Beyond - Legends Destiny's Inferno Updated 7/25/06

6 years after the Battle of Endor

Six months ago, the Empire has won a great victory at the shipyards of Bilbringi.

Now Coruscant, cradle of galactic civilization, is one of the myriad battlegrounds on which rival Imperial factions vie for supremacy. The New Republic fights a losing war against encroaching Imperial expansion. The Clone Wars, the Wars of the Sith, the Mandalorian Crusades, all pale to the carnage of this apocalyptic conflict.

But the war will take a new and deadly turn.

Through the Force, the Reborn Emperor Palpatine calls out to Luke Skywalker. By bringing a heir of the Chosen One to the Dark Side, Palpatine hopes to complete his masterplan for a Sith theocracy with himself as its eternal god. Palpatine's strenght in the Force waxes daily, while his warlords continue on the warpath.

The Pretender Alkanan, with his ally Grand Admiral Thrawn, have crafted the prefect plot to implode the New Republic into bloodshed and anarchy. Their insidious scheme is nothing less that the murder of a symbol of hope for quadrillions. From the ashes of war Alkanan will create a new galactic order in his own image.

Luke Skywalker searches for answers, looking for a way, any way, to save the New Republic and the Jedi from extinction. Even he is not aware of the terrible price and the means to which he must use.

Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo valiantly serve the beleagured New Republic in its greatest time of need, inspiring the people by deed and ideals. But they are no longer valiant heroes with nothing to lose. Their twin infant children, Jacen and Jaina, are already targetted by a thousand plots. And Leia is pregnant with a third child.

Emperor's Hand Mara Jade is torn between loyalties. Loyalties to her band of smugglers, to her friend Skywalker or to a master she believed dead. She must make a choice.


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Cool I'll give reading this a try

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Prologue

Coruscant.

The nerve center of galactic politics, the cradle of civilization and the most populous world in the galaxy, it needs no introduction.

Yet on this day, there is no civilian traffic among the starlanes. Orbital stations bristle with seemingly improvised additions of durasteel sculpture. And on Coruscant itself, raging fires burn instead of the glowing sheen of lighted city towers. Once home to trillions, it is now the battlefield of billions of soldiers in the opening act of the Imperial Civil War.

Pellaeon wished that he could have seen Coruscant at any other time than this. It would be most desirable to walk among the cool mist laden walkways of the Maanari District, to visit the Imperial Museum of Galactic History with its unparalleled collection of pre Republic artifacts or to have a cup of brandy at the Promenade. But it is the business of war, not nostalgic homesickness that brings him and his forces to Imperial Center.

"Sir, we've detected two space superiority fleets moving to Hespridium on vector two-seven-nine," Captain Pter Thanas held out a datapad to Pellaeon. A very special datapad, as a matter of fact.

"Order Taskforce Relentless to stand off position, vector two eight four. Detail two additional Allegiance Star Destroyers to Relentless. Vice Admiral Dorja is not to engage unless fired upon," His forces were on roughly equal parity with Mls'ratn's armada, but Thrawn had expressly ordered him to only prevent the opposing fleet from intervening in the apocalyptic struggle below on Imperial Center. Leaning forward from his admiral's chair, Pellaeon plugged three authorization code cylinders. The datapad's lights blinked a rewarding green as the message decrypted. Pellaeon read it over thrice," It looks like our Grand Admiral's personal spymaster is right again."

"Sir?" Thanas was already three paces back to his captain's station.

"Once the Hyperborealis enters the system, alert me at once. There's a very important set of Rebels that His Majesty is very concerned about," Pellaeon returned to the battle reports from the rest of the First and Second Overfleets, familiarizing himself with the three ways fighting raging throughout the Core. Bloodshed and destruction on a level had not been seen since the Clone Wars. One way or another, there would be plenty of losers, and a victor.


"Five minutes to Coruscant," the captain of the Star Destroyer Liberator, now the Hyperborealis, informed Lando.

"Thank you, captain," Lando returned to viewing the charts and displays of the latest reconnaissance information that New Republic Intelligence had on the Imperial forces in system. The equivalent of twelve reinforced sector fleets were arrayed around the former capital world, divided into two rival camps. Fleet Admiral Pellaeon, second in command to Grand Admiral Thrawn, leads one of the flotillas. High Admiral Mls'ratn, the apparent ringleader of the Loyalist camp, controlled the other.

On the surface of Coruscant itself, Grand General Veer's elite Imperial First Grand Army clashed with the coalition of forces lead by General Ulric Tagge. Amidst the burning towers and debris littered bridges of the jewel of the galaxy, the Imperials also hunted the billions of New Republic soldiers left behind during the evacuation three months ago.

Those billions of marooned New Republic troops were the reason why Generals Skywalker, Calrissian and Antilles had arrived in a modified Imperator Star Destroyer to the heart of a raging fratricidal conflict. The Liberator, disguised as a warship gone missing during the First Imperial Mutiny, would infiltrate the enemy lines and destroy the headquarters of both Veers and Tagge. The Defense Corps would then counterattack, and hopefully stalemate the Imperial armies, while Ackbar's fleet would then attack the Imperial fleets. A victory on Coruscant, homeworld to galactic civilization, would provide the New Republic with its first great victory in six months.

In theory. In practice, the Libera

 

Looks good, I take it this is a different universe than "Perilous Balance?"

 

It has the same characters (Alkanan, Mls'ratn, et al), but I moved the point of divergence to the Battle of Bilbringi, so that means everything is the same as the official continuity until Bilbringi.

It's the same universe, but not exactly. (Think of it as a reboot, like how comic book publishers would reset the clock on their superheroes)

 

I see. Don't take this the wrong way, I greatly enjoy your fics, but if the divergence point is Bilbringi, what is Thanas doing with the Empire? Did he defect back? Something to be revealed later perhaps?

 

Chapter One

Fleet Admiral Gilad Pellaeon looked back at the receding outline of the Star Dreadnought Kraken. Admiral Giel would now take back his flagship. He had left Coruscant four hours earlier, leaving the remaining forces in system to the charge of Admiral Wermis while the Kracken rendezvoused at Anaxes with Grand Admiral Thrawn?s command ship Sphinx. ?I hope that Skywalker?s escape won?t reflect too badly on you, sir,? Captain Pter Thanas said, sitting to his left.

?Emperor Alkanan has chosen to, shall we say, ignore the little contretemps. The Grand Admiral has recalled me because with the departure of Mls?ratn, most of our remaining blockade forces at Coruscant are needed elsewhere in the galaxy,? Pellaeon replied.

?Yes sir,? Thanas sounded unconvinced. Pellaeon didn?t blame him. In the world of Imperial naval politicking, words, even from the Emperor?s mouth, didn?t always mean what they meant. His association with Thrawn would probably protect him from any immediate damage, but this failure would provide ammunition for his rival Fleet officers to utilize later. Especially if he slipped up again.

The shuttle docked in the Sphinx?s main hangar bay, which could easily have held one of the Gauntlet Star Destroyers if any one of the entrances was large enough. Neither Pellaeon or Thanas wasted time in gawking at cavernous hangar, as a captain from the 501st Legion was present with an honor guard to receive them. Without further ceremony, the two officers were hustled onto a turbolift which took them to the Star Dreadnought?s command tower.

Pellaeon resisted the urge to look for hidden Noghri body guards in the corridor leading to the Sphinx?s command room. They stopped abruptly before a heavily armored door which was guarded by two Royal Guardsmen. ?Fleet Admiral Pellaeon, here to see the Grand Admiral,? Pellaeon spoke to the one on the left.

?Yes sir,? Major Tierce paused while he informed Thrawn?s personal security officer via comlink,? You may enter.?

The doors slid with a metallic hiss, the room beyond it was cast in subdued lighting. Pellaeon could see two of the Death Commandos lurking off to one side, and instinctively, his throat ached. The back of the seat faced them, while the indistinct clacking sound of someone typing at a datapad could be heard. The clacking sound stopped.

?Ah, come in, admiral. You too, Captain Thanas,? the chair rotated and Thrawn came into view, his red eyes glowing,? I?ve been making arrangements for the Honoghr Militia to hunt down the rest of the insurgent clans. I believe that the situation on Coruscant is stabilized??

?Yes sir,? Pellaeon replied, remembering Veer?s last briefing,? The Rebels have been confined to only the Manarai District and the Works. However, they have been infiltrating the areas around General Veer?s headquarters at the Palace.?

Thrawn paused for moment and folded his hands into a steeple on which his rested his chin. The two other Imperials remained silent, waiting for the Grand Admiral?s response. ?Where are General Skirata and the Myrmidon Legion concentrating their efforts??

?At the frontlines with the Rebels, of course,? Pellaeon,? Though General Skirata wishes to deploy his forces on a planetwide search. Grand General Veers has disagreed though.?

?Then Veers is overruled,? Thrawn said quietly,? Kal Skirata has specialized in covert operations for decades. In addition, Skywalker is hardly the type to stay at headquarters. He will either be leading their SpecForce teams, who would benefit from his Jedi training or the Rebels may be attempting to evacuate him.?

?Yes sir,? Personally, Pellaeon didn?t mind seeing Veers being overruled,? And what shall we do about efforts by the Loyalists to capture Skywalker for themselves??

?Make it the priority of the Storm Commandos to foil such attempts. When General K?krukh arrives in system, place him in charge of the Commandos. High Inquisitor Brandl shall be attached to the Myrmidons.?

?There?s also another matter,? Pell

 

New Humbarine. The Imperial world in the midst of the Corporate Sector, location of the Palace which had been commissioned by Palpatine. Now occupied by his son and self proclaimed Emperor Alkanan, it served as Alkanan?s base of operations in the galaxy proper. Deep in the labyrthine corridors of the Palace, in one of the many situation rooms filled with computers, terminals, holodisplays and hovering sentry droids, a figure stood on the balcony overlooking the entire room.

?Milord the Vizier?? A Mon Calamari in the uniform of a fleet admiral walked up to Grand Vizier Peln Tel?kegos.

?Yes, Admiral Celfirin,? the silver furred, sapphire eyed Caamasi turned to regard the Chief of the Research and Development Department,? Please condense your report as much as possible. I have a meeting with the Security Directorate in ten minutes.?

?As you wish, milord. Progress on Project Hellfire is proceeding on schedule. In fact, my work chiefs report that it may be completed three weeks ahead of schedule,? Celfirin?s gravelly voice seemed to be lost in the vastness of the room.

?Good. And what of Nasdra Magrody?s endeavors with the GOLEM droid brain line?? Tel?kegos was too aware of even the cognitive limitations that the most advanced war droids like the Dark Trooper possessed.

?He reports that Moff Beltane is hoping to integrate the GOLEM units into the next batch of SD-10s, for deployment against Loyalists forces on Wukkar. Evaluation will be forthcoming,? Celfirin checked his datapad.

?Yes, very good. As for General Cody?s Cyclonetrooper project?? The Cyclonetrooper business was the most controversial of all the projects undertaken by Research and Development, save for a few black works that most of the Council was even unaware of.

?They?re running into troubles with the cybernetical enhancements. Can?t shield them properly against electromagnetic activity, for the moment. General Cody expresses interest in the self healing metallic alloys that Balmorra has been developing,? Celfirin looked at Tel?kegos,? Shall I arrange for a shipment to the Rom Mohc Proving Grounds??

?Yes by all means,? Tel?kegos looked at his chrono, a purely symbolic gesture for Celfirin?s benefit. As Grand Vizier to the new Emperor, one had a few tricks to mentally keep track of time.

Celfirin understood the signal and hurried away. Tel?kegos knew the Directorate was having its hands full with the insurgent terrorists Sons of Freedom, to say nothing of infiltrators from the ancien regime stirring up COMPNOR remnants against the Emperor. Since he was going to miss the beginning of the Ruling Council session, he might as well be completely absent. Being Grand Vizier had its privileges. It?d be interesting to see how Vice Chair Dangor ran sessions without oversight.

In the meantime, there was an assassination to work on. ?Colonel Chuin,? he activated his comlink,? I need to speak to Lord Blackhole after the Security Directorate meeting. I have a proposal of mutual concern to all Imperials.?

Thrawn could keep fighting his wars. There was more than one way to fry a fish. To each, according to his ability, Tel'kegos couldn't resist quoting an old Chandrilan socialist.

He shook his head. The irony of the matter at hand.

 

Countess Mahd Windcaller, recently elevated to nobility by Imperial decree, looked around the Council room, discreetly looking at the emotions, or lack of, of the faces of her fellow council members. New Humbarine, to be blunt, was a bore. Karnak, despite being located in the satellite galaxy referred to as the Unknown Regions, had a long history of culture. Palpatine?s Corporate Sector estate however, was just a planetwide vacation home taken over by his son. And besides, there were certainly secret entrances known only to the Loyalists, from where a squad of assassins could emerge to murder the Ruling Council.

The only reason for choosing this complete backwater was because of routine rotation of the meeting place, and it was Grand Moff Disra?s turn to play host. By choosing New Humbarine instead of a safe fortress moon guarded by Alkanan?s partisans, Mahd wondered where Disra?s loyalties really lay.

?The Ssi-Ruuv are once again becoming a threat,? Minister of State and Advisor Mas Amedda told his colleagues, his head tendrils twitching,? The main threat of course not lies in their own military might, but in their entechment technology. Recent reports indicate that they have been able to prolong the lifespan of an enteched soul, and possibly, they may be able to make the process indefinite. You know the implications if Palpatine gains such technology.?

?And what will our regional friends in the area choose to do about it, Minister?? asked Advisor Burr Nolyds sarcastically. Nolyds did not think much of the Empire?s proxy governments,? Director Gridon, what are your assessments on the situation.?

The Korunnai replied,? As Minister Amedda has stated, the Ssi Ruuv themselves are no real threat to the Empire as a whole. Moff Andravis assures me that his sector fleet will repel any of their advances. However, our agents on Byss report that the Grand Admiral Zaarin is preparing a fleet for an extended expedition. The destination is unknown, but my analysts believe that he could very well be headed to the Unknown Regions.?

?Minister Amedda, were Zaarin were to advance through that sector of the Unknown Regions, would our alliances and protectorates hold up to their treaty obligations?? Vice Chairman Ars Dangor inquired.

?In my honest estimation, no. I recommend that we suggest to Alkanan that he declare emergency in the Hunean Oversector, and delegate emergency powers to Grand Moff Rovonoski. Of course, I would appreciate it if Admiral Oxtroe, military adjunct to the Council, could provide some of his own insights, as would Director Gridon,? the Chagrian settled back into his seat.

?Then perhaps a state of total emergency and martial rule throughout the entire Empire would be in order,? Advisor Richeneau suggested,? We?ve had already Revan knows how many uprisings by COMPNOR sympathesizers and Rebel terrorists across the realm.?

?I don?t believe that would be a prudent course of action,? Mahd interjected. Dangor and Amedda both looked very irritated that the agenda was taking a tangent on martial law,? We?ve begun to make inroads with regards to previously hostile worlds, I don?t think we should jeopardize it because of a relative few bombings and riots.?

?The Rebels haven?t declared martial law in their territories yet. But according to Director Gridon, they are seriously considering it,? Advisor and Minister of Commerce Meido spoke up,? So perhaps we should declare martial law after the Rebels initiate such a measure.?

?Particularly after another spaceport by that New Justice Alliance group,? Tan Starpyre added.

?Then make that proposal a formalized memorandum, Secretary,? Dangor quickly interjected,? All in favor, vote aye.?

The vote was unanimous.

?Very well. Have a page droid deliver it at His Majesty?s pleasure,? Dangor smoothly returned to the agenda,? Admiral Oxtroe, you opinions??

?I believe that it would be necessary to dispatch Grand Admiral Grant and a sufficient force to intercept Zaarin?s taskforce, as well as to neutralize t

 

Sweet.

Especially this quote: "Mls'ratn's forces had only hit them with ion cannons, signifying malicious intent of capture. Pellaeon's more unfriendly turbolasers meant more malevolent intent to kill."

TIE-Hexes? And Zaarin still alive? I thought this story starts being AU after Bilbringi.

 

Thanks.

Well, Zaarin will be explained latter. There were a few other minor points of divergence prior to Bilbringi.

And TIE Hexes are the new frontline fighters of choice for Palpatine and his forces.

(They resemble a Eta-2 Jedi Interceptor, in that the trapezoid solar panels are mounted horizontally on the side of the cockpit).

Oh, and one more to the 6000th post.

 

great few posts, i really like this story.

 

A squadron of B-wings made a run at the bridge tower of the Sphinx, spraying a hail of red lightning and shimmering proton hail at the Star Dreadnought before breaking away, pursued by two flights of the One Eighty First?s TIE Defenders. Off in the distance, a Rebel Venator Star Destroyer took the barrage of a Tector?s alpha strike across the bow, and began to drift aimlessly in space, burning.

Off in the distant space forward, the picket ships had begun to skirmish at close range. Corvettes dueled with gunships, while frigates played a game of womprat and rancor with larger Dreadnaught Cruisers and Assualt Frigates. Pellaeon checked the status screen again. The line of the First Overfleet?s Star Destroyers were holding tight, while their starfighter screens engaged in routine interception of enemy raiding craft. All in all, the battle was going according to script.

Ragab had apparently ordered some of his ships to flee the battle. Or the Rebel admiral was loosing control of his own fleet. ?Sir, two more Republic class Star Destroyers have left the system! They?ve destroyed two of the Interdictor cruisers,? Lieutenant Tschel reported.

?I want the Dominator and Interdictor screens to be more vigilant in preventing Rebel assets from escaping the system,? Pellaeon ordered,? Detail two more taskforces, Avenger and Claymore, to reinforce the escorts for the Interdictors.?

It was natural that when faced with the Star Dreadnoughts Sphinx, Whelm and Aggressor, that the Rebel ships would try to regroup in other parts of the Dolomar Sector. But even a cadet would have foreseen that. Thrawn had already detailed a trio of Star Destroyers, accompanied by a mobile Golan IV Battlestation, each to blockade fifteen of the most important Rebel controlled systems in the sector. Meanwhile, Admiral Rogriss?s fleets were keeping watch over the hyperlanes, interdicting all retreating Rebels from Dolomar while intercepting the various ragtag reinforcements Ragab had ordered out of their hiding holes.

With the vital communication hubs, military bases and production centers out of Rebel hands, the Imperials could move on to other business, whether with Palpatine or Mon Mothma, while the new sector fleet and army would finish mopping up the remaining Rebel cells. That would effectively finish the Rebel strongholds outside of Corellia. And incidentally, shift the focus of the war to the Loyalists.

?Sir,? Captain Thanas walked over to him,? Report from Sensor.?

As Pellaeon read the report summary, he felt an icy drop in his stomach,? Scramble one of the squadrons from the One Hundred and Eighty First to investigate, at once, captain.?

He didn?t bother to hear Thanas?s acknowledgement. He got up and saw Grand Admiral Thrawn walk over. So Thrawn knew about it, as well. ?We have major trouble sir,? Pellaeon hissed through his teeth,? General Phennir and the Roc Squadron are moving in to intercept,? Pellaeon paused,? What the CGT array and data analysis have determined to be a squadron of TIE Phantoms, though readings are sporadic. And a modified courier ship, identified as a Hunter type Transport. Both are equipped with stygian cloaking shields.?

?Sir?? Lieutenant Yage called from Sensors,? We?ve detected what appears to be a cloaked Sienar courier ship. However, it?s faded away. It may be a fluke, there?s too much interference in that area of the battle due to the Interdictors.?

They couldn?t take such a chance. Especially with a squadron of the One hundred and eighty first. ?Order Phennir to fall back-?

?Countermand that order, admiral,? Thrawn smoothly replied,? It appears that one of Palpatine?s Dark Side Elite is present.? At the mention of one of the Sith Lord?s enforcers, Pellaeon instinctively looked at the ysalamiri support frames located around the bridge.

?Instead, order General Phennir to hold his current position. There maybe other of the seven out there,? Thrawn paused, deep in thought,? And scramble two wings of tri-fighters over there.?

?Sir?? Pellae

 

Hmm...things are getting interesting. You update fast.

 

i liked that post especially, gave me a look at the layout of the two empires.

 

Hopefully I'll update over after my midterms.

Will complete chapter two.

Am also working on a new AU fic.

 

great post again have to say, and cant wait.