalee.” The chieftain placing his hand on Vexx’s shoulder as he passed by. Exiting the hut, the chieftain was prepared. Vexx would have clearly recognized what was looming. Equally the chieftain was well aware, fully knowing and expecting what was about to transpire and as Vexx saw him leave the hut. He would feel the numbers of warriors gathered outside preparing and readying. Readying for him.


The weight of reality rests heavily on Vexx’s shoulders. He already knows where this discussion is going; already knows that he has a choice to make. Grief becomes a palpable presence to him and the emotion has been a close companion for the greater part of his life; familiar, almost comfortable. Almost. What makes it uncomfortable now is the fact that his own honor code is about to cut deeper than any blade ever could. Suddenly, the full story of what had happened to this tribe is irrelevant. The chieftain has already signed all of them over to death.

He briefly entertains the thought of a mind trick; convince the chieftain to deviate from his honor and hand over the pirate fugitives without a fight. The fact that Vexx has even considered this detonates a grenade of nausea in the pit of his stomach. He cannot meddle with the free will of another Kaleesh. He will not disrespect the leader of the Av’Klipporna clan in such a way; however, he still feels it necessary to at least try to negotiate with the chieftain to spare his life.

“With all due respect, my brother,” he says slowly; carefully, “Do you not understand that these pirates, had they been left to oppress the galaxy, would have captured and enslaved the ones you love without remorse? Your sons and daughters. Your wives. Your children’s children. You are putting your own life in danger to spare them and I understand why...yet in the same token...I find it difficult to understand your reasoning.”

His voice is strained; tense. Even the distortion of the mechanical apparatus that enables him to speak cannot mask the reluctance over what he must do. He flinches under the weight of the aged warrior’s hand as it rests briefly on his shoulder. Taking a deep breath, he turns with a heavy heart to follow the leader of the Av’Klipporna tribe from his hut. He curses the Sith for everything; his capture, his transformation, his indoctrination and training. All of it. But it is not the Sith who dictate what must be done now. The cruelest irony is that his own culture—his honor code—has left him without a choice. The chieftain regarding him as nothing less than another Kaleesh stings like the lash of a Geonosian confessor’s whip. Of all the things Vexx could wish for, he wishes he had not lived to see this moment.

“I am afraid this may be our first and only encounter, my brother,” he replies, genuine sorrow hanging on his words, “My own honor as a warrior has been used against me and from that, there is no return. Had I known that the path back to my own people would lead to this...I would not have tried so hard to follow it.” He reaches out a clawed hand and firmly grasps the chieftain’s upper arm, turning the Av’Klipporna leader to face him. “Please know I never intended for this to happen. I am so very sorry and I hope that one day you might forgive me.”

He holds the chieftain’s gaze for a long moment, silently pleading for the man to connect the dots and see the constellation within the monstrous darkness that has placed him here; the true nature of the mechanical beast who had been drawn down a path from which he cannot return. His eyes silently beg for forgiveness, but even if this courageous chieftain grants him such a gracious gift, Vexx will be eternally condemned and tormented by the inability to forgive himself.

As he backs away and readies himself for what is about to unfold, he knows this chieftain and his warriors do not have a snowball’s chance despite the fact that they outnumber him. He is simply too powerful and it is nothing he had ever really desired out of life; it had just happened. A power fed by bitterness and anger over a loss he cannot undo will incinerate the bridge to return to his roots. He has already silently vowed that he will use neither lightsaber nor the Force in what is to come. He will also refrain from using his unique mechanical abilities. He will do his best to fight as though he were made of flesh and blood and bone just to try to even the odds. He cannot even pray for a miracle in them successfully defeating him, for he knows what will happen if they do. The Sith will come and they will mercilessly do what he could not and the suffering will be far greater. Tragically, the fate of this tribe is better off in his hands for at least he will not allow them to die with no honor.

He casts off all of his weapons save his two lig swords; traditional Kaleesh weapons made of metal and bone. No special powers or abilities, they are only as good as the skill of the one wielding them. They rest heavily in his hands, weighed down further by the grief that has draped itself around him like a cloak. He slowly takes his battle stance and patiently waits for the clan to initiate what regretfully must be their last stand.

It’s the nature of time
That the old ways must give in
It’s the nature of time
That the new ways come in sin
When the new meets the old
It always ends the ancient ways
And as history told
The old ways go out in a blaze
Encircled by a vulture
The end of ancient culture
The dawn of destiny draws near…


The Chieftain hears the final plea from the Warrior Vexx, a final appeal, but the die has been cast for them all. Despite the feeling that they are out matched the warriors feel no less a sense of determination and will than they would facing any other foe. Chieftain Av’Klipporna stands in the front center of nearly two dozen warriors now, armed and ready to fight. Thier mix of weapons poised to be turned on Vexx. Coincidentally they are between Vexx and the hut containing the two pirates.


The Chieftain raises a ceremonial mace pointing at Vexx, “Izvoshra” is the only word spoken as he points to him.


Perhaps it was a faint hope that some would survive, while all of them were willing to die for their tribe. Honorably, despite the ramifications should they all fall. The village was already silent, as the women, children, and young Kaleesh not in the guard were not hidden in their huts.


The moments of tense silence hung in the air for what seemed to be a lifetime.


Hidden hut


Wey looked upon the unfolding scene and toggled the detonator in her hand, while gripping her blaster in the other, the barrel of it pointing out of the hut as she sed it to hold it open slightly as well. Raam had risen to his feet and was beginning to move towards the door, holding his side and struggling to remain upright a blaster in his hand as well. Wey’s anger flared and her impulses got the better of her. The detonator left her hands rolling through the line of Kaleesh between her and the cyborg killer. She did not care, that beast had to die. Raam reach trying to grab her arm, but he was too late as she had rolled it into the fray.


The detonator rolled to a stop in front of Vexx a few quick beeps and it detonated.


Vexx had been ready for the attack the chieftain had directed his Izvoshra to make. He had braced himself to withstand them falling upon him as a unit. He had not anticipated the well-placed explosive that had rolled in from seemingly out of nowhere. The blast is blinding, deafening, and painful, knocking him back several meters and rolling him further still long after he’s hit the ground. His metal body comes to and abrupt halt as it slams against an unforgiving boulder. Teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, Vexx forces himself to open his eyes, though he already knows what he will see.

Kaleesh bodies lie strewn in all directions upon ground stained with blood, some dismembered, some in the throes of death, some already dead. His vision becomes blurred as he takes all of this in with no audio. His head is still ringing from the blast and he can hear nothing, but he knows there is screaming; wailing; the symphony of death that serenaded his days as a youth is all before him once again. Where had the grenade come from? Kaleesh rarely ever behaved as suicide bombers. It simply was not honorable. This had to be something else.


The line of Kaleesh Warriors was scattered, with several of them being vaporized in the initial blast. A number being hurled back into the air, a few of the Warriors fortunate enough to be on the outer and back edges of the line was stunned, and peppered with debris, but otherwise able to recover after an initial moment of shock. The Chieftain was not in sight as he has been in the forefront of the lines. In the confusion several of the Warriors, not knowing where the attack came from, instinctively moved on Vexx a mix of weapons and blaster fire aimed and used against him.


Still lying on the ground, Vexx is not even given the chance to rise before the wrath of the Kaleesh is upon him. Clearly, they think he had detonated the grenade. He finds himself pinned under a hailstorm of blasterfire and an assortment of spears and swords coming at him without mercy. He cannot lean on the Force for this; he cannot go against the vow he had made to himself; to his people. If it is his time to perish, he would rather die by the hand of his own race. Still, the thought of the Sith coming for them later fans the waning fire of determination within him. He cannot give in and leave them to the mercy of the Sith.

So he rises. The blasterfire screeches as bolts ricochet off his armor in all sorts of places. He does his best to guard his joints; he doesn’t need another bolt lodging itself in his metal body like the one that still resides halfway down the duranium vertebrae that protects his spinal cord. His movement is ungainly at first due to residual effects from the detonator flinging him several meters, but his determination overrides all of it and he attacks the first wave of Kaleesh, dropping a handful of them despite his deep-seated desire to bring them no harm. What choice does he have except to grant them a warrior’s death?


A small group of four Warriors was rallying after having recovered from the detonator blast, on of the Warriors chanting in Kaleesh and pushing them on towards Vexx unrelentingly. The ignorance of it all keeping them caught up in the idea that Vexx was the culprit of it all as the surge forward against him with lethal strikes.


The next wave that melds into the first one is clearly driven by anger toward him. They think he had been the one to use a detonator and essentially cheat in what was understood to be traditional Kaleesh combat. The realization sickens Vexx to the core. No matter what he does now, his honor is already trampled. He realizes this with great pain that outweighs that which any strike from a weapon is causing him. The chanting of the warrior driving the assault becomes deafening. The words condemn the honor he has fought all his life to maintain. What was the purpose of it all? The words of the chieftain burn like the coldest ice: “I pray we meet again under better circumstances.”

It will not happen. His own people curse him. His torment is here and it will likely continue beyond the grave. Sorrow and fury meld together and the beast inside the machine awakens, wanting nothing more than to silence the haunting chant. He spins the heavy lig swords as lethally as he can a pair of lightsabers, too angry to care about whose father or brother he is cutting down. The only lucid thought that passes through his mind is Chief Av’Klipporna. He has not seen a trace of the aged warrior since the detonator exploded and his amber eyes search for him now.


In the confusion Wey had attempted to move Raam. She had spotted a speeder at the end of the village. Bracing Raam she began to make for it as they struggled to make ground, hoping the confusion of it all would allow them to slip away.


Movement beyond that of the walls of warriors attacking him catches the cyborg’s eye. His mind, which had been searching for any sign of the chieftain, immediately recognizes the movement as an attempt to be sneaky. It’s that blasted Twi’lek pirate! A roar of rage explodes from Vexx as he uses his shoulder to plow through several Kaleesh warriors. Many of them are scattered forcibly in all directions, but those able to maintain their footing hold their ground to try to keep him boxed in.

“That is where the detonator came from!” Vexx bellows, stabbing a lig sword in the direction of Raam and Wey, “Those foul pirates you are all sacrificing your own lives to protect! Without even fighting, they have made several of your children fatherless! And you would choose to continue to guard their treacherous lives?!”

Vexx is beside himself knowing his own people have been stabbed in the back for their efforts. He hates the Fallen even more now as she has betrayed the ones who have put their necks out for her, not taking into consideration that her attempt to kill him would have an impact on the honorable Kaleesh who had tried to protect her. He tries again to push through the ranks and go after the two pirates. His anger is real and gradually turning toward his own people. How could they be so foolish as to throw their lives away for backstabbing dregs of the galaxy?

“Get the hell out of my way!” he snarls, using his elbow to knock another warrior aside, “Blind fools! You are kissing the feet of people who will kick you! It is madness! Where is your chieftain?!”


The Sith Warriors calls to reason are met with firm resolve, a few of the proud remaining warriors hesitate, confused by what has unfolded. Their actions guided more by instinct than reason as Vexx continues to receive attacks from them still, as he presses towards the would be escaping pirates. The confusion among the warriors evident, as Vexx’s words are not lost upon them. The commanding voice of the cyborg Kaleesh warrior causes a pause in their actions at last. An opening and clear path to the two pirates who have reached the speeder bike and are preparing to exit the village.


The Falleen woman turning to fire her blaster at the fast approaching Vexx. Squeezing of a number of rounds in rapid succession, while bracing the Twi’lek pirate commander Raam with her other arm.


The compliance of the Izvoshra takes Vexx by surprise as he is about to knock the warrior directly in front of him right out of the planet’s atmosphere, but they still their attacks. As the world seems to slow around him, all that exists are the two pirates trying to make their escape. Over his dead body.

The shots fired do little to deter the cyborg’s deliberate advance. He barely flinches as several bolts burst against his durasteel chest plates. He casts the lig swords on the ground and calls his lightsabers to his hands with the Force. He will not grant these pirates the warrior’s death he had been willing to give his own people. He will do everything in his power to ensure their deaths are nothing short of painful and terrifying.

As Wey continues to shoot at him, he lets his Soresu skill take over, purposely deflecting her shots at her partner. He hasn’t much of a personal qualm with Raam; he will die by Wey’s hand. He takes care not to deflect a shot so it becomes lethal; not yet. No. Instead, he sends shots at Raam that will cause pain, but nothing deadly. A few bolts ricochet off his plasma blades and bury themselves in the flesh of Raam’s right leg, then his left. Another handful to his arms. All the while, his unrelenting, merciless gaze remains fixed unblinking on the eyes of Wey. His gaze tells her without words that she is controlling the situation, causing her partner’s pain. It is a total lie, of course. He is the one in control here and, unlike his dealings with his own people, he will use every ability he has to make sure he remains in control until this ordeal is finished.


“You should have left well enough alone, you meddling slime,” he growls, “Intelligence might have told you that to cross the Sith is to invite unfavorable repercussions. We had no qualms with you or your dishonorable acts, but you targeted a faction in the galaxy that does not take such acts against them lightly. You further sealed your fate when you—specifically you—came and interfered with my mission. You killed three of my troops and Sith or not, my culture demands blood for blood. If only you had one more partner to recompense my losses evenly.”

He moves in further, daring her to continue to shoot as one of his blades remains in a defensive Soresu position while he splits his arms and activates his other three blades, setting them to a deadly humming spin. Using the Force, he pulls Wey toward his lethal whirlwind of strobing red and white light, letting the pull draw her in until she can feel the heat of the rapidly spinning lightsabers. At the last possible second, he reverses the pull into a violent and unforgiving push, sending Wey hurtling back into Raam and the speederbike, causing all three to scatter like a youngling’s toys on impact. The speederbike flips and smashes against a cluster of jungle trees where it bursts into flames, incinerating the two pirates’ hope of a quick escape. Still Grievance Vexx advances, seething with a rage that cannot be calmed.


He stretches out his hand and uses the Force to lift what remains of the flaming speederbike and hurls it through the air, narrowly missing taking Raam’s head off with it. These near-misses are completely intentional as his goal is to inspire intense fear. Fear of death. Something he himself does not truly know and will likely never know. His mind is beyond that point. He has power. Power to avenge a team that was nearly obliterated in a mission of vengeance. He will not be able to live with himself if he does not exact justice and death is the last thing that worries him now.

Calling on the Force again, he sends Wey up in the air at rapid speed, slamming her through numerous tree branches along the way. Call it payback for doing the same to him not so long ago. He can’t even recall how much time has passed since he began this mission. One hour has slipped seamlessly into the next without his awareness. He is vaguely aware of hunger gnawing at his insides and exhaustion weighing on his sleepless eyes, but it is nothing in comparison to the hunger he feels to recompense his losses with Wey’s and Raam’s lives.

As Wey comes crashing back down through the same tree branches, Vexx catches her by the torso in his talons and flips her over his head to slam her without mercy against the ground. He holds her there, staring down at her dazed but fear-filled eyes, relishing her fear and reveling in his power that only grows stronger as it is fed by her fear. Slowly, he bears his weight down, eliciting more fear from his prey as she will feel as though she is suffocating under the gradually descending pressure.

“I should have done this to you when I had the chance,” he growls, “When you interfered with our mission to destroy your moon base.” He brings Wey deathly close to passing out before he suddenly shifts his weight off of her, using his talons to force the Falleen to look at her Twi’lek companion. With a gesture of his hand, he envelops Raam in crucitorn, magnifying the pain of his wounds to white-hot intensity. He allows this to continue for a time, burning the sounds of agony into Wey’s mind before he dispels the Force power and, drawing his DT-57 from his mechanical thigh he offers Wey a single suggestion. “Don’t blink.”

He levels the blaster with Raam’s head and pulls the trigger, ending his suffering with impeccable aim. He almost feels remorse for making the Twi’lek suffer so, but he pushes it away, instead focusing his attention on Wey. He has repaid wound for wound; loss for loss; blood for blood. Torment for torment. His eyes seem to have lost the fiery hatred as he gazes down at the Fallen.

“We are even now,” he tells her, “My anger would have it that I leave you to suffer beside the corpse of your comrade...but my honor will not allow me to walk away from you this way. No doubt your injuries are fatal. I will grant you the mercy of a quicker release from your mortal wounds.”

Though he is just now coming to realize that he is almost entirely spent, Vexx uses the last of his strength to Force-choke the pirate to her final demise; not because he wants to, but because he must. He has avenged the trooper who perished when the shuttle crashed into the moon base. He as avenged the trooper who was shot to death. He has avenged his own brutal battering while clinging to the escaping transport and the mental anguish he has suffered over losing his troops. The only life left to avenge is the trooper who had been strangled to death.

He does what he must do quickly, seeing no reason to drag this out any further. In a matter of moments, he can feel the Falleen’s life dissolve into nothing. Almost as devoid of life as the ones he had hunted now, Vexx’s mechanical legs buckle under him and he collapses there on his knees at the jungle’s edge.


An extended hand, reached from a pile of debris which covered most of the entirety of the chieftains body.


The Force, though weakened by the violent outburst of his vengeance, alerts Vexx to life somewhere close to where he kneels, but that life is weak and fading fast. Knowing the signature belongs not to either of the pirates, he lurches to his feet and follows the feeble pulsing, quickly catching sight of the Kaleesh hand groping for freedom from a burial of shattered weapons, shrapnel, earth and stone. The cyborg hastily but carefully pulls the debris away, uncovering the battered body of the chieftain.

“My brother,” Vexx gasps, carefully grasping the Kaleesh leader under his arms and pulling him free. Because of the Force, he already knows the man has been mortally wounded and he will not survive. “I am so very sorry...”

Knowing there isn’t much he can do to spare Chief Av’Klipporna’s life, he draws as much from the Force as he can and exercises control pain in an attempt to at least make whatever time he has left more comfortable. He locks his gaze with the fading one of the elder Kaleesh. He cannot apologize enough for this tragedy that has struck a band of Kaleesh who have survived much loss and pain. He can feel the other warriors still alive and not severely injured move closer, their sorrow a palpable presence.


Cheiftain Av’Klipporna’s breathing was labored, his white painted mask shattered revealing more of his face. Struggling to get out his words. As his hand clasped Vexx’s. His injuries severe it was clear that he was not going to last much longer. Having been witness to much of what had happened during the violent exchange in the village.


“You have retained your honor… Warrior Vexx...”


“As have… we...”


There was a final embrace of Vexx by the Chieftain, his tight grip squeezed and then faded.The last breath of the Kaleesh Chieftain escaped him as he slipped away with those final words.


Emotion burns behind amber eyes as Vexx looks down upon the lifeless form of Chief Av’Klipporna. He gently reaches a hand out to lower the half-closed lids of the vacant reptilian eyes, allowing himself to feel the weight of the loss and the guilt therein. He cannot help but feel responsible for this death and the deaths of various other warriors within the clan. If only the clash with the pirates had happened in some other system. If only...

“I cannot stay, but I will help you gather and bury those you have lost,” he says as he lifts his gaze to meet the eyes of the bystander warriors, “Your chieftain has restored my honor and in return his death and the deaths of his men shall be honored for the rest of my days, wherever they may lead. I am Sith now, but I was first Kaleesh and at my core, I will always be.”

He backs away to allow the Izvoshra to gather their leader’s body and prepare it for burial while he moves back toward the site where the detonator had killed over a dozen warriors. For those who had been closest to the blast, there is very little left of them to be gathered save a shattered bloodstained mask or some ceremonial adornment they had worn. Vexx sadly gathers these things and turns them over to the families to whom the warriors belonged. His heart aches to see the sorrow collected in the eyes of so many fatherless younglings, who no longer look upon him with fear, but with respect and even a gratitude that he cannot rightly understand. How can they forgive him so easily? He truly had killed some of these warriors with his own weapons. He tries not to think on it too much; rather he finds gratitude within himself that he had not been forced to eliminate this misplaced tribe.

As the dead are gathered and moved to burial grounds the clan has already established, Vexx relies on the tireless strength of his mechanical body to help them dig grave after grave in the earth tangled with roots and stone. His soul feels empty; drained; all effects that grief often has on those who suffer through it. He allows himself to feel all of it, experience it for what it is, and let it forever scar his heart and mind so he will not forget. He already knows he will be returning to this place to honor and remember the sacrifices made here when a standard year has passed. It is a principle in his culture.

How many wasted lives
How many dreams did fade away
Broken promises
They won’t be coming home
Oh mothers, wipe your tears
Your sons will rest a million years
Found their peace at last
As foe turned to friend and forgave
And they knew they would die...

After the dead have been laid to rest and honored one by one, Vexx separates himself from the clan. Evening is settling in and the night creatures of the jungle raise their symphony that seems to celebrate the arrival of darkness. The cyborg gathers his belongings, wrapping his battle-tattered cloak around himself and holstering his personal weapons. The remaining members of the clan have retired now and he is alone, steeping in the darkness around and inside of him. His master will be coming for him soon. Slowly, he walks among the fresh graves like a skeletal ghost haunting a cemetery, wishing each perished warrior peace; especially Chief Av’Klipporna. As for himself, he will remain restless and devoid of peace in this life...

For peace is a lie. There is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains will be broken.
The Force shall set me free.






Afterward


A Sith shuttle lifted off from the outskirts of the Kaleesh Village, quickly rising up into the atmosphere en-route back to the Sith Task Force in orbit around the system. Far in the distance the smoldering remnants of the pirate Citadel a reminder of the brutal assault unleashed by the Sith forces to finish the campaign. Commander Irakopa sat next to Vexx in the command seats of the cockpit with the pilots in front of them. The Commander had scrambled rescue and search forced to track down Vexx. The shuttle had been dispatched after locating the crash site of the fleeing pirate vessel, and a quick aerial search had located the nearby village and subsequently Vexx.The system had been secured, and the task force was preparing to depart back to Sith space once recovery operations had been fully completed. For Vexx solidifying his place among the Sith Empire’s military command structure would serve him well in the future.


The shuttle declined to rendezvous directly with the Sith task force instead, a course was plotted and the shuttle lurched into hyperspace…


It was not long before the shuttle was yanked out of hyperspace after completing its journey back to one of the core Sith worlds. The shuttle was soon landed on a nondescript landing pad at the edge of what was marked as a Sith outpost. A pair of Sith Troopers met Vexx and Commander Irakopa escorting them into the small but secure Sith facility. Curiously they had been summoned and directed her. It was not long until both of them were in a large briefing room a large table and two beings present. The Sith Vice Admiral Vlloth stood looking onto a holographic map, readouts of data visible on side panels within the table, clearly she was going over battle plans along with mission information. The other being cloaked in a dark robe stood nearby, while observing the maps, and information as well. The being was less interested in the missions being planned out and more interested in the two arrivals to the command room. Vexx would have instantly felt his presence upon landing knowing exactly who it was.


“Grievance Vexx, welcome back.” Draconis spoke as Vexx and Commander Irakopa entered the room after looking up from the large table. The Vice Admiral looking up and addressing their arrival as well, but silently.

“Commander.” Lord Draconis spoke addressing the Sith military officer which had performed exemplary in his role of taking charge of the Sith task force. “Well done in taking charge.” Draconis continued to address the Commander.


Draconis leaned forward placing both his hands upon the table, his head lowered. “You almost had everyone fooled Commander.” The Sith’s voice turned from congrgulatory to deadly serious.


“Vexx, relieve the Commander of his head.”


Vexx had remained in stoney silence throughout the duration of the journey after being retrieved from the Kaleesh village. Call it reflective quiet; call it meditation; call it whatever one perceives it to be. The decidedly introverted Kaleesh warrior becomes even more withdrawn when met with emotionally trying times and circumstances. He is still grieved over the events that had unfolded in the village, but he keeps it to himself. Such feelings turned inward eventually evolve into anger and anger is a tool he can use later when the need for it arises.

So now as his master welcomes him back to home base, he only offers a bow of respect without words. The burden he feels is his own to bear and he is content to have it that way. There is no look of surprise or hesitancy as Draconis demands the execution of the commander. If Vexx can withstand killing his own, he can kill anybody without second thought or question. Cold and emotionless, he draws his lightsaber from within his cloak and in one swift motion carries out his master’s orders to a fault, extinguishing the blade and nonchalantly returning it to its place inside his cloak as the headless corpse of the treacherous commander falls over and thuds to the floor beside him.


The Vice Admiral did not flinch, she simple continued to pay attention to her details, allowing only a slight side glance at what had quickly transpired. While continuing to observer her charts, maps, and holograms she spoke in a cold calculated manner. “The Commander’s treachery caused things to go on far too long. It was found out that he in fact was the one whom had tipped off the pirates to our ongoing operations against him.”


“We allowed him to continue within the campaign, and while the unfortunate loss of the Arminius was tragic it allowed us to accelerate our plans in gaining what we needed.”


“The Commander thought himself nearly free and having eluded anyone knowing that he had been feeding them information all along.”


“And once he thought to be clear with the pirate forces decimated, he unknowingly gave us exactly what we were looking for from the start.”


The a datapad sat at the end of the table near Vexx, the only item on the end of the massive table. Within it was details on an entire pirate network throughout the whole of Sith space, names and contacts, base locations, encrypted passwords and frequencies. It was a trove of critical information and it had been obtained through flushing out the mole within their ranks.


A long gambit played, and layer after layer things unfolded. Lessons learned. Trials overcome. Positions attained.


“Well done. Lord Vexx.” Draconis spoke, it was the first time he had addressed his apprentice with the term. A sign of completion. Lord Vexx was invited to join them further, for with his new found ascendancy came many new responsibilities.

@dragonsith13