Star Wars: The Crimson Order

CIVIL WAR

Conflict! The war between the Empire and Republic rages on as the galaxy is left to deal with the inner turmoil. The Jedi Order and Sith Empire are desperately trying to grab what systems they can before they fall into each other's hands. However, even with the war sending a flame of despair throughout the galaxy, a new threat lurks in the voids of Wild Space.

A year has gone by with intense conflict between another pair of opposing forces. The Crimson Empire has established a strong trade alliance with the Republic, and is now using its devious assets to search the galaxy for its most wanted enemies. Kanto leads the mayhem against the Resistance, or also known as the Crimson Rebels. After months of ill-fated attempts, the Dark-Jedi acquires a new ally that has now resurrected and is known to be the only Sith to defeat the Crimson Order, Sharnus. Together, Sharnus and Kanto strike blow after blow against the Rebel Leader, Kaedus Arcadia. The main weapon at their disposal is a cloned experiment that is brutally gifted with the Dark Side of the Force, the genetically gifted woman by the name of Syreena. With the new gift of clone generation, Syreena herself develops the new version of an elite trooper that once fought for the Crimson Order before his death, Jorth Shadowhunter. Amongst other deadly allies, the force of power and destruction carve a path for the world of Obroa-Skai in search of a deadly new asset. However, as Jorth conducts Operation: Black Mallard on his personal flagship, the Dark Apocalypse, Kanto searches for interests of his own. After discovering a dark secret on the edge of the Deep Outer Rim, Kanto searches for his lost son Ross…willing to destroy anything or anyone in his path to find him.

The Crimson Rebels have finally tasted victory. After an immense operation to find the last known Bravo Company trooper on an ancient Trandoshan world, Captain Noble and Captain Sky found themselves face to face with Jorth Shadowhunter. With the help of vital troopers from Alpha Company, the force was able to sustain the elite trooper and retake the capital ship, the Endurance. Surprisingly, they weren't alone. Weeks before, Cratoren Arcadia and Reeseomari Arcadia finally escaped the torments of Yavin III in search for their son. Broken and battered, the duo was successful with the help of Lanorn. After a bloody battle on the bridge of the Endurance, the ship was claimed for the needs of the Resistance. Reunions and love followed, but the duty of the galaxy wasn't to be visists his ancestors tomb to reobtain his power in order to defeat the Sith God, Sharnus. After receiving a disturbing signal from the planet of Voss, the heroes race to their aid. Before they can investigate what had happened, Kaedus informs the crew that it is essential to refuel before traveling. The Rebels engage the Crimson Empire cargo ship, The Galantro, and try to secure their freedom to travel where they wish for the good of the galaxy…

However, the groups of heroes are unaware that Cratoren brought something with him from the Yavin moon. Confused at his new power, Cratoren rushes to aid the Rebellion before the coming threat emerges its head. Little do both sides know, that the galaxy is fixing to change forever.

Prologue

The sight was magnificent, even if the purpose was something he preferred in a different aspect. A bridge full of exceptionally bright minds, all of them exchanging theories and plans, it almost brought a smile to his face.

Kaedus stared at the immense bridge, large in space but short in personnel. Upon discovery, that his father and Noble had taken command of the vessel, he did his best to fill the void of crew members. Bucklers, smugglers, friends, they all came to his call…well some of them at least. Now he looked at his closest allies, each of them bringing a different aspect to the table. Cratoren and Reese stood close as usual, each of them peering into the holo-grams and providing only a small amount of advice when the time came. Katar and Adrianna stood next to them, the loudest of the group, in who had just arrived from their time away on Orto. The opposite force of the debate was of course Captain Noble and Admiral Ordo, they had a different mindset than Katar's or Adrianna's, but it was important that every detail was addressed.

The plan was simple, or at least thinking about it was simple. Voss was in trouble, no doubt due to the Empire or Kanto's forces. After a small discussion, it was agreed that they needed to provide immediate aid or at least investigate what had happened. There was only one obstacle however, fuel, because they only had theoretical drops left and then they would become a floating ghost ship, if they didn't find a port. Kaedus had sent Katar and Adrianna to Orto, in where they discovered a hidden fueling port that remained out of charted territory. The next problem they faced was how Orto was a triple rotation trip from Voss, they wouldn't make it in time to help. Kaedus had quickly decided to raid a nearby Crimson Empire patrol, they were common in their current system. He figured that if they hit the convoy hard enough, they could commence a zero-fuel process and then zip over to help the Voss and discover their condition.

"All I'm asking is that we have two squadrons to cover us, if we have the right protection our transport can easily make it to their hanger." Noble stated, his voice stern as it always was during briefings like these.

Katar rested both of his arms at his side and looked over to Kaedus, his blue eyes peering in skepticism. "I know Captain, but Ordo made it clear we don't have the man-power to face their fighters. We'd be torn to pieces…"

Ordo shook his head and nodded over to Kaedus as well, as if they were all addressing him instead of Cratoren.

"Correction, I said we wouldn't have enough time with the manpower we have. I don't doubt your skills as a pilot. I just don't think we can fend off their wing-battalion that long."

Kaedus shrugged, he knew exactly what the plan needed and that was an extra dose of talent and he provided just that. He spared a quick glance at his parents, who stared curiously at their son, knowing he had an idea the moment he thought of it.

"I'll lead the squadrons, while the troops invade the ship, it'll give us enough time to cover them and then escort them back." He stated, causing the group to fall silent and look over to him in unison.

Kaedus looked over to Cratoren, who wore a smile and didn't remove it until Ordo's concerned voice finally broke the silence.

"Kaedus, with all due respect…it only takes one stray bolt to send you to a frozen grave, I don't think the risk is worth it." He mumbled.

Kaedus shrugged and looked around to his friends, making sure his tone was as relaxed as possible. "I'll be fine, someone needs to do it and I volunteer. We're running out of time anyways, the more we wait…the more fuel we waste."

Ordo nodded and looked over to Cratoren, the two men exchanged a quick glance and then peered to the rest of the group. Kaedus took the conjoined approval to be all that he needed to state the final declaration of the plan.

"Then it's settled…I'll lead Blade and Grey Squadrons, we'll dispatch two wings to escort Alpha Company to the cruiser's hanger and then provide battle support. Noble will take his men and extract the needed supplies, Sky and Elisa will go along and infiltrate any needed objectives as necessary. Any questions?"

The group nodded and then turned their heads to Cratoren as he stepped forward and peered over to the Captain.

"Noble, you have room for two more Jedi?" He asked.

Noble smirked and gave a quick nod, almost excited to answer. "Yes sir, we always have room for some backup."

Cratoren nodded in response and looked back to the group. "Then it's settled…"

The group dispersed as everyone made their way to their designated areas. Kaedus stayed behind, giving himself a moment to run everything in his head before heading to the hanger. It was a tradition he started doing after the capture of Syreena, he learned it was best to sit and think before barging into a fight. The trait had to be one of his weakest flaws, it always caused him to take risks rather than perfect a strategy. He hoped that this little ritual would provide some sort of change, at least it would calm his senses.

Cratoren didn't move, instead he stayed still as he watched the others disappear. The face of his father was joyous at first, but the feeling they both felt was something that couldn't be ignored.

"It's him…you feel it?" His father asked, a stern sound lifting from his voice.

Kaedus crossed his arms and nodded. "Yes, he went there in person, I felt him instantly. What does Sharnus want with Voss?"

"I don't know…" Cratoren admitted as he looked down. "-it can be confusing at times, but he is a being not to be trifled with. I advise caution."

Kaedus agreed, if there was anyone on the whole ship that would know their enemy best, it was either his father or himself. The young Jedi retracted, he would include his mother but she didn't have the same feeling towards Sharnus like they did, and it was based purely on experience. The two men stood silent as they pondered the coming mission, trying to discover anything they had missed or looked over, thankfully nothing came to mind.

"I figured you'd volunteer…" Cratoren stated as he looked to his son. "-if you hadn't taken command of our fighters, I would've had to….and we both know how bad I am at flying." He joked.

Kaedus straightened himself and let out a smooth chuckle. "Yeah, well just try not to tear the entire ship apart with Noble. We need the gas and it's no good to us spoiled."

Kaedus looked to his father, the man across from him responded in a unusual way. Cratoren's face faltered to the mention of destroying the ship, but it swirled around and replenished his humor. He smiled, even if it was obviously forced, and then took his first steps towards the bridge exit.

"I'll try my best…good luck Kaedus. May the Force be with you…" He proudly encouraged as he strode off of the bridge.

"May the Force be with you as well…father." Kaedus mumbled.

He watched Cratoren enter the elevator to take him down to the loading bay, he would for sure be a vital aspect of this mission. Kaedus still couldn't comprehend of how great this moment was, it seemed like ages since they last had everyone on the same ship and conducted a mission together. If there was a single untied vision that he shared with everyone, it was to have what they possessed about a year ago. A band of heroes, fighting to defend what they believe is justice. It might've sounded cliché, but they were probably the galaxy's greatest of beings, if they lacked power then they made up for it with intellect or resolve.

Kaedus couldn't hold back his solemnness anymore however; he knew he would be facing Sharnus on every move in this encounter. Not to mention Kanto, Syreena, Domonix, Nayx and whoever else served the wickedness of the Sith God and the Crimson Empire leader. The time they had off was nice, but this conflict wouldn't end with vacation. He was nervous, but he let everyone believe he wasn't. It was a technique he mastered long ago; it helped with giving orders and lifting moral. The only person who knew what he felt about this campaign was himself, and he couldn't help but think that Sharnus knew too. The Sith God would eventually learn, it was one of his sickest powers, to read ones thoughts and exploit them.

He knew what he was facing, so did everyone else. Everyone knew that whatever they faced however, they would face together.

Kaedus strengthened his mind and walked off of the bridge, making his way to his personal Starfighter.

The door slid open easily, as it always did. Noble made a couple of quick changes to his mission log on the simple data pad he always carried around. The information wasn't important, but it made him feel like he was being productive.

The room he entered belonged to his men, the Alpha Company Rangers, or also known as the 101st Crimson Rangers. The barracks contained a vast array of bunk beds and footlockers, with the occasional, provocative posters slapped on the walls. A single window allowed the men to wonder off into the stars on the far side of the living space, only cluttered by racks of blasters and auto-cannons. Only one training dummy stood in one corner, which was currently being pounded away by Tup. Noble took only a couple of seconds to hear the massive thuds of the jabs and counters, followed by the eager grunts of the sergeant. The quiet sounds of the room and intense preparations of each trooper made Noble realize that his men were ready.

"We have our job, round up for briefing!" Noble shouted, instantly catching the attention of his men.

The large group of soldiers, all of them dressed in similar red and white combat suits, gathered around a single holo-projection device. The settings were already in place, so all Noble had to do was click a single button and it showed a detailed image of a classic Crimson-Empire cargo vessel. Cutter gave Noble a pat on the shoulder and stood at attention at his side, looking over the men to make sure all eyes were focused and ready. Noble did the same thing, however he looked at his men's faces instead. He peered at the shaved head of Tup, the quiet helmet of Alpha-20, Ringo's deep brown eyes and curly, black hair. They each had a certain identity to them, that's what made Alpha Company so special.

Before he started the briefing, the door slid open once again, however this time it revealed two fully armored young women. Sky stood straight, her eyes giving Noble a compassionate look and then becoming sharp and stern as usual. Elisa stood at her side, the pink hair couldn't be more recognizable and the deceptive frail body didn't fool anyone, anymore. What caused Noble to smile was the fact they both wore a different colored armor. Green and white glowed, freshly painted, and patterned on both of their chest plates and armor pieces. Sky held her intimidating helmet at her side, letting the customized design be seen by every trooper in the room.

"Bravo reporting…sir." She stated.

Noble wanted to respond with a rash comment, but this was hardly the time for jokes. The Captain nodded and motioned for the two troopers to join, recognizing that their part in the mission was critical.

"Alright, listen up…" Noble began; making sure his voice reached the back of the crowd. "-this mission is a simple smash and grab, it's nothing we haven't seen before. The only reason it will be difficult is if you make it difficult. Our target is this Freighter-Class Cargo ship, also known as the "Galantro"."

The holo-projection of the ship rotated, showing the encompassing hallways and hanger ports that littered the entire structure. Noble allowed his men to digest the schematics, even though their mission required only one route. He never hesitated to prepare his men for the unreasonable, if there was one thing he's learned…it's that every mission can go sideways.

"In case you haven't noticed, our ship is running a bit dry. Kaedus has led us to understand that this mission is a priority and is to be treated as such. If we fail in extracting this cargo ship's fuel…then it will lead to major repercussions. The ship is equipped with a dual-cruiser escort, both of the attack ships are equipped with standard Crimson equipment and a good amount of fighter squadrons."

Noble looked over to the projection, the design of the two cruisers was all too similar. He knew everyone in the room was thinking the same thing, except for the new recruits.

"Say what you will about these pretenders, but they don't lack vanity." He followed, and then continued with his briefing. "Kaedus will lead Grey and Blade squadrons to cover our approach, as our Company will make a straight shot for the broadside hanger-bay. The ship is equipped with an artificial gravity device, which means the enemy can turn it off with a flick of a switch. That means every single one of you troopers will be equipped with our Null-Class battle armor."

The information caused the men to stir and let out grunts of disappointment. Noble had to agree, the bulky suits that were known as Null-Class annoyed him during a firefight. Air tanks and wide helmets never proved useful in combat, but they came in handy when you were faced with suffocating to death. The suits were necessary, it would protect the men, and that's all Noble needed to hear.

"Now, for the details…" He continued, glancing over to Sky who stood close to the projection. "- our mission revolves around the Supply Deck, once boarding the hanger we will tactically infiltrate the enemy defense and make our way to the massive fuel deposit in their cargo hold. Sigma Squad, led by myself, will lead the attack along with Jay Squad. Rancor, Osiris, Char, and Photon squads will remain at the hanger bay and stretch along the corridors for support and defense. Once retrieved, Captain Sky and her specialist will deactivate all communications and provide false information to the enemy."

Noble's head felt dizzy after the immense demonstration, he hardly talked this much, except for briefings like these. Everyone in the room acted like they understood their goals and then peered back up at the Captain.

"Any questions?" He followed.

Ringo raised his voice and tilted his head back, hesitant to ask the question that escaped his mouth.

"Will there be any Jedi alongside us…sir?"

Noble shrugged, trying to build up the announcement before he let the men know. He felt a sense of excitement in himself too, for a long time these men had fought by themselves against Sith and The Force, it was nice to have someone next to them that possessed the same power. It was like the good ole days to Noble however, he looked forward to working with Cratoren once again.

"The reason is unknown, but it seems like both Cratoren and Reeseomari Arcadia have an interest with fighting with Alpha Company for this mission…" He shouted, sparking an immense cheer from the men standing before him.

The cheers and laughter faded away as the men left to check their gear and slip on their armor. Clicks of blasters being loaded and snaps from bracers being strapped on filled the entire room, almost bearable but Noble decided to step out anyways. The bright hallway was a change in lightning compared to the dark briefing room, it almost blinded him to the point that he didn't see that Sky followed him out. The two stood in the hallway, waiting for crew members to pass by and then disappear around a corner. Noble looked to Sky once they were alone, smiling and then letting a shrug lift his shoulders.

"I guess we're back into the mix of things, make sure you blind our enemy so I can make it out alive." He joked.

Sky smiled, but instead of responding with an immediate comeback, she pushed Noble against a nearby wall and pressed her lips against his. Noble squinted to the warm sensation of her body, accepting the comfort before she let him go.

"I'll do my best…" She replied, keeping a smile on her face before walking down the hallway.

Noble flinched as the door next to him opened, revealing Elisa. The woman turned the corner and followed the footsteps of her superior, but her head turned before she rounded the last corner. "Told you…" She muttered.

The Captain shook his head as the trooper disappeared and made her way to the hanger bay. Shortly after, men from his own Company left the barracks and proceeded to their stations, giving a quick salute to him in the process. Finally, Cutter and Ringo appeared fully armored and ready to go, accompanying their Captain as they all made their way to the hanger. The clicks of their hefty boots attracted glances from other members of the crew, not to mention the bright colors that radiated from their armor in the form of Red and White. Cutter wiped a particle from his shoulder plate, looking over to Noble in the process.

"What's the score Captain?" He asked. The tradition of betting on a mission's success wasn't professional, but it sure was fun.

Noble thought about all of their odds, and for once he liked them. He always succeeded in missions that everything was stacked against them, but for once they had everything going on their side.

"We're about to wake Sharnus himself…" He conceded.

As they made their way to the transport, a part of him hoped he had never mentioned the name. It was time to focus, and most of all…it was time to get the job done.

Cratoren knew his son better than anyone, despite his wife. The face he wore on the bridge confirmed that he was ready to lead, and ready to fight. He couldn't have been more proud, not due to the fact that his son was war-ready, but to the reality that he had grown up. A father can love nothing more than to see his boy grow into a man, it was an unspoken tradition that he always wanted to see. Another aspect was the fact that Cratoren never knew his father, the only memory he had was what the Jedi Order told him and what remained in the Archives.

Three children, the ideas of having such a loving life are what drove Cratoren to the ends of the galaxy. He only had one now, one son, and two horrible regrets that he would never overcome. He knew he had to let go of the pain, his family had to, but still there was something inside of him that tugged away at his chest. Airadessa.

The relationship he had with his daughter always struggled, he always felt he disappointed her at every turn. She was the middle-child, coming directly after Katus and a few years before Kaedus. The young girl had to watch her father carve a path of destruction through the galaxy in hopes of slaying Sharnus, and it was obvious she did not approve. Even though he returned a new man, she always glared at him in private and remained distant to no end. Cratoren wished he had repaired their bond, the one that every father has with his sweetheart. She was taken from him before he could, and because of what? He felt a disturbance in the Force, so he left, and the last words he told Aira was to believe in him and to trust him. He would never see her now, and that was the regret that he held so dearly in his heart.

There were distractions, like reuniting with Kaedus and finally leaving the moon of Yavin. Even the experience he had on Yavin III, the fact that his destiny held the galaxy in place for when the coming threat revealed itself couldn't hide his pain. Reese held the same emotion, he could sense it like a drum, always pounding away until one day it would burst.

Cratoren looked up, his reflection in the mirror filled him with the same confidence he had before. The water that he splashed on his face dripped from his forehead, nearly damping the long strands of hair that extended that far. He reached and switched the running water off, allowing a sense of silence to clear his mind. However, a hocking sound came from one of the refresher stalls. The Jedi cocked an eyebrow and peered over to the row of stalls, initially believing he was alone but now curious to see who was present with him.

The door slid open as Ordo walked out, his boots still clean and his uniform only slightly muffled. Cratoren made eye contact with the man as he walked over to Cratoren and used one of the sinks, dabbing his own face with the cool water.

"I get the jitters sometimes…" He admitted, making sure none of the mess splattered on his shirt.

Cratoren smiled, not being able to muster enough joy to chuckle. "I know how it feels." He replied.

"Yeah…" Ordo mumbled. "-I did the same thing when I was a trooper in Alpha, I thought it would end once I was an Admiral. Looks like I was wrong…" He conceived.

"Is it because of the responsibility… of the ship?" Cratoren asked.

Ordo washed his face one last time before answering, his eyes seemed clearer now instead of their irritated redness from the gagging. "It's because of the responsibility of their lives…" He revealed.

"How do you cope with it? The death and loss?" Cratoren's voice showed unlimited signs of curiosity. He wasn't asking for his friend, he was asking for himself because maybe someone knew something more than he did.

"I don't…" Ordo started. "-but when someone does pass on…I think…no…I have to believe there's a better place than this galaxy. Someplace beyond our minds and imagination, where all life resides in peace."

The Admiral gave a firm pat on Cratoren's shoulder as he exited the refresher room, leaving the Jedi to think about the statement. He only managed to squeeze a couple of words before leaving. "Good luck Cratoren…"

Cratoren stared once again into his reflection, he believed it too, it was just hard to keep that in mind. He was unfocused for a Jedi, it was one of his nonperishable traits. Though, Ordo was right, there had to be something beyond this galaxy…never-ending war couldn't be the only life for him.

One day…he would find it, in death, or in life.

Chapter One

Part One

The room was almost as empty as he preferred it, though he knew the three gangsters with him would stay until he left. Crime didn't change, especially in due to location, the same goons did the same things over and over again. The only organization that came to mind that did things slightly different was the Hutt Cartel, and the records he read about Makeb showed even they were squashed.

Shalo remained standing still as he watched the group of misfits exit the briefing, catching a couple of cold glances in the process. He stayed because none of this made sense to him, the man that supposedly led this expedition and the trooper at his side hardly screamed legitimacy. However, the payment for his finished job would be too large to pass up; he figured that's what these employers counted on. Even if he was intrigued, it was a self-taught lesson not to trust anyone waving a large amount of credits around.

Before he made his way to the leader, which still remained standing on the other side of the projection device, he decided to go over the details of the mission one last time. It was primarily an expedition to Wild Space, which was always a hit or miss when it came to exploration. Shalo had never been off of Coruscant, but he always watched holo-videos that showed the wonders of the galaxy. Such videos were hard to come by, but a simple hacking job would easily solve the problem. Their objective during this mission was an outpost known as "TACKLE", which was an appreciation for some fancy title. It wasn't too fancy however, because the outpost itself had gone dark and no communication had been received in over a year. It was shady, but it was nothing a team couldn't handle, at least a team that worked together. After arrival at the base, it was their job to investigate and retrieve any valuable resources before returning. A trip into Wild Space wasn't just a stroll in Axial Park, it would take weeks before they returned.

Shalo looked back up to the man in charge, he was now in a deep and quiet conversation with the Mandalorian who assisted him with the gangsters. He wanted to say thanks, but he had a feeling such accommodations wouldn't brush cleanly off the warrior. Instead, Shalo walked over to their spot in the room and crossed his arms. The man who led the briefing glanced over to him and nodded, acknowledging his presence and then walked over to greet him once again.

"Ah, Shalo…did you have any more questions before you head out?" He asked.

Shalo nodded and took a quick glance at the Mandalorian who obviously was agitated about his attention being swayed.

"I had a question on what planet this outpost is located on, it was never mentioned in the briefing." He admitted, trying to pull interest from the two.

The man nodded and clasped his hands together, giving the Mandalorian a look as he answered the question. "The planet is highly unknown…" He began. "- we sent the personnel of the outpost out there for the sole reason to identify it. The problem is that they never sent their report…"

The Mandalorian grunted, causing both Shalo and the leader to turn and peer with curiosity.

"Just tell him Kanto…" He mumbled.

Shalo didn't stagger but the name came ever too familiar as he shot a glance to the man in front of him. Kanto, the famed name of the leader of the Crimson Empire, was the man that talked to him at the memorial and convinced him to join. The Crimson Empire wasn't all too popular, but when they actually made the News, the name of Kanto would be all they talked about. He recognized him now, even though he looks different in the holo-pictures. A sharp jawline, dusty blonde hair, and a pair of blue eyes, even the skin of the leader glowed in the darkness. Shalo couldn't help but notice the light saber hilt hanging from his belt either, it seemed out of place considering his professional robes.

Kanto let out a smooth sigh and turned back to Shalo, giving a relenting look. "Might I introduce you to our esteemed guest, Mandalore the Relentless…" He announced, almost skeptical to make such a statement.

Shalo shot another glance, but this time at the armored figure that assisted him not too long ago. Mandalore? Who else was in this expedition? He couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that yesterday he was merely a Broker, but now he was standing in a room with two of the galaxy's greatest idols. The galaxy's acclaimed warrior, in the flesh, had taken his time to be here which only raised Shalo's suspicions. This mission was bound to be more dangerous than they let on…

"I must confess…" Kanto stated as he noticed Shalo's loss for words. "We know the planet's features, which are very unpleasant. Volcanic surface and ash for air…those are the two major obstacles we'll face." He admitted.

Mandalore nodded and took a couple of steps forward, his armored boots clanking on the ground. "Hazard suits will protect us, but the amateurism on this mission is what concerns me. These men you brought in are no good to us if they are burnt to a crisp."

Shalo noticed on how rugged the Mandalorian's voice was compared to his own. A stern and rough crinkle lifted from his own words as if they immediately demanded authority. However, he wasn't intimidated, there was a reason they brought him in on this deal.

"Exactly, which means that our friend here has nothing to worry about? Plus, I'll be on the mission as well and so will you Mandalore…so I think we'll be just fine." Kanto followed, allowing an easiness to flow from his lips and stature.

Mandalore shrugged and nodded, agreeing to the statement but still remaining skeptical. With those words, Kanto turned to Shalo and gave him a quick pat on the shoulder.

"I'll see you at the loading dock, we should be out of here in a matter of hours." He stated as he strode out of the room, almost in a hurry to get the mission started. The door slid open as his figure disappeared into the hallway just outside. An uneasy silence settled as Shalo was left alone with his partial friend. The black visor peered at him, nearly burning a hole in his forehead, but finally the man mumbled.

"Just call me Shkar…I'm not one for being called a title every day."

Shalo stepped aside as the Mandalorian proceeded to follow in Kanto's footsteps, almost knocking him aside in the process. The door once again slid open and close as the red and white armored figure lunged into the hallway. Shalo let out a small breath as he was finally alone in the room, allowing himself to retrace his thoughts and make sense of everything he had experienced. Mandalore, Kanto, a dark outpost, it all seemed unreal for a simple city-boy trying to make a living. However, danger set aside; if he completed this mission then he wouldn't have to work anymore. That was something he would fight for, it's almost like fighting for freedom. It was freedom against the tyranny of everyday life that he was stuck in because of his financial status. However, he now had the opportunity to change that, and be whatever he wanted to be when the day came.

Shalo smirked and nodded to the thought, he could definitely fight for something like that. However, as he stepped outside and into the hallway himself, the question lingered in his mind as to how far he would go to achieve such a thing…and how far were his "allies" willing to go.

The world of Korriban, it was basically withering away to almost a landscape of dust and darkness. If not for the Sith Academy sitting in its canyon and for the brimming students of its halls, the planet would be nothing but ghosts and stories. Pathetic, the word is all he could describe the Sith on this world and their teachings. When he was younger, Phalanxe was always taught to survive and climb in personal strength and tolerance. For the well-being of the Sith Empire, only the strongest were meant to rule…and when their students began to surpass them it was only right for them to be killed. This was the way of the darkside, if this cycle was followed only the most powerful Sith would claim the galaxy. Peace was a lie, life was a never ending struggle for survival and only death would provide silence.

Instead, Phalanxe stood on the balcony of an esteemed estate. The palace had a marvelous view and unfortunately belonged to a fat pig by the name of Lord Krenan. Phalanxe despised his superiors, instead of fighting the war against the Jedi they were sitting on their comfy thrones and spouting nonsense. He was almost doubting his decision to return to the Sith ranks, but he knew the time of politics and feebleness was nearly over. Once, the Sith called him Lord, but it was subtly changed to coward once he defected and arose as a Prophet for the Sanctum known as Tarkis Arcana. Sithen had made it all but certain of his rule, completely blind to Phalanxe's warnings. A third party faction was always deemed for instant failure, Phalanxe learned this the hard way. After experiencing one of his most humiliating phases, he went back to the man he was before "The Prophet". The title he wore was a fake, and the fact that his own brother commended his downfall caused nothing but rage within his chest. The mere fact that he shared the blood of a Jedi was embarrassing, even if they shared a common enemy once…

"Ah! Lord Arcadia…I wasn't expecting you."

Phalanxe narrowed his eyebrows and cringed his face to the pathetic, high pitched voice of Krenan. He had been awaiting his arrival on the Lord's personal balcony for far too long. The room smelled of fragrance and fruit, hardly close to any traits of what a Sith Lord's chambers should smell like. Phalanxe turned and nodded, his black hair waving in front of his eyes annoyingly.

"It was the will of the Dark Council that I come see you, I believe you have my file." He responded, approving of his deep and accented voice. Krenan wobbled over to his desk and pulled a single drawer out, and then hooked a small data pad to his personal holo-console. Phalanxe turned away as the lard meddled with his belongings, the sooner he was ridden of his presence the better.

Krenan peered into the information on the small, blue, screen and then nodded in approval. The reason Phalanxe stood in his chambers was to seek clarification of his reinstatement, being that he had departed the Sith Order for some time. The Sith were not as strict as the Jedi thankfully, many Lords and Darths disembarked from the Empire for personal needs countless of times. Phalanxe wasn't any different, instead he thought it best for himself to join the Empire once more and to quit scrabbling in Tarkis Arcana affairs. He was once referred to as Lord Phalanxe, the reason he was in this putrid office was to reclaim that title once more.

"You do realize, that we are at war?" Krenan asked as his eyes peered over the screen and towards his visitor.

Phalanxe squinted his eyes and didn't turn to pay the man any attention. Instead he let out a deep and grumbled sigh and rubbed his forehead. "Yes…I know there is a war on…"

"Then you are aware of the consequences of joining, you will be sent to the front lines and tested for loyalty."

Phalanxe couldn't spare any more patience; the annoying Lord would soon test his loyalty as he thought about disconnecting his head from his body. Nonetheless, as soon as he left this office he would be allowed to finally fight in the name of the Empire. The war didn't bother him, actually he preferred to have some sort of action. A day on the battlefield would definitely beat a minute in this forsaken estate he stood in. He chuckled under his breath, as soon as he had the chance he would destroy this place and blame it on Krenan for leaving his bread in the cooker for too long.

"I'm aware…" Phalanxe stated, his accent filling the air with pride. "-in fact, I wanted you to send a request for me to be sent immediately."

The statement caused the Lord to cock an eyebrow and show a sign of shock. Krenan was a hefty man, so when he wobbled over to his chair, his voice seemed almost out of breath. Phalanxe couldn't tell if it was from the simple walk to his desk, or if he was just that dumbfounded for such a request.

"That's an odd question, I have yet to see a warrior come in here and ask to be put on the frontlines." He admitted.

Phalanxe knew the statistic was just a result from his position, if a true sith was to be sent to battle, it would be under the command of a Darth. "Maybe you have yet to have a true Sith step into your office?" He stated, allowing his skepticism to flow from his words.

Krenan ignored the accusation as he slipped into his chair and sent the request in the form of a simple holo-file. Once he fiddled with his keys and buttons, the delighted face of the Lord peered up to Phalanxe and gave a quick nod.

"The requests have been implemented, may I wish you luck…young Lord of the Sith." He commended as he returned to his duties.

Phalanxe gave a half-witted bow as he strode out of the office. The meeting was more bearable than he had expected at first, however it was still a pain to have to do all of this. Becoming a Sith wasn't like signing up for the military, countless of hours were demanded in the form of training and brutal simulations. Pain was the greatest of all experiences, it steeled one's mind to defend themselves from even the greatest of beasts. However, it didn't prepare them for a delightful visit to a Signee's estate.

The massive door leading out of the estate slowly opened, revealing a small regiment of Imperial Guards that cluttered the courtyard. Phalanxe noticed a couple of visors glanc his way, as he walked out of the fancy relaxation spot. Once to the gate, a couple of amplified shouts came from the wall-master, and then resulted in a looming sound as the gate opened slowly.

"Good day, m'lord." One of the troopers stated.

Phalanxe ignored the sentiment; his day was already ruined to the fact of where he was currently standing. However, once he took his first steps out of the enclosed area, a sense filled his mind. The sense was powerful, and then it was soon to be recognized as a presense. Someone was watching him, or at least observing his actions. Whoever was paying him total attention was strong in the Dark-Side of the force. It was a relief, the weakness of Krenan nearly made him gag, but now he felt the true power of what a Sith should possess. As he took a final couple of steps, it seemed like his prime objective was to lure this observer out…and test his abilities as a warrior.

Part Two

The dust irritated his eyes, however the only thing he was focused on had nothing to do with the physical world. It was getting closer, the power that he had felt once departing Lord Krenan's estate. He imagined it was one of his rivals, but he couldn't ignore the fact that he didn't recognize such an astounding presence since his arrival. Sense always came labeled, no matter what the Inquisitors told him. It was acclaimed that the Dark Side of the force remained unanimous, but the statement didn't falter Phalanxe. He always recognized the power of Sith, along the lines of Darth Marr and Darth Ravage. The Force expressed itself differently with each being, which is what made it such a powerful weapon.

Phalanxe walked along an unused path, only tattered by the wild beasts and slugs of the world of Korriban. He was attempting to draw his follower out into the open, rather than being ambushed in a cavern of sorts. The path he used was the long way back to the academy; maybe his pursuer would become bored or outmatched. Phalanxe actually wanted the mysterious follower to reveal themselves, he could use some action after the gut-wrenching meeting he had with Lord Krenan. The anxious thought was too much for him, he knew it was sloppy but he did it anyways. After taking one last step into the shifty sand, the Sith turned his face and smiled.

"You can come out…I've been reeling for a fight of my stature." He mocked, listening to his accent fill the entire plain.

It took a couple of seconds, but Phalanxe reeled his shoulders back when he felt the power begin to grow in charge. They wanted to fight, how ironic, because Phalanxe would have it no other way. The gilded saber whipped into his hand as he reached out with the Force, and a simple grip caused the dark, purple blade to illuminate the red dust around him. A small sandstorm had lifted into the air moments before his move, making visibility difficult .He doubted such a natural occurrence would just occur; his opponent was smart and definitely trying to get the better of him. The moments passed by as nothing but the wind filled the air, until finally his opponent made a move. An intricate web of lighting shot out in front of him, nearly taking him off guard and stumbling backwards. However, Phalanxe had faced stronger attacks; he raised his blade and flexed his arms. The impact of the lightning caused his saber to falter only slightly, his strength was superior when it came to defense. It was obvious that his attacker was testing his defenses , he felt that they had more power than what was displayed in the surprise attack.

He wasn't about to witness another test, instead he closed his eyes and protected them from the harmful particles of sand. The force provided him with his target, who was currently shifting in position. Phalanxe reached out with his offhand and curled his fingers with an aggressive cringe. The Force gripped the rock in front of him, pulling its dense weight from its sandy foundation. He wasted no time in responding, with a violent lunge Phalanxe sent the boulder flying straight for his enemy. A loud thud shook the ground under his feet as the rock made its target. In a fight, Phalanxe always learned not to let his guard down. He leaped into the air, allowing his leg strength to double with the power of the Force, and then catapulted down to the surface. The two boots he wore slammed into the sand as he desperately looked around for the corpse of his enemy. Instead of finding victory, he found a double-bladed lightsaber waiting for him as it ignited and slashed for his neck. The face of his opponent was disguised by the dense sand flying all round them, the only sight he was able to process was the red loom of the blade he deflected. Sparks flew all around his eyes as he countered the attack, swiping at his enemy's legs and then tightening his shoulders as he slashed for their torso. The attacks were met with a strong defense, the only satisfaction Phalanxe received was the damage he was causing to the space around him. With each blow, the sand lifted into the air and decimated the small shrubs littering the space. Phalanxe couldn't resist the smile that crept along his face, the feeling inside of his chest and adrenaline inside of his veins. It had been too long since he had engaged in a fight, and he could feel his opponent slipping with every attack.

The enemy became fairly visible, the sandstorm was calming down and the dense fog of dust was dissipating. Phalanxe would soon know his opponent, but before he could finish the double-saber foe off, the voice of a woman filled the air.

"Tremble, young warrior…" She spilled, trying to reach Phalanxe' sensitive motives.

Finally, his answer had been given. The sadistic voice of the woman he faced was recognizable as one of few Sith in the Academy. However, he was unsure about which one it specifically was. It didn't matter though, she had countered all of his attacks and it was apparent that she was trying to make a tactical retreat. Phalanxe lunged out with his saber, trying to pierce a hole straight through her chest. The attack was too slow, the woman reeled backwards and then countered with a large force-attack. Phalanxe tumbled backwards but refused to fall on his back, during the scuffle he managed to spot the figure of the woman. However, the details of her identity were masked by her robed outfit and the remaining clouds of dust that surrounded them.

The attacker spun her twin-saber around in a delicate fashion and then reached out with her left hand. A concoction of dust and rock spun around like a serpent, nearly engulfing Phalanxe in its twisting funnel. It was a weak attempt, he merely dashed to the side and dodged the incoming attack easily. However, as he paced his eyes around in a frantic motion, he realized the attempt was only a distraction. The dark figure was sprinting in the opposite direction, trying to flee from her failed attack. Phalanxe let out a grunt and chased after her, allowing his boots to sink into the deep sand. He wasn't going to let such a feeble attempt to go unpunished, the fight had been too lackluster to end now. It didn't matter if she ran all the way back to the Academy, he was determined to find her and make her pay for her insolence.

Phalanxe dashed down a steep hill-side, nearly tumbling over because of the loose rocks that cluttered the entire surface of Korriban. The hill-side stretched all the way down into a canyon, in which only a single pathway entered and exited. He slowed his pace and gathered his senses, it was now obvious that his foe was setting up another ambush. The boots he wore skidded down the ledge as he finally planted them onto a solid surface. The air in the canyon was cool and clear; it was a welcome change of atmosphere and what he preferred in a skirmish. He looked around, the dirt on the ground was not loose nor gravel. This meant his enemy would not be able to rely on meager environmental attacks to falter his defense.

Silence followed, which allowed him to gather his strength and prepare for the inevitable. Soon enough, the sound of a lightsaber ignited and the hum filled the space around him. He couldn't see where the saber was, but the sound seemed to be coming from the ridge line. It was unfortunate that she did not enter the canyon like he expected her to do. Now she had the advantage of the high ground, he would have to compensate for his misfortune another time. A small tremble filled the ground below him, she had made her choice and was about to unleash another hidden attack. Phalanxe cocked an eyebrow as the ridge revealed a giant boulder, was she about to tumble that giant thing on top of him? He didn't want to find out, instead he looked around frantically. He had a plan, even though it was a long shot and his timing had to be near perfection. The day he had experienced was death itself, the feeling he held inside of himself was truly missed in the past years. Risk was the only thing on his mind, it fueled his energy and passion.

The boulder reeled forward as the woman pushed it down the ledge with the Force. Phalanxe clipped his saber to his belt as it extinguished, and then lowered himself into a sprinting stance. Once he felt his instincts scream within his mind, he flexed his hamstrings and started to sprint straight for the falling rock. The timing was perfect, Phalanxe leaped into the air only meters in front of the boulder and used the rolling top to spring himself straight for his opponent. He could see the robed figure below him trying to scramble her hands to wield her saber staff, however she was too late. Phalanxe grabbed his saber once again and ignited the purple blade as he brought it down directly on top of her. Instead of killing her, he allowed his steel boots to plant directly on her chest and condemn her small torso to the rocky ground. A loud scream of pain escaped the woman's mouth as both of her hands raised in an attempt to block an incoming blow, but the blade never came. Instead Phalanxe held the purple sword inches from the woman's face, and smiled as he felt the boulder slam in the canyon below.

He was surprised, it didn't take much of his pride to admit it. He stared at a beautiful alien, her eyes gold and the skin colors synced perfectly together. However, she did try to kill him so mercy was definitely not in the question. He wanted answers, and the face that the Togruta wore showed that she was willing to give at least a couple. The colors of blue and yellow decorated the alien's face, which actually added some color to the dull plains of Korriban and Phalanxe's black robes. Maybe this alien would prove useful, atleast for an apprentice with potential.

"Your life is at an end, attacker." He stated, keeping his voice broad.

The alien didn't change her facial expression, instead she peered over to the left. Phalanxe didn't follow her gaze, he needed to remain focused so she didn't get the better of him again. However, he couldn't help himself when a smile crept along her face. Phalanxe shot his head his right, just in time to see another rock flying straight for him. There wasn't time to respond or think of another brilliant plan, instead he took the force head on as the rock slammed straight into his body. A small laugh, the gusts of wind and dust, and the throbbing of his own head were all that he could comprehend before his eyes closed. Darkness swirled with the light as his mind went blank and eased with the sense of defeat.

"Systems look good! Watch those pulsars!"

Kaedus didn't have time to think about the common chatter of his wingman, instead he fiddled with his controls one last time. He was already behind, the members of Blade Squadron had already disembarked and engaged the enemy outside. The sense of agitation filled his mind as his ship failed to start once again, this is what he deserved. Instead of maintaining his ship like he always did, he agreed to allow the standard crew members to make the necessary preparations. Something was out of place in which blocked the photon gasket, a quick fix for his astromech droid, T-5. However, the fix was minutes away…and he could hear the exchange of blaster fire outside.

"Blasted! Tee-Five please hurry…I'm never going to hear the end of this…" He mumbled.

Finally, the droid whistled in a joyful tone as the ship sparked to life. A massive wave of frantic comm chatter filled his cockpit as he turned his fighter laterally and ignited the engines. The jerk of his ship caused him to reel backwards and press his head against the leather head rest.

"Blade-Five you have a stinger on your tail! Turn! Turn!"

"Copy, I see him!"

Kaedus flew straight out of the hanger and looked around with great amazement. He stared at the massive cargo ship, known as the Galantro, and witnessed the entire void of space around him to be filled with the swirl of blue and red blaster bolts. A couple of fighters sped straight above his cockpit, waking up the Jedi with their loud engines. Kaedus gripped his stick and pushed it forward, dipping his fighter downwards in order to escape the massive crossfire being exchanged between the Endurance and the Assault Ships. An enemy fighter swirled straight in front of him, probably trying to box him in. However, to his enemy's dismay, they messed with the wrong fighter. Kaedus probably had around five minutes before this fighter's wingman appeared on the Jedi's six o'clock.

A jolt filled his body as he ignited the main afterburners, which allowed him to quickly get within range of his target. The fighter in front of him swerved, they hardly expected such a move to be conducted so quickly. Kaedus narrowed his eyebrows and fixated on his digital crosshairs, trying to line up one of his first shots of the battle. However, the fighter was resilient and made an exceptional move for the bow of the Endurance. Kaedus frowned and pursued tightly, nearly skimming his ship's exterior on the underbelly of the dreadnaught. He fired a couple of shots from his main cannons, trying to warm himself up to the sights. The blue blaster bolts missed the enemy fighter's canopy by a couple of meters, and then shot off into the void of space. His target was predictable, in a couple of seconds they were both flying through the thick firefight around the bridge area. Kaedus focused on dodging incoming friendly fire rather than his esteemed target. However, once he cleared the dense area, it only took a correct angle to line up a perfect shot.

"Power to the cannons T-5!" Kaedus shouted, knowing he had his target exactly where he wanted it.

Kaedus squeezed his trigger, the satisfaction of feeling the blasters fire didn't come light-handed. The fighter in front of him jerked as the bolts littered its metal frame, causing it to sputter and then explode into thousands of pieces. The Jedi didn't celebrate, it wasn't his style, and he had to maneuver away from the incoming debris. Someone had seen the colors of his fighter, because right after his first kill the comm inside of his cockpit sparked to life once more.

"Blade-One is in the battle! Nice to see you Commander."

The voice belonged to Katar, who seemed to be mopping up a loose group above the Endurance. Kaedus smiled and shook his head, he wanted to limit the small talk for as long as possible because of the possibility of losing focus. The Jedi peered down to his timer, which he had set just before his take-off. He had a couple of minutes before the mission was to be conducted, until then his forces were to clean anything that looked dangerous. Now that Kaedus was in the fight itself, he felt a bit queasy about the plan. After dodging a couple of stray bolts that came from the enemy cruisers, Kaedus steered his fighter and skimmed the top of the Endurance. After just a glance he could almost spot Ordo himself on the bridge, holding his hands behind his back. He didn't outstay his welcome however, the force that was radiating from the massive turbo-lasers nearly rattled his teeth to dust. Still, the sight was magnificent, massive turrets seemed to be on every inch of their dreadnaught. The enemy ship was holding together more than expected, but everyone knew that with enough time the entire structure would fail to their superior firepower.

None of this would matter if Kaedus couldn't clear the way for the trooper transport, which was minutes away from take-off. He relied on the one person that knew flying just as well as he did.

"Grey-One, do you copy?" Kaedus mumbled into his headset. "- I need a sit-rep on our situation!"

A combination of angry grunts and satisfactory yells filled his comm, but eventually the Jedi answered his friend.

"Blade-One, we need some help with this loose squadron above the Endurance! The space around the Admiral is getting pretty thick." He yelled, obviously into the thick of things.

Kaedus knew his friend was in the middle of a dogfight, however he couldn't help his urge to ask. "What about the pathway to the enemy hanger?"

"What?!" Katar yelled, shouting over the loud fire in the background. "-say again, I couldn't hear you!"

Kaedus let out a sigh and paced his head from side to side, finally spotting Katar and his fighters just outside of the bridge. "Nevermind, I'll come to you!"

Kaedus flipped off his comm channel and switched to his personal squadron lobby, the yells and commands nearly deafened him instantly. However he was able to break the dense conversation and send his command.

"Blade Squadron, Wings 1 and 3, follow me to the bridge!"

The fighters did so with great efficiency, however the sight of a couple of them getting shot down caused Kaedus' stomach to churn. He saw the wreckages plummet nose first into the bow of the Endurance, exploding along with their occupants.

"Stay tight!" Kaedus shouted, hoping his wing mates would follow his orders. However, once they engaged the enemy the fighters on both sides took bolts one by one. Kaedus twisted his control stick and spun around in an attempt to stray any missiles or bolts coming his way. An unexpected missile lock appeared on his console, meaning that his ship had automatically spotted a potential target. Kaedus didn't think twice before he pressed down on his missile launch, the explosion only a couple of hundred meters away let him know his attempt was successful. Kaedus reeled back on his stick and cleared the firefight, hoping that someone was close by to form up with for another engagement.

"Blade-Five, do you copy?" Kaedus desperately asked.

"Jacken is gone sir, this is Burner in Blade-Four. I need some help with this straggler just north of the broadside hanger." He responded.

Kaedus nodded, the hanger wasn't too far from where he currently was. Instead of focusing on the fight on hand, Kaedus decided to help his wing mate out as he tipped his ship sideways and bolted for the side of the Endurance. The timing was nearly perfect, as soon as Burner corralled the enemy closer, Kaedus let out a flurry of bolts until a couple of them found their mark. The enemy fighter twisted uncontrollably until it slammed into the shielded surface of their dreadnaught.

"Nice move Burner! Form up on my right wing and we'll head up to the bridge!" Kaedus shouted.

"Yes sir! I learned that one back on the fields of-"

Kaedus' head slammed into the console just in front of him as the entire space around him engulfed into a concoction of flame and metal. His fighter rattled up and down, almost flailing around uncontrollably and smashing into the dreadnaught. Thankfully, Kaedus was able to shake off the sudden explosion and grip his control stick. That wasn't enough, even with a firm grip he could feel the ship's thrusters sputter into a frantic motion. He tried to shout for assistance, but T-5 was obviously too busy with the emergency repairs to answer his call. There was no sign of gaining any visual outside of his cockpit, whatever happened it caused a black tint to form around his canopy. He was blind and desperately flying to survive, it seemed like none of the controls he clicked rapidly would work. Finally, he spotted the bio-freeze setting that sat on his upper right side. Every starship was equipped with this asset just in case a malfunction occurred with the emergency ejection device; the freezing liquid would allow any trapped pilot to smash the dura-mesh glass and escape. However, Kaedus needed it for something much direr, and he needed to do it fast. As he pressed down on the small lever, he felt the space around him exhaust a small liquid gas that quickly exhumed to the top of the cockpit glass. The liquid seeped through, using the biological aspect of its design, and then started to trickle the black char from his viewing port. Kaedus couldn't help but think how radical this move was, a simple rock floating in space would shatter his canopy and expose him to the depths of space. He was dead either way however, whether with a shattered ship or a blinded cockpit in the middle of a firefight.

"C'mon you piece of scrap metal!" Kaedus cursed. He lost his patience after feeling a missile swiftly brisk his right wing. The canopy was becoming clearer with each given second, but the rate was becoming slower.

"Blade-One! Compose yourself! Blade-One come in!" Katar shouted, finally realizing Kaedus' situation.

Kaedus didn't respond, he had far more problems to worry about than assuring his friend. The viewport had almost completely opened, which allowed him to let a sigh of relief escape his lips. However, he had drifted into the "dead zone" of the battle and had lost a good amount of his battle focus. The dead zone was the space between the two Capital ships, most of the fighters stayed clear of the dense zone because it was difficult to dodge the massive turbo lasers that pummeled each other. Now, Kaedus was sitting directly in it and his ship had taken its toll of fire.

There wasn't time to ponder however, Kaedus twisted his stick once more and activated his afterburners. The speed of his own ship nearly caught him by surprise; he was racing back to the Endurance as the turbolasers skimmed over his cockpit. He could almost feel the warmth of the massive bolts, his small fighter seemed like only a big compared to their magnitude. He couldn't help but grit his teeth, after feeling another bolt get to close for comfort, he lifted his control stick and shot his fighter upwards. The move was both brilliant and foolish, the latter overcoming his better judgement. Kaedus jerked in his seat once again as a stray bolt clipped his wing, igniting a small fire in the process. The impact wasn't serious, however the small damage he had taken could more than likely turn into a formidable one. Kaedus switched his emergency repairs online, peering over to his trusty astromech in the process. However, as he sat still and stared at the droid slot, his stomach churned to the sight of a burning stump of where T-5 would originally be. He recalled the large explosion, his droid must've felt the full extent of the blast and had not lasted through it. The Jedi tilted his head back in shock, he had lost his friend, and even though he could repair the droid it would never be the same.

"Blade-One! You have twin stingers on your tail!"

Kaedus snapped out of his seclusion and shot his head down to the scanner, whoever informed him was definitely right. He never would've thought the enemy fighters would follow him in the dead zone, but nothing was impossible. The flame on his right wing had coincidently stopped on its own, probably choked out to the void of space. He would be able to maneuver, and he did so when the two enemy ships let out a flurry of bolts straight at him. Kaedus straightened his ship laterally and began his race back to the Endurance, spinning a couple of times to keep his pursuers guessing. The afterburners were overloaded, so he had to rely on his flying technique to survive this dogfight. Or…maybe he didn't?

Kaedus gripped his comm and peered around, he spotted the dense fighting outside of the Endurance's bridge and was relieved to see that the enemy squadron had been drastically thinned out.

"Katar, do you read me?" He asked, hoping his friend would pick up.

After a few drastic moments, Katar's voice filled his cockpit as soon as a bolt slammed into his rear engine. "Grey-One here!"

Kaedus cringed at the gargling of his fighter, the shot had pierced his engine thrusters and his speed lowered drastically. His ship had definitely taken enough beatings for one firefight, his new objective was to return home and have his ship repaired. Even if the thought hurt his chest, and weakened his pride, he knew he would just get in the way if he stayed in this damaged fighter. This was when he needed to rely on his friends, every leader needed to. He would be in and out before he knew it, and Katar was more than qualified to lead his pilots to victory and escort the troops across the deadzone.

"I have two stingers on my tail! I need a mop!" Kaedus shouted, knowing Katar would get the reference.

"One mop coming right up!" Katar answered with an excited tone.

Kaedus gripped his stick with white knuckles, the fighters on his six were gaining on him inch by inch. He only had a couple of seconds before their missiles were locked and ready to fire. He had done his best, but his excessive dodging had depleted the power his fighter had left. There had to be a leak somewhere, because when he tried to divert all power to his auxiliary, the ship responded with a loud grown. He wished he still had T-5 with him, this whole situation would've been diverted. Kaedus shot his head down once his console sparked up and showed nothing but warnings. He didn't have to stare at it to realize it meant he was now locked on too and only seconds away from being blown to bits. The fighter might have one maneuver left in it, but other than that he was out of options.

"Keep your head down!" Katar yelled into the comm.

Kaedus widened his eyes as he stared out the front of his cockpit, seeing the engraved colors of the Grey-One fighter coming straight for him. Katar fired both of his blaster cannons, lining up a perfect shot that barely skimmed the surface of Kaedus' fighter and made their way to the two stingers behind him. Kaedus didn't turn around once he heard a pair of explosions; instead he tilted his right wing and passed by his friend. A loud cheer escaped his mouth as he smiled to the laughter over the comm.

"Katar…I owe you one…" He mumbled, almost out of breath.

His friend didn't answer, instead he led his wing squadron to another portion of the space to engage another enemy sector. Kaedus didn't need to stick around, the timer in his ship showed that the troop transport would leave any minute now. The mission would be successful if Katar kept up his progress, and if Noble was successful inside the enemy cargo ship itself. The fighting around the Endurance was still thick, but Kaedus was able to avoid any major engagements that escalated around him. Before setting his ship for the hanger, he peered over to his right to see a massive hole in the side of the dreadnaughts broadside armoring. The explosion must've came from that shot, but what could've made a hole that big? He disregarded the thought when he saw the wreckage of Burner's ship, the poor man probably didn't even know what hit him. Kaedus punched his metal console in frustration; he was losing too many good pilots in this fight. If he was to be victorious, he had to be better…and so did his decision making.

Kaedus reached down to his command console and notified his pilots that Katar was now in command of the operation while he was repairing his ship. He felt easy about the choice, and knew that they would get the job done. However, he still felt a hint of disappointment when he heard his comm spark to life one last time.

"Alpha Company transport is now leaving the hanger! All hands to their positions for immediate escort!"

He would return shortly, but not in time to see to the troopers reaching their destination safely. As he set his ship softly into the main hanger bay, he saw the crew members scurrying about in a frantic manner. The fighter comm channel automatically switched to the ship's wired intercom, which sparked his curiosity.

"We've lost contact with the personnel in the impact zone, Adrianna please investigate." Ordo commanded.

Kaedus rested his ship gently in the hanger and cocked an eyebrow, maybe he could give her a hand.

Part Three

"Keep your boots moving once we hit the enemy hanger! Our goal is not to stop until the entire chamber is secure!"

Noble winced at Cutter's rugged voice, he was proud that his men could focus so easily. Before loading onto the armored transport, he had heard of how the battle was going outside. The naval forces were taking countless of hits, and the massive explosion on the Endurance's broadside was more than rattling. However, he remained composed and ready for his own mission. Personally, he hated flying; it was the only state in which the enemy would have an easy shot at him without any resistance. If he died while riding in a transport, there was no doubt he would turn over in his grave.

The troopers of Alpha Company were nervous, there was no denying that. Expecting to reach the endpoint without any problems was a luxury that was hardly ever present. Something would go wrong, they all knew it, especially with Kaedus' fighter landing for repairs. What made them so special was to accept the fact and keep focused on their mission, even if the odds weren't in their favor. For once, they didn't have to worry about how they got to their objective, it was in the hands of their closest allies. Trust was a key part in their operations, if they couldn't trust their brothers and sisters in space…then the mission would already become a failure.

"Captain Noble!"

Noble looked up and slipped his helmet on, allowing the white patterns to glow within the interior light of the transport. The pilot had peeked his head around his own chair and attempted to wave down the Captain. After making eye contact with the trooper, he watched the pilot's hand point up to the intercom.

"The Admiral is on your personal comm. He wants to speak with you."

Noble took a couple of steps away from his men, who were beginning to strap themselves in their seats. He knew that if Ordo was trying to contact him personally, he likely didn't have anything good to say. It was best to keep his men out of the conversation rather than attracting their attention from the mission. After making sure he was alone, Noble reached up to this helmet communicator and pressed down on the respond button.

"Noble here…" He briskly answered.

A loud muffle sparked to life within his audio receptors, but then Ordo's calm voice finally came through.

"Captain…" He began. "-the path to the enemy hanger is still pretty dense. Our squadrons are taking larger casualties than expected. The mission may have to cease so we can cut our losses and find alternatives."

Noble was set back slightly at the tone of his friends voice. Defeat wasn't an option, it was made clear in the briefing that if they failed, the Endurance would be nothing but a floating tub of waste. No, he wouldn't accept the casualties as a reason for retreat. They weren't a powerful military force, they were called Rebels for a reason. The only thing they know and have experienced throughout the entire year was loss, what's making them stop now because of it?

"Negative…" Noble stated, raising his voice to a medium volume. "-don't freeze up on us now Admiral. We still have a shot at this… and my men are ready, if we back down now than we'll be defeated all together. There is no retreat…"

Ordo let out a small sigh and then grunted with acceptance. The Admiral knew the mission was do or die, but he suspected that something inside of his friend was aching due to the death they faced already.

"Okay Captain,proceed as planned…just be careful." He concluded, as the comm shut off and the instant rumbling of the battle were heard once more.

Noble nodded and turned to his men, each trooper wasn't phased by the call from the Admiral and were set for launch. The loading door slid downwards, revealing two figures that brought a smile under Noble's helmet. Just as the engines began to fire up, Cratoren and Reese made their way onto the transport and gave Noble a quick salute.

"What's the score Captain?" Cratoren asked, his eyes brimming with excitement.

"Impossible odds and a straight shot to hell…" He answered.

Reese smiled as she gripped onto a single harness and tapped her lightsaber hilt. Cratoren joined her as she nodded to the men of Alpha Company.

"Nothing different than yesterday!"

Noble walked over to his seat as his men let out a cheer to the statement. Bravado was good, especially with this mission, however he hoped deep within that no one would accept the sense of fatality. Some of his men weren't coming back, and the fact scared him to death every time he thought of it.

"Pilot! Send us out!" He yelled.

Nerves filled his entire body as the ship lifted from the ground and entered the loud void of space. With each jerk, his stomach knotted into a ball and seemed to never unwind itself. Despite the dire situation, it was good to be back in action…

"Blasted…"

The word escaped his mouth before he even noticed, it wouldn't be the first time he's cursed himself. Ordo looked over to the main tactical HUD and peered into its endless counts of information. Blade Squadron had taken small casualties so far, however Grey Squadron was getting beat up in the dense zone in Sector 5.

"Delta, any more information on that seismic blast that slammed into us earlier?" He asked.

The feeling in his gut sank as his crew member turned from the damage report console and shook his head. He couldn't wrap his mind about what had hit them , only a couple of observations had seen the actual blast. The mystery kept him from risking anymore lives, he kept the ship at a broadside firing angle and didn't dare move. Whatever had hit them and pierced straight through their shields would more than likely be used again. The decision was a tough one, if he didn't gain any ground on the enemy attack cruisers, they would remain out of range for their primary ion cannons.

Ordo remained composed however, his thoughts were tracing back and forth to whether he made the right decision to agree with Captain Noble or not. The trooper's instincts were always in the right place, but he didn't see the battle from Ordo's perspective. There was enough fuel to make one last hyperspace jump, even if it was risky, no one would perish from a simple jump. No…he needed to steel himself and get the job done instead of thinking of alternatives. It was too late, the tactical holo-gram had shown that the attack force was already leaving the hanger. Like Noble said...there was no retreat.

"All guns, focus on the enemy hanger shields and wipe them out! Inform Grey-One that the mission is still active!" He shouted, causing his crew members to rush around in a frantic motion.

The constant chatter of the men and women around him kept himself focused and alert.

"Grey-One, Grey-One, engage any enemy approaches in the dead zone! Mission is a go!" One officer shouted.

"Copy that Endurance! Falling in now!" Katar responded over the amplified comm.

Okay, so the escort was still intact and the path was only hardly underpopulated. Ordo had to think of something if he wanted to bend odds in his favor. There was no time to doubt himself, his time as a Commander and Captain of Alpha had taught him never to freeze during a fight. Everyone on the ship knew the risks, but he still needed a sign in which to act.

"Broadside cannons need to gather their precision!" He shouted, noticing that the hanger shield was not down yet.

Nerves retained control in his body as he awaited the news, however it never came. They were behind schedule now, and no doubt they were shorthanded. His mind pondered all of the scenarios in which would happen, but instead of receiving assuring information…and officer turned to him with widened eyes.

"Admiral! The enemy's ship signature is appearing to be charging up to full power!"

Ordo flared his eyes and shot a hard glance to his deck officer. "Are they preparing to jump?!" He barked in disbelief.

"No…" The officer mumbled. "-it's from one of the assault cruisers…they're about to-"

Ordo didn't need to hear the rest of the sentence, instead he looked out of the rightward view-port and gasped in amazement. One of the main cannons on the enemy ship sparked with a lightning flared bolt, and then shot it out of its main barrel. The shot was deafening as the large combustion round slammed into the broadside of the Endurance once more. Ordo didn't even have time to react, the bolt fired with an astonishing speed that no fighter could divert from. The explosion was ten-times bigger than the last one, and the impact caused every crew member on the bridge to tumble over. Alarms filled the air as the emergency containment light filled the space around him. Ordo gripped onto his command console in front of him as the ship rocked from side to side. Violent coughs and groans followed shortly after, but the commanding voice of the Admiral allowed everyone to gather their senses.

"I want every detail on the damage we just sustained! I also want a full sit-rep on our shield status!" He shouted broadly.

The officers all around him scrambled to gather reports, and then looked to their commander in doubt.

"Sir! We have lost all of our broadside cannons; the generator was ruptured and can't be repaired during the battle!" They responded.

Just what they needed…there was no going back now. It would be impossible to protect the trooper transport without any cannons to soften the enemy. Ordo knew what he had to do, and also took into account that it could end in two different ways. The first outcome would be less than likely; he would be called a hero and a tactical genius. The second outcome would prove that he was unfit to command the ship, and would likely be acclaimed as suicidal. It didn't matter; Ordo never cared for personal opinion anyways. He chuckled to himself as he regained his confidence as a leader, he wasn't just going to let the enemy have potshots on his friends and allies. The enemy was going to regret that they ever fired that damn weapon in the first place. It was time to see if he was fit to lead…if he was meant to become an Admiral.

"Delta! What's the status on the troop transport?!" He demanded.

"They report to have taken damage to their primary engines! Grey-Squadron has lost two of their heavy fighters!"

Ordo squinted his eyes and burned a gaze at the enemy bridge, he was about to shock the entire crew. Oddly, the only thing he could think about was his daughter, who was resting easy in the troop transport. There couldn't be anything other than her that affected his mind at the current moment.

"Listen up! It's time to wake our enemy up to the full potential of this ship. I want full power diverted to the frontal shields, every round of ammunition transported to the main frontal cannons, and I want two ion torpedoes loaded into the main tubes! Now!"

The crew looked upon him with a face of confusion, but when their duty kicked into their mind they rushed around and did their jobs. Ordo pointed to the front of the ship and narrowed his eyes once more.

"90 degrees broadside, bring us about and then transfer secondary power to the engines." He commanded.

Soon enough, the tip of the Endurance was pointing straight at the enemy trio of ships. A light blue hue radiated from the edges of the dreadnought, letting the Admiral know that the shields were at full power and focused on the front of the ship. The Endurance was now pointing straight at the enemy cruisers, and it's guns were now loaded with the galaxy's deadliest ordinance.

"Punch it!" Ordo shouted.

The Endurance charged the gap in between the opposing forces. Ordo could see the troop transport make its way closer to the hanger, but there stood one last problem for the attack force. The Admiral built up a small sweat on his brow as he eagerly waited until they were in range of the Galantro. If he was too late, the transport would smash straight into the hanger shields, but he had a plan for such an obstacle.

"Target the shield generators, when ready, fire both tubes one and two…"

The weapon specialist on the bridge turned with a frantic look on his face. After mumbling a couple of times, the officer finally spoke what was on his mind.

"Admiral! If we fire two ion torpedoes at one target, it could lead to massive devastation for the Galantro, the fuel would be lost!"

Ordo knew exactly what he was doing…his eyes were locked on the scanners. He knew something that everyone else didn't, but it would be a disservice to the crew if he explained. Moral was key for a frantic bridge, the end result was something he counted on. Something had popped on his scanners earlier that caused his stomach to churn, but he had a slight solution. Timing was everything, it had to be conducted right on time or the entire ship would be overcome. The moment he saw the reading on the scanner, he instantly contacted Noble and assured the mission had failed, but that wasn't the case anymore.

"I want the torpedoes launched in intervals of thirty seconds! Not a second later!" He demanded.

The sweat on his forehead had increased, and a small stream ran down across his face as he stared at the distance monitor. Finally, the light was green and the moment of truth had arrived.

"FIRE ROUND ONE!"

The massive torpedo launched from the bow of the Endurance and briskly shot straight for the enemy hanger. A small blue stream of ion energy radiated from the projectile, giving some sort of sign of where its location was. Ordo gripped his console with an cold eagerness, the knuckles on both of his hands had turned pitch white. A pale look covered his entire face, the nerves inside of him caused all of his blood to flush from his face and to his heart. The pounding of his chest could be heard by his ears, which added an unnecessary addition to his anxious mind.

A blinding blue light sparked in the void of space as the torpedo slammed into its target , sending a wave of pure energy straight for them. The impact was small, it only caused the crew to shift in their seats, but the light nearly blinded them all. A huge explosion radiated from the hanger location, and to Ordo's joy, the shields were now disabled indefinitely.

"Enemy fortifications are down sir!" An officer cheered.

The crew patted themselves on the back as compliments and encouraging statements were exchanged. However, Ordo didn't change his stature for a second, he still stared at the scanners with a dead look in his eyes.

"Ready the second tube!" He shouted, attracting every set of eyes in the bridge.

"Sir?" Delta mumbled. "-the shields are down…why would we take another shot?"

Ordo allowed a pure rage fill his chest as he lost his patience, this wasn't the time for his orders to be questioned. "Just do it!" he proclaimed.

The thirty seconds passed by like lightning, however once the clock ticked away so did his opportunity. Ordo didn't even want to look at the timer, because when the call came in the tube was ready, he instantly gave the order.

"FIRE ROUND TWO!" He yelled.

The projectile shot out again, heading straight for the Galantro and the nearing trooper transport. Members of the crew stirred in their seats as they gave the Admiral looks of skepticism. If he was wrong…then the entire mission would fail and the troopers of Alpha would perish. However, he was Ordo Sights…the best damn Admiral in the galaxy…he never made mistakes.

"SIR! Another enemy ship is coming out of hyperspace!" Delta yelled in disbelief.

The entire bridge seemed to have succumbed to an entire wave of horror as they stared at the space in front of them. However, Ordo remained composed because he knew exactly what was about to happen. He saw the enemy ship from a parsec away…and his intention was to crush two birds with one stone. The Crimson Empire and their commanders had fallen straight into his trap.

"CONTACT!"

The enemy ship warped out of hyperspace and appeared straight in front of the Galantro. Instead of finding a superior advantage, Ordo made sure that a class-five torpedo was waiting for them. The bright light sparked once again, causing a massive wave of light and energy as the explosion rocked the entire battlefront. Ordo stumbled backwards as the light nearly dimmed his eyes into nothing.

After the impact, the yells and laughter of the crew sparked the heart of the Admiral as he stood up straight.

"Enemy bridge had been decimated! I repeat, the additional ship had been completely overwhelmed!"

Ordo didn't enjoy the moment of his victory, there was still a job to do and a mission to complete. Instead of going into his quarters and allowing his officers take care of the rest, he gripped his console and flared his nostrils in an aggressive wave of revenge. Kanto had taken his men away from him, it was time to repay the favor.

"All main batteries, target that ship! I want it completely destroyed!"

Delta turned around and clipped his head-set on once again. "Sir, which rounds would you prefer?" He asked.

Ordo gritted his teeth and pointed at the enemy force.

"Fire EVERYTHING!"

"How much longer?! Things sound pretty hairy out there!"

Noble couldn't disagree with Tup's tone; his head was still recovering from the massive explosions that had occurred right outside his transport. However, focus was the key to almost everything, he had to maintain it if he was to be successful. The fact that they hadn't been blown to bits yet meant that the Endurance was doing its job, now they had to do theirs.

The Captain peered down to his tactical wrist device and let out a sigh. They were close to the hanger, very close.

"Here we go! Everyone stack up!"

The light inside of the transport flickered on, the red light meant to be on immediate standby. All of the troopers unbuckled their straps and proceeded to their positions. Noble watched as Tup and Ringo made their way up to the cockpit and slid into the turret positions for departure cover. It didn't hurt to have extra fire-power when making an appearance on a highly protected cargo ship. Every squad lined up next to the unloading ramp, the men in the front held up dura-steel shields that would prevent anyone from being pinned down. However, Noble thought the tactic was silly when he spotted Cratoren and Reese make their way up to the front.

"Don't stop moving! If you get pinned down then find your nearest shield brother and grip his back, no one gets left behind!" He shouted.

The light switched to yellow, which meant they were now free-flying into the hanger and the enemy had been spotted. Nerves would usually swim straight into his stomach, just like they had done at the invasions of Sullust and Bogashu. However, as he took his position next to Cratoren's side, he couldn't help but feel protected in a weird way. It was revealed that not everyone felt the same way, Noble turned to the sound of one of his troopers puking out of the bottom of their helmets.

"Ah, button up Hector…" Cutter mumbled.

The incoming fire could be heard outside, wave upon wave of bolts slammed into the armored exterior. Soon, Noble knew that they would be exposed to all of that firepower, and it wouldn't be a pretty sight. The yellow light began to blink, which meant the assault was now in its first stages. First, the turrets would attempt to soften the enemy defense. Next, it was their turn to engage the enemy, and the loading ramp would drop and reveal their objectives.

Noble clicked his helmet and looked above to the roof, in a theoretical fashion. "Main turrets! Open fire!"

The pounding of the massive guns allowed a sense of certainty to fill the men all around him. They had support, more than usual, and now it was time to take advantage of it. In almost perfect sync, the light flickered to green and the landing ramp sputtered downwards as it slammed on the ground. Noble didn't know which came first, whether it was the sound of Cratoren and Reese's sabers igniting, or the intense firepower that slammed into the strong shields. Either way, the massive defense the hanger contained caught him by surprise as he took his first stride off of the transport. Everything around him seemed to slow down in a wave of illusion, as if everyone was talking nonsense at the same time. Eventually, his experience allowed him to overcome such a sight and caused him to snap out of it once he heard his own voice.

"MOVE!"

Cratoren leaped into the air, followed closely behind his wife as they easily made their way into the enemy ranks. Noble focused on his own men however, the intense fray of bolts were littering all around them as they marched off of the landing ramp. The Captain instantly noticed locations in which provided good cover. The hanger contained crates and heavy machines that could easily protect anybody that hid behind it. Noble lunged forward and gripped the back of one of the shield-brothers, taking step by step with his men stack up behind him. Yells were heard as agony filled the ramp, not all of his troopers were fortunate to escape the area untouched. A quick glance behind him revealed a group of troopers gripping their legs and arms due to the burning blaster bolts that punctured their armor. A single, limp body hanged over the ramp itself, the helmet had been completely blown to bits from its original body. The sight caused Noble's insides to cringe, the trooper was just a mere recruit, one that he had brought in personally.

"Keep your boots moving!" Cutter yelled as he took position behind his own shield-brother.

Finally, the majority of the Company was off of the ramp and in the open, it was time to maneuver or they would be shredded down to nothing. Noble tapped his cover-man on the shoulder and sprinted for a gathering of crates to his left, nearly taking a bolt to the thigh in the process. Once he arrived, Noble slid into the covering and watched as his men followed in suit. Another couple of squads had made their way to separate covering locations, which was a tactic that they had addressed during the tactical briefing. The overall attack would work better if they spread out, rather than being cluttered into one section of the hanger.

Cutter reeled his auto-cannon around and fired a round of bolts at the enemy fortifications, a response from the enemy caused him to duck into cover next to Noble. After peeking over the crates and firing a couple of shots, Noble nodded at his Lieutenant.

"Cut, tell the men not to move from their positions until the enemy weapons have softened up."

Cutter responded with a skeptical shrug in his shoulders. "We're sitting ducks out here Captain…" He mumbled.

Noble nodded and checked the charge on his assault rifle. "I know…" He replied. "-but we have to trust those turrets to do the job."

Cutter nodded in agreement and then set up his portable cannon, pointing it straight for the enemy garrison. Noble fired a couple of more rounds until he glanced over to a group of troopers who were pinned down. An enemy turret had fixated on their position and had succumbed to mere prone positions. The Captain lined up a shot, he was in the clear and had absolutely no agro at all. Noble squeezed the trigger and watched his blue bolt fly in the air in almost slow-motion. The shot found its mark as the turret wielder gripped his chest in pain and fell off of the balcony he was positioned at.

"Ha!" Noble mocked, however it was hardly the time for celebration.

The feeling of success only lasted a minute, what followed was something beyond of what he could comprehend. A loud mumble filled the entire space around him, and then in less than a second the entire hanger exploded into a culmination of flying metal and sparks. Noble widened his eyes to the massive mark of devastation as it totally wiped out the entire enemy defense; however the damage was coming straight for them as well. Noble looked around and dove on top of Cutter, both of them let out a grunt as the trail of smoke and flying shrapnel flew clear above them. Luckily, the crates and cover protected them from the incoming wave of energy that nearly tumbled the ship over sideways.

Noble let out a cough and then peeked over the crates once more, his rifle fixated at the apparent source of the blast. Instead of finding an enemy wielding some unknown weapon, he saw something else.

Cratoren stood at the center of the hanger, and the metal floor around him as twisted into an unbelievable mark of indention. The thing that caused Noble's stomach to churn was the face the Jedi wore…it was almost like he had seen a ghost.

For the first time, Noble had seen the face of uncertainty on their esteemed leader, and it scared him to death.

Part Four

Pain, it was the motive to any success for a Sith, whether it be within the ranks or on the battlefield. He accepted that it was a way of life that had been bestowed upon him at a younger age. The Force chose him to run his course through this life, he was strong and the galaxy knew it. There would be times in which he would want to quit, he would be defeated, but the perseverance through it all would prove that he was meant to become a Darth.

The world around him came back with a vague sincerity, almost like it teased him to believe he was dead. He felt his own heart pounding, which meant he would live to fight another day. Where he was currently at was his first concern, the image of the alien filled his mind and caused his body to jerk. Finally, as if coincidently, his vision cleared to perfection and revealed the room in which he rested in. He expected at least a prison that would hold him, instead he laid in a luxurious room with red drapes and a steel colored floor. The rock slamming into his skull was his next thought, though he dismissed it with his pride taking over the majority of his body.

Phalanxe lifted his head and peered around the room, he appeared to be alone but he still felt the presence he did before in the Korriban plains. She was close, and likely tampering with her motives of slaying him on the spot. He didn't want to wait around and find out who engaged him with deadly force, he decided to escape while he still had the element of surprise. In a quick flurry of his arms, the blanket that rested over him was thrown aside and his feet slammed on the cold surface of the floor. He couldn't help but squint his eyes as he looked around, the room was fairly dark because of the closed windows. Before he searched for his armor, he figured to gain atleast some advantage of light so it would make his task easier. However, as he reached out with his arms and jerked the curtains open, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"What…" He mumbled.

Outside of his window stood countless of buildings that were elegantly crafted for fashion and cultural aspects. Rich green plains of flowers and elegant rivers stretched beyond measure and the only thing that stuck out like a sore thumb were the massive boulders in which stood humbly. The landscape was beautiful, he couldn't deny that, but the waves upon waves of confusion spoiled his appetite.

"Welcome to the gem of the Republic…"

Phalanxe snapped his head around to the voice. The rich accented and high pitched tone of the woman couldn't be passed aside, the alien he faced once before sounded the exact same. She had brought him here, and the fact that he wasn't on Korriban anymore meant that his meeting had been missed by the Dark Council. Rage filled his chest, but he always composed himself to the point in which not allowing a past event affect to current was his main focal point. He was in trouble, but storming on about it wouldn't fix things, only action would.

"Where am I?" Phalanxe asked calmly.

The mysterious figure walked from the shadows of the room and then revealed her face. The montrals of the Togruta were blue in color while her face deemed a light yellow or gold, it was beautiful when her eyes shared the same shade as her skin. The robes she wore looked to be more of a senator's than a Sith Lord, however the white and gold fabric did hide her long saber staff only partially. She had his full attention, even if she lacked the composure to keep it for a long amount of time.

"You're on Naboo, and you're also my esteemed guest…" She snickered.

Phalanxe took in the information with a reluctant look on his face. He was almost half-way across the galaxy and with the foe that had attacked him. He wasn't stupid however, she needed him for something and even if it was still unclear it was apparent that it was vital. The only thing that he hoped for was that it was important for the Sith Empire and not just for her selfish reasons.

"I'm patiently waiting for the part on why you attacked me…and brought me here." He boldly stated, hoping to bypass the clever comments and get right to the point.

"I respect that…" The alien responded. "-but before I tell you anything young warrior, you need to get dressed. The people of this city do not take kindly to naked men."

Phalanxe shot his head down and narrowed his eyebrows. He had totally forgotten the fact that he was showing nothing but bare skin. He desperately searched for his armored robes but instead found a sight that sickened him even more.

"You've got to be the most deranged Sith that ever walked this galaxy, if you expect me to wear these filthy robes." He snarled.

On his bed, sat a set of armored robes except they did not belong to him, they belonged to the person he despised the most. The shoulder plates were similar, but the color of black and white and patterned of the Jedi Knight symbol was what caused his stomach to churn. Cratoren wore the same exact type of outfit, it's what he was iconic for.

"I said get dressed…" The alien muttered. "-we don't have time for you to throw fits because of your outfit…"

Phalanxe growled as he reached for the rich fabric, one of these days he would plunge his saber into her chest just for this sorcery.

Excitement was the only thing rushing into his mind, for him the next couple of hours would be one of his most life-changing events. Even if the mood was to be set with a serious tone, it would never hide his joyful face from peering out of the window. He hoped this moment would be under different circumstances, but one lowly citizen can't be too picky.

Shalo nearly trembled to the thought of being off-world for the first time in his life. The city-planet of Coruscant would soon be a distant memory, and the adventures that waited would bring new stories to tell. He was more than excited, it was like every nerve in his body shivered to the sight of the stars. However, he wished he could say the same for his task force members

The group of dusty criminals and bounty hunters caused him to stir in his own right, it almost ruined his mood to see how relaxed they were in their seats. Some of them even slept the take-off process away, allowing a small stream of drool to drip from their chin. He tried not to get too offended; he was the only one on the ship that hadn't been out of his homestead. Shalo figured that if he traveled a good bit after this mission, that he would also share the same sentiment after a good deal of time. The moot point wasn't directed at everyone in the ship however, across from him sat the esteemed Mandalore the Relentless. Even the rugged, battle-worn, armored figure was peering out of the cab window and allowing his thoughts to guide him through this somewhat boring process.

Shalo was becoming impatient which caused him to fidget with his right leg. The limb seemed to bounce up and down simultaneously, as if he didn't even control it anymore and it had a mind of its own. Shkar shared him a daring look, his black visor turned and shook side to side. Shalo quickly ended his motion and sat as still as a rock, if there was anyone he didn't want to annoy on the ship it was him. Still, the Mandalorian was nowhere near of what Shalo expected him to be at first. Mandalore himself had stood up for him against the trio of smug criminals, but why? Shalo always read on the holo-net that the Mandalorians were the galaxy's most feared warrior culture. The fact that he helped a young man was somewhat out of character. The action wasn't the only thing on his mind; even the voice of Shkar deemed something different than the typical warrior stereotype. His voice was rugged and stern, there was no denying that, but there was something behind all of that toughness that showed something else.

"All occupants, please prepare for take-off in five minutes. Thank you."

Shalo's eyes shot up to the sound of the monotone voice, finally the ship wa