Fate of the Aether

[Lord_S_Gray]

Chapter 22 — Home Front — Unwanted Visitors

Part 1

Adaea

>>>Binary Burst SubSpace Transmission:
[Beginning final Jump – Rendezvous Station 3 in 64 Minutes – L]
She smiled and set an alert for 64 minutes
[00:00:64:00] MARK<<<

An hour was enough time to do some maintenance on Station 3, cycle the defences through a few salvos, hard reboot the operating system to clear any abnormal data scraps…then once Lyaea got there they could transfer the Clone pods…

Hmmm…Clones was such an ugly word Adaea thought. Babies, they were babies – their babies. She was excited, happy they hadn’t had any trouble bringing them from Kamino so far, but still sad that the others had been taken – she hoped Milaea found them soon.

She got up to stretch out a little, bending over to touch her toes then swing side to side, naked as always when she was alone or with the girls, she caught her reflection in the view port –

“hmmm…318 grams too light…” she had been so busy installing the IFFs on the new transports she’d missed a meal.  A flick of the aether summoned two ration bars from the small kitchen, unwrapped and popped them in her mouth. 

Quickly tapping her fingers she checked the three new ships were still in line to translate to real space with her. She had only just finished provisioning them before she left home – three fully stocked Karintha Class Assault Transports ready for the to pursue the kidnappers, Adaea hoped the fourth, the Aethena with Milaea was doing well.   

As the Chiss freighter she was piloting shuddered back into real space her console lit up with alerts – delayed transmissions that had been scrambled through subspace…All alerts from Station 3…Defence Alerts….

Glancing into the view port she saw the automated cargo station floating as it normally did in a sable gravity pool between 312 nearby stars…but next to it…

“Uh oh…”

She had better get dressed.

<<<<>>>>

Tern

“Cap ship dropping out, far edge of sensor range,”

Clapping Meeda Ordo on the shoulder with a smile Tern replied,
“First catch.”

Taking the station had been easy enough, solid defences it had to be said, but they were automated - couldn’t adapt as fast as they could, a few of the R-39’s soon put an end to the Turbo Lasers, the Besalisks finished off the shield generators and pierced through the blast doors.

It was located in an odd place, deep space rather than system orbital, off the regular hyperspace routes – not that there were many regular routes this deep into the core -exactly how or why anyone would put this here was beyond his pay grade to discern, there was nothing in this region but blazing stars, neutrino storms and radiation clouds. 

“Light Freighter, mid tonnage…one occupant…” Meeda Continued

“Send out Vhi’Viin to intercept,”

They’d already received the 800,000 taking the station, credits cleared and forwarded back to Ordo – another 700,000 if they took whoever was on that ship.  But most lucrative 1 million for each ‘clone pod’ they captured.

“Vhi’Viin enroute, 10 minutes to intercept,”

“Shirek-Hawk stand by to micro jump behind” Meeda added, she was competent second in command as any Commander could want, dedicated to the cause. It wasn’t nice work they did, but it had to be done - beggars can’t be choosers when it came to contracts.  The Clans were still living under shadow of the Dral'Han the devastation of their worlds - Ordo, Concord Dawn, Mandalore itself – the ‘Mandalorian Excision’ they called it.

The grand castration Tern called it, a shame his Grandfather had seen with his own eyes that spread down the generations and was rubbed in their faces with every proclamation of the Pro-Republic pacifist puppet government…but every credit they earned on the edge of the law was a step toward economic self-sufficiency, every battle they won a little pride restored.

“Strill follow them in for boarding, Meeda go with – make sure there are no disintegrations,”

The red armoured woman slid up gracefully for the beskar she wore.  He knew she didn’t like these jobs – Anonymous Employer, string of co-ordinates in the deep core, no guarantees, no back up…but she didn’t let that affect her work, she wanted Ordo rebuilt just as much as anyone.

“Cap Sweep of Storage Pod 4 complete no clone pods, just the same industrial equipment, some injector nozzles, moving onto Pod 5” hmm…only 6 storage pods and still no Clones…perhaps this ship was bringing them in.

“Tag anything we can salvage or sell for pick up later,.” 

He checked his chrono, 15 minutes till their contact ‘Gorog’ arrived to pick up any pods or prisoners – Tern wanted that 700,000…. 
 
“Alright boys,” he called over the Clan wide comm,

“Let’s get this little tusk cat caught, I want to see 1 million credits in the Ordo Rehabilitation fund by 07.30! ORDO OVERCOMES”

The comm clattered with the cheers of his crew “ORDO OVERCOMES”.

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

[00:00:58:22]

They had detected her ship….but if she had designed the magnetic absorption ceramic plating properly they wouldn’t have detected the other three ships… The Happy Gorbil the Smiling Gormin and the Lucky Gondur sailed silently behind her – she hoped the others liked the names, she thought they were nice – who doesn’t love a Happy Gorbil!.

The Black Spear tip shaped craft were wider and a little longer than the Chiss craft, but far more powerful – the product of Kiraea, Lyaea, Valens and her efforts in combing the best of dozens of technologies ‘We are few,’ Kiraea said, ‘So we Must be Better, and we need weapons worthy of us!’.

She clicked through her HUD to view the Gobrils long range scans – the Karintha Class transports used a Mon Calamari Radio-electromagnetic scanner with Chiss wave filters backed by a Kuati anti-peak cleanser – it was such an obviously better scanning device she wondered why no one else seemed to have thought of it before her.

She remembered sitting on the floor sewing with the other girls while all the older women talked and thought about new patterns and dyes for clothes, different combinations of gormin wool and cotton for different seasons...so many possibilities…Outsiders didn’t talk to each other like that - they didn’t even act like a People, she had seen twi’leks fighting twi’leks, B’omarr arguing with B’omarr…even the Senate of the Republic couldn’t agree on things…maybe that was why they didn’t integrate their technologies better.

There was one capital ship on her scanner - Mando-Motors Mythosaur class Cruiser…they were old, pre-Mandalorian Excision but it looked well maintained, Basilisks, M22-Krayt Gunships on an intercept course and R39 Starchasers.

Hmmm…the Karintha class Vessels were better…but not THAT much better…

56 minutes before the others arrived…well they knew she was here, she might as well try to tell them to just go away.

Tern

“Incoming transmission from the target, open channel…”

Tern nodded

“Vhe'viin keep on intercept, Shriek-Hawk calculate micro jump on retreat vectors, I don’t want this one running.  Patch me through…”

“Hello! Umm…I think you have attacked my Space station, that’s not very nice you know, even Outsiders think its mean to break other Outsiders things…though they still do it…but you’ve broken something belonging to People so you better leave now.”

Tern looked utterly bemused she sounded like a twelve year old girl whose doll house had been smashed.

“Decelerate immediately to 50KMPH on current vector and lower shields, you are surrounded and outgunned, let’s not make this any messier than it needs to be sweetheart,”

“Umm…I’m not doing that, you should leave before the others come, they won’t be happy you’re here…”

Holding his mute button Tern looked to Tactical officer

“She still on the same course?” – “Yes Sir, 1 minute to intercept, Meeda reports ready to board once Vhe’Viin disables,”

He flicked the comm back on

“Look princess let’s do this the easy way,”

“I’m not a princess…did you get our Station confused with one belonging to a Princess?” Outsiders weren’t very smart after all Adaea thought.

She was either completely naïve or fiendishly annoying, still keep ‘em talking - get in range - then start shooting.

“I’m not Fiendishly Annoying!” the woman on the other end of the comm protested

“What…”

“You better go away right now or you, Meeda, Strill and your M22’s, Basilisks and the R-39 Starchashers you have set to micro jump behind me are going to be in big trouble!”

“How the FRELL!”  Advanced scanners might pick up the ships, but how did she know Meeda’s name…this was sorcery…witchcraft…

“I’m not a Princess, Maros Tern of Clan Ordo,” his face fell as her voice shifted from a nervous girl to a domineering woman “I’m People, now leave if you shoot at me you’ll regret it”

Tactical gave the thumbs up, Vhe’Viin were in range, Tern flicked off the comm…he needed credits and it was only one witch in one ship…..

“Pump the witch full of hot Ion,”

<<<<>>>>

The black cavity between the flight of four M22’s and the Chiss Freighter lit blue against the deep inter system void, from port the second flight unleased an Ion run to the starboard engines. 

The shields were sterner than they had expected, this wasn’t typical Republic tech - but the outcome was the same, fourteen shots crippled the ships systems, a further four to port offset the veer in its course the attack run from the port side had caused. 

First flight peeled off in a board patrol pattern while Second Flight settled into a loose escort waiting for the boarding transport Strill under Meeda to arrive.

“Gorog this is Mythosaur, Station is secure, re-enforcement ship is disabled and we’re prepping to take prisoner,” Tern transmitted to the Mysterious contact.

“Confirmed Mythosaur, en-route, 15 minutes,” Gorog replied.

While Tern was counting his Credits Meeda’s Breach Tube clamped on, hissing air to fill the umbilical with atmosphere.  The Freighters air lock offered minimal resistance to the slice, a swift volley of gas grenades from handheld launchers tinged the air yellow with sedatives as Meeda stepped through in full armour, Stun net and rifle at the ready.

Her team methodically checked every room - finding nothing she signaled for the advanced scanning equipment.

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

[00:00:49:48]
It was rather pointless Adaea thought, she wasn’t in the ship anymore, she was standing on top of it, boots of her Mark 1 Guardian Armour mag-locked to the hull.

Her brief conversation had given her more than enough information to build a psychological profile on the leader, combined with her analysis of the deployment pattern of their resources cross referenced against what she knew about typical Mandalorian space warfare she had a reasonable predictive model of their actions against over three dozen potential response paths of her own.

Between picking apart correlation and causation in their tense flight patterns she idly wondered why the Outsiders hated them so much…she’d warned them and they’d still fired…Kiraea thought they were just inscrutable maniacs, Lyaea thought they were jealous of them, Adaea hypothesized it was because they didn’t perform enough empathic tactile bonding behaviours – not hugging or holding hands enough sounded much nicer when explaining her ideas though – and they didn’t seem to find a role for everyone in their societies, resulting in angry poor people.

All People had special talents to contribute - Adaea was good at co-ordination – cognitive transference across her six levels of consciousness was 10.4% more efficient than Lyaea, 5.3% than Kiraea, she integrated and made connections between information from memory orbs faster than anyone except Valens, but she was better at innovating than he was - Adaea hypothesised it was because her family had been tailors and artists, she could sew seven dresses at once since she could hold a needle – one with their hands, six with the aether.

And so she was piloting the Gobril, Gormin and Gondur into position with three levels of thought, keeping tabs on the boarding party with one, the Commander Tern with another whilst her sixth level raised her bow with practised ease. 

Easing off control of the Happy Gobril as it slipped into position along Station 3 unseen and undetected, she drew the Doonium-nanite-cable bow string to the edge of her helmet, calculating the precise vector, accounting for her tendency to veer 0.3 degrees left, DC-MX5004’s gravitational pull…adding aetheric kinetic potential to that yielded by the micro-cams mechanical advantage, the upper limbs depressed with her draw. 

Smiling Gormin lined up on a vector to slip between the patrolling Basilisks…A few more hundred newtons to get through the M22 plating…

And Loose!!!

<<<<>>>>

Vhe’Viin 1 had no sensors capable of detecting a 5KG, -15 degree Celsius arrow made of a mineral no Mandalorian had seen in 2000 years,

Nor did Vhe’Viin 2 have shields capable of deflecting a solid projectile moving at 254.3 metres per second. 

And the Pilot of Vhe’Viin 3, an archer herself, would never imagine an arrow could be used to bring down a fighter moving at patrol speed in deep space.
 
The sleek four bladed arrow heads sliced through the drive cores, bored the shield generator, then punctured the pilots chests before shattering the canopies double layer transparisteel inside out.  Only the gunner of Vhe’Viin 4 lived long enough to hear the vile screech as metal tore and air boomed from the breached bubbles of life in the abyssal sea before they added to the stars yellow glows with their own destructions luminescence. 

Lyaea was better at teleportation…but Adaea was still good….with a thought she used the Aetheric-kineto-thermal-re-energisation-teleportation-imprinting to summon the arrow back – well that was the technical term, Adaea thought Enchanted Arrow sounded much nicer!

<<<<>>>>

Tern

“Vhe’Vin Flight 1 is down,”

“Check, no signs of fire,”

“Report!”

“Unknown origin of detonation, not alerts, could be drive malfunction,”

Malfunction…Tern knew those ships were better than new with his strict maintenance regime….frelling witchraft…

“Eyes open Shriek-Hawks….new patrol Z 22.3 and Z negative 45.8, wide arc full scan, Basilisk standby….Get a damn tug out there to find out what happened, all scanner set to full power, if one of Yon’s back hairs is out place I want to know!”

<<<<>>>>

“Nothing Ma’am,” The tech reported to Meeda whose annoyance was shown in her wide stance and crossed arms on the deck of the strange freighter they had disabled.

“Could’ve been a relay transmission from another location through this ships comm, the console shows this ship was slaved to at least one other up till our ion cannons fried it,”

A curt nod was all she offered

“Someone’s playing with us, ships empty Tern we have at least one more bogey out there”

“Confirmed - suspect cloaked vessel, all fighters’ focus on thermal scans hopefully we can get an exhaust trail, gunners focus visual scan, anywhere the stars blot,”

“Wait…” the tech said slowly through his helm “There she is!”

“Frell you’re right! Hands up!” Yon screamed behind Meeda pointing his rifle at her

“What are you doing!”

“Hands Up!” this time it was Yri coming in from the cargo bay,

“Are yo….” Her sentence was finished by electric boom of stun blasts hitting her from all sides.

<<<<>>>>

Adaea wasn’t that good with mind control on beings who were in a state of emotional arousal and high task focus…but suggest to three people the fourth was their target and it became self-re-enforcing….finally the R-39s were in range…

She drew back for her next shot.

<<<<>>>>

Tern

“Captain we have her!” Yon called over the comm,

“Where’s Meeda?”

“Meeda? She’s….not sure…she was there a minute ago…talking to the tech…”

Yon felt slightly confused about the question as he dragged the red armoured form of their target into a force cage….strange looked just like Meeda’s armour…

“Yri had eyes on her too and fired…then Meeda…”

A soothing balm spread across his mind sweeping away all the little inconsistencies that were confusing him.

“Well get back here with the prisoner,” Tern replied before rounding on the Tactical officer.

“Anything?”

“Nothing…could be micro missiles…maybe mines…”

“Witchcraft more like…” he mumbled

“Vhe’Viin escort Strill back to the Station – I do NOT want that witch on the Mythosaur! Shriek Hawk scour the debris zone…as much as you can…”

“Sir another ship coming in…signal answering to Gorog…”

Terns fists clenched, bastard was early…

“Direct him to the Station, I don’t want him on the Mythosaur either!”

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

[00:00:42:13]
She hummed along as she watched the arrow fly, her arm a machine nocking, drawing and loosing on pre-calculated vectors that told her to twist her hips just so as she rode on the Boarding craft termed ‘Strill’ after a cute Mandalorian hunting animal.

<<<<>>>>

[Lord_S_Gray]

Chapter 22 — Home Front — Unwanted Visitors

Part 2

Yncara*

At the edge of the Gravity confluence where Station 3 was situated, a little oasis of balanced pulls Darth Yncara pulled his skipper out of Hyperspace. 

The Red Masters blessing itched in the back of his neck, the Advozse had healed rapidly with the strength of darkness since receiving the mark and his new title. 

Something…something was waiting for him…strong…yes this was what the Red Master must desire here…yes this was why the Master had sent him, the Red Master trusted him…the wyrm in his neck itched slightly as it slowly decomposed under the action of his immune system, macrophage cells slowly slicing it to pieces. Each particle that entered his blood oozed more strength. 

As he brought the ship in past an escort of Basilisks he opened himself fully to the wyrms congested fear,
Fear into anger,
Anger into hate
Hate into his enemies suffering.

<<<>>>>

*(See Chapter 13 for Yncara)

Tern

His head flopped into his hands as he looked at the ‘prisoner’ moments after receiving word another three fighters had seemingly self-destructed.

Yon couldn’t understand why Tern wasn’t happy.  The target was balled up on the floor, stripped and cuffed, only one black eye after she got short with Yri.

As calmly as he could, Tern yelled in Yon’s face

“WHAT THE FRELL!, UNTIE HER NOW!”

As soon as the restraints were removed by Terns Guards Meeda leapt up with a meaty smack broke the confused Yon’s nose then slapped Yri across the face leaving a ruddy red palm print.

“Frelling Tralks! Munity its Frelling…Mutiny…Frell…” Meeda spat on the humbled pair.

“Witchcraft…Frelling witchcraft…” he muttered carving a rough Eye of Aversion upon his armour with his combat knife to ward of the Witches dark magic. 

Before he finished the Advoszian Skipper pulled in through the second hangar door…Gorog had arrived and he had nothing to show but eight blown fighters, a false identity farce and six storage pods full of industrial supplies and no clone pods.

Gorog himself looked like a bloody B grade Holo movie villain in flowing red robes over a polished black armour adorned with weird symbols…

A bloody Sorcerer…

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

[00:00:34:01]

She had glided silently off of the transport and onto the Stations heavy durasteel hull, in zero gravity her toned legs traversed dozens of metres each step, lightly dampened by the mag lock boots that kept her from flying off.   

Something had shifted, the Mandalorian Commander was more than worried, he was terrified…and the more dangerous for it…and there was another… something at the edge of her senses…dark and alien…icky…

An Aether Warrior.

Her brow furrowed as was common amongst the People when they found themselves taken aback – this eventuality had only a 12.3% probability at most in Mando-Attack Scenario 3…yet here it was…

Quickly reassessing her tactical options she began to get frustrated – she had so hoped they’d run away when their ships got blown up…why couldn’t they just leave the People alone…she was getting angry.  She feathered the controls of Gobril, Gormin and Gondur as she lifted the hatch into Station 3’s Auxiliary Server Core...

She couldn’t run or Lyaea would come out of hyperspace into a trap with no help… she couldn’t let go of her aether grip on the ships, if she did and they found and destroyed them she would have nothing to fight with…but using the aether made her easy for the icky Warrior to track.

The cold of the link marble between her breasts pulled a thread of energy as she tried to connect with Lyaea again…but something was blocking her…

<<<<>>>>

Yncara

He ignored the Mandalorians excuses as he felt the woman reach out for help…her thread in the force strong…

His blood quickened as he blocked her plea for assistance…she was close and she would be his.

<<<<>>>>

[Karmack]

Showdown at Station 3!   I loved the "enhanced arrow" and Adaea's take on the whole thing.  It reminds me a bit of River from "Serenity" (or you may remember the TV show "Firefly" better) but without the 'crazy' aspect.  :-)  She honestly doesn't understand why they won't just leave when she asks them to...

One thing that jumps out to me again in this: How the People interpret aggression.  She sees these outsiders as hating her and her people.  There is zero allowance in their mindset for degrees of action or for the concept of evil.  In essence, they take EVERYTHING personally.   And they react in the same manner.   In the same way, they attribute individual motivations - like hatred - to groups and make no differentiation or allowance that some people in a group may not have the same motivations.  Its a very simplistic view, and while it keeps them pure after a fashion, it also prevents them from the more nuanced interactions and perceptions that would allow them to function more fully in the Universe as a whole without inevitably turning into homicidal sociopaths.  This lack of social sophistication and understanding, layered onto their multi-layered cognitive abilities and obvious technical wizardry, continues to be very jarring.

And this ... is just the set-up for the main event.  Yncara is still a bit of a mystery, but a Darth with powerful abilities is now on the scene.  His ability to shut down the comm link proves his power ... I hope Adaea is up to a fight!

[TheDutchman]

Karm brought up an excellent point: everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) from the Aethan's POV is exclusively based upon their interpretation of social constructs as it pertains to survivability.  At this point, it's not xenophobia; it's an exclusive insular barrier.  Of course, given what they've been through (and, for that matter, ARE going through), I can see why.  But instead of becoming extensively isolationist, they absorb everything in order to ensure that they live.  But what makes this particular chapter so enjoyable is Adaea's duality within her gossamer of naivety and her absolute pragmatism in eliminating the threat of the Mando mercs.  Speaking of which, I love how Tern is convinced there's witchcraft afoot (ironically, he isn't exactly wrong  ).

Brilliant LSG!

Lucovis' use of pseudo-Darths is yet one of his traits of his Sith mastery.  And as for Yncara...well, there are always Darksiders aplenty 

I think we're heading haphazardly on a collision course to a MAJOR impact...

[Karmack]

Yeah.   They do absorb everything ... except the worldview.  LOL

I wonder how much of this almost child-like simplicity of view is also genetically encoded?  The more we learn about them, the more they seem to be literal slaves to their design.  There are elements of the Jem'Hadar in them.  Or the Vorta....

[TheDutchman]

Yeah.   They do absorb everything ... except the worldview.  LOL

I wonder how much of this almost child-like simplicity of view is also genetically encoded?  The more we learn about them, the more they seem to be literal slaves to their design.  There are elements of the Jem'Hadar in them.  Or the Vorta....

Oh EXCELLENT analogy Karm!  I completely agree 

[Lord_S_Gray]

Chapter 23 — Home Front — Long Road Home

Part 1

Tok

The captain before him was not a man of Honour.  While his stance, his features, told Tok this man was no fool, indeed a competent warrior, he had no honour, no respect, this was a talented street fighter raised up through the murder of better men.

Tok retained his Honour, without his Honour he no more than a beast.  If to act honourably meant dealing with a dishonourable man then there was no shame upon him - Tok answered the call of the Red Master, his duty enacted, his debt acknowledged.  

The Morgukai had been struggling, their sons taking the easy path, abandoning their fathers and the path of honour and using their skills to pursue blood, stimulation, credits and indignity under the Hutts.  The Red Master had come, shown generosity providing funds to rebuild the Pagodas and Stupas on the Rocky plateaus overlooking the Wannschok – the Endless Wastes of Kintan where the Morgukai made their abode, the pure Kajain'sa'Nikto. Hutt agents were driven out, sons returned home, tradition was restored.

With both hands the Red Master had accepted the Cortosis rod etched with Nitko script

Deepest Duty / To Our Fathers / Generosity un-requited / never repaid

This he had given to the Red Master, a symbol of thanks and debt – now returned with instructions on how he might repay the debt. In silence he stood as the Weequay Captain activated the Gravity Well….The enemy were Jedi – Valens and Milaea – murderers with no Honour..

The Morgukai excelled in destroying such, and with their deaths, Honour would be upheld as he finally made some contribution to his patron.

<<<<>>>>

Melron

[00:00:62:23] till they got to Station 3…and not soon enough…everything felt wrong…the artificial gravity, the false air…

Melron had sat fidgeting in the seat behind Lyaea ever since she piloted off of the watery world of Kamino…more water than he thought could exist in the universe…and the creatures that lived there…hideous things…

If Lyaea didn’t like them she hadn’t shown it…she was used to these aliens and the outside galaxy, even now sitting in the pilot’s seat listening to some strange music in ear buds …he could barely even stand the Chiss being on their world.  The lights on the console hurt his eyes, all this technology confused him.

The old ways were gone…his ways were gone…his time was coming to an end…this was as it should be, as the environment changed the species must adapt, the older fell aside.  There was nothing he could teach the new babies, the others had all exceeded him already, he was an anachronism stumbling through a very different world to the one he knew…

The one he lost.


He was too old…Valens had offered to ‘revitalize’ him with the aether…but that wasn’t his way…perhaps he was being a stubborn old man about it…

WEEEP WWWEEEEPPP

“Ladies bloody eyes, what is that!” he yelled pressing his hands to his ears as the ship rumbled and the magical tunnel turned back into stars.

Lyaea was frantically pressing buttons and switching gizmo’s as Selaena came in from the hold,

“Grav pull…someone’s set a bloody gravity well…,” she looked up to the vast expanse punctuated by small yellow lights that dotted a large star boat two smaller one, but tiny red ones were racing towards them.

“Frell…what are they…”
Her face froze staring forward as her mind reached out - he could sense it too…they were coming for them…

“Can we run?” he asked,

“The calculations are thrown…I can’t re-do before those fighters get here…”

“Doesn’t this thing have any weapons?” it was he understood it a Kuati military transport ship,

“Not enough to bring down that Cruiser…we should’ve brought the Chiss ship” that wouldn’t have helped, as he understood Chiss ships were very rare in Republic space and would’ve stood out like a pink gormin.

“We can’t let them take the babies…” Selaena piped up, her voice getting gradually stronger as she began to speak more often.

They both looked to him for direction as a Guardian…an ingrained response despite Lyaea having been taught their ways - relying on a handful of warriors and judges had cost them dearly that day…that day he wasn’t even there…

He was out of his depth…he didn’t understand space warfare…

“Lyaea you work out what to do, whatever you say goes,” he decided upon,

The younger woman nodded taking out her ear buds.

“Mom set charges on the pods, we blow them if they get too close…we can always get more clones…” it pained her to say that as she spun around.

 “I’ll try and get close to the fighters, Melron do you think you can grab them with the aether…mess the pilot’s minds, or electrocute them,”

He nodded, that he could do
“Should manage a few,”

<<<<>>>>

Tok

“What do you sense son” Tok inquired of Nek beside him as the fighters approached the transport, the trickery and dishonesty was not necessarily dishonourable – a Morgukai should fight with all his self - cunning as well as muscles – but first the honourable warrior must ensure it was his true enemy he was facing, a blade in the spine was permitted – but if the body that fell was an innocent your dishonour would never be cleansed,

“Panic…irritation…the force…flows strong rapid beats of pained hearts,”

Tok remained silent assenting to the opinion of his Son and pupil – error required correction, truth no response. Tok felt great pride in his son, he had forged his cortosis staff and armour two wet seasons past, had challenged Rut successfully for his daughter as mate, soon he would have a clutch of hatchlings.  

The target ship was lightly armed, its pilot capable, but overwhelmed.

“Prepare to discern the identity of this group,” - Nek nodded and spun toward the hangar.

<<<<>>>>

Melron

[00:00:59:58]
Eight pointed winged metal birds darted around them firing blue beams that shook the ship when they hit.  The stars outside streaked at Lyaea’s turns and a chugging resounded in the cockpit as she fired back.

He kept his eyes open seeking out the fighters…the trailing energies of life…sixteen…each fighter had two creatures…their thoughts in queer languages and emotions as they fired…they were trying to…

“Ion weapons, they want to capture us…” Lya explained

He was never the strongest of the Guardians, Andis had been in his generation, the younger Karintha with more skills was to be his replacement as primus-inter-pares before…before…

He let that sorrow feed into him and expand his awareness…he focused on one of the minds distracted by piloting…

‘30 degrees turn, hard accelerate, shields full back, gaining distance for another run, transport is at 70% functionality, aim for the engines, turning, hard port, cut the throttle shields double front eject…eject…eject…have to eject.’

From the view port he saw the result of his suggestion, a little yellow blip of retro jets as the pilot ejected before he could start his attack run.  

Beside him Lyaea chugged the forward cannons with eerie precision, an explosion streaked along the vector the fighter was following cutting a yellow scar that rapidly died as the oxygen dispersed.

The ship shuddered again as Lyaea took it into a barrel roll, a disconcerting feeling as the inertial dampers kept Melron fixed upright as the galaxy spun before him…he kept his mind open…feeling the metal things flying about…

There…the energy of its engines…joining his own…a blue bolt shot from his back into the hull and out to space as the fighter soared past, striking its engines unbalancing the precise ratios of energy flow - overloading it into an explosion that rocked their ship even more.

“Frell it 40%...we can’t get out…their tractor beam is starting up…” The largest ship approached ever faster, ion blasts banging into their forward shields till they flickered and died.

The lights on the console suddenly went out, emergency lighting took over red with fury, he glanced to the younger girl for instructions he couldn’t give.

“Suit up…we frell ‘em face to face.”

<<<<>>>>

Nek

Klaxons blared as the remaining fighters settled into their docking cradles.  So far the damage was superficial, the ship only disabled.  

Mentally reciting the signs of the true enemy the Red Master had provided he stepped forward flanked by three of his Morgukai brethren, fully equipped for battle against Jedi.  

The Weequay deck officer held him up,
“Our scans show twenty life forms in stasis pods, no other life signs,”
Nek acknowledged with a nod as other species preferred as way of assent.  Amongst Morgukai this was not so, silence was assent, if truth was spoken why waste words?

“They are there,” scanning machines were no value next to the flow for the force,

“They are the ones we seek,” The instructions were clear, obtain the clones take the adults if possible - this was a dishonourable thing in many ways, but Nek assented, he was not complicit in this other than as a tool, his honour persevered for he served his Father and teacher in this, and his Father was honourably repaying a debt to the Red Master.  

Steeling his mind against Jedi trickery he gestured for the Weequay mercenaries who formed up behind him in uncreative but effective ranks.  

“We know you are there, surrender the clones and you will be spared,” his voice boomed with the force - to lie to the enemy was no dishonour – to be defeated when deception might’ve achieved victory was.

As expected he was greeted by silence.

“Begin cutting,” the engineering team rolled up with the plasma cutter, sparking blue energy jetted form the thin nozzle onto the durasteel hull…the line carved down molten orange cooling to a black grey.

Nek cocked his head as he sensed something, the sliced panel began to peel open further than it should…the force was bei…

Two heads exploded as a muffled shot echoed in the cavernous hangar, skull and leathery skin splayed into the air.  They pulled away from the hole, before the bodies had flopped the ships cargo door did not open as much as explode outward, metal shards slicing one Weequay into four chunks of twitching meat.

Nek gripped his spear staff lightly ready to intercept and adapt.  

They came.

<<<<>>>>

[Lord_S_Gray]

Chapter 23 — Home Front — Long Road Home

Part 2

Lyaea

[00:00:49:17]
Annihilation poured from Lyaea’s finger tips, two bodies turned to dry husks as the moisture boiled from veins as her track pules through her helmets audio

“Pressure…pushing down on me”

Her mother punched round after round from her sniper rifle into faces, then legs as they retreated from the ruined cargo door.  Two arrows shot past her and curved unnaturally around to pursue two more enemies from Melrons bow.

“Under pressure that brings a building down”

Their Mark 1 Guardian Armour tracked thermal output in blue humanoid outlines across their eyes

All this technology confused the old man…she felt slightly bitter he hadn’t learnt more about how to use it after all these years – she needed an up to speed warrior more than ever….but he was of the old way…and she was – in between the old and new, belonging really to neither…

“Splits a family in two / Puts people on streets”

Lyaea shook off the doubts her messy, violently disrupted childhood and disconnection from her family and culture had caused.

“It's the terror of knowing / What the world is about”

If the Rendili Star Drive Gladius Dreadnought they were trapped in, full of 1872 sentients – assuming 600 crew that left 1272 soldiers - jumped to hyperspace they were lost – she had to either disable the hyper drive or take the bridge. They couldn’t hold their ship or escape. Weequay were not a threat individually but they had numbers, and these Nikto looked nasty – she scrolled the track list to the side of her eye – she’d need one of her work out playlists.

Shots began to pepper the hull, she could feel they didn’t want to damage the clone pods, nor did she, but she knew there might not be any choice.

“Melron, can you hold them here?”
“I can try,” he ducked round and loosed another arrow, she felt his guide it with his mind toward a beating heart…the bolt stopped…

“Aether warriors…Nikto…” Selaena noted

“Watching some good friends Screaming 'Let me out'”

There was no choice, move or die.
 
“Mom with me, Melron if they get too close blow the pods,” she tossed the detonator

“Red button hold then release, get clear and if you can,” she would’ve preferred having him go for the hyper drive but he wouldn’t even know what to look for and there was not time to explain.

He may be trained as a Guardian, but now…that just wasn’t enough...she had learned much from him, mind control, energy transference, Illusions, gravity manipulation – but nothing of what she needed now – slicing, engineering, piloting that had come from Colm Maynard an Outsider, now a Friend. She knew he felt her disappointment and annoyance.

No more time, a surge of ‘Go’ in the aether

“Pray tomorrow gets me higher / Pressure on people - people on streets”

A final flurry of lighting to cleared a path as they leapt forward, Selaena pivoting mid-air, explosive projectiles blasting faces, three shikkars piercing airways.  Lyaea launched off a cluster of arrows devastating a squad of brown faced creatures, amongst them Nikto with spear like weapons deflected two of the bolts…she wasn’t sure Melron could deal with them…

Her fifth level of consciousness noted the power conduits highlighted yellow on the HUD, roughly working out where the exists were, the red lights and baleful ring of lock down alarms met them, heavy doors slamming across the force field to the void behind her.

Darting under green fire she leapfrogged her mother toward the hangar observation deck, quick telekinetic jolt ripped the transparisteel out, a charged leap sent her two stories up into the small control room, the weequay deck control officer’s head bashed into a distended curve by her bow before he could register any shock.

“Chippin' around - kick my brains around the floor”

One of the Nikto tried to pursue but was grasped in the aether by Melron, he rolled out into the hangar nocking and loosing three arrows in the process, it forced them to pivot to block with their spear staffs.  As Melron finished the last of the Weequay with Shikkars, Lyaea ripped the door free and leapt into the Cruisers access corridors.

“These are the days it never rains but it pours”

<<<<>>>>

Tok

Tok remained still as he allowed the situation to wash over him…he expected resistance knew they would try to force him and the mercenaries into tight spaces where their numbers were no advantage.  It was what Tok would do.   

And he expected they would use Jedi arts, the Morgukai prided themselves of countering such.  What he had not expected was the rapidity of their progress.  A minor miscalculation he was now rectifying.  Victory was inevitable, yet there was little honour in a pyrrhic victory, to defeat the enemy with no blood lost was an ideal he had never attained, yet still informed his strategy.

“Evacuate and seal all non-essential sections between the bridge and the hangar,” he ordered

The Weequay captain nodded, he did not value the lives of his men in their path, numerous seclusion braids draped down his back speaking of decades away from his home on Sriluur – disconnected from his origins how could the Weequay captain value those of the same blood.  He was confident Nek could deal with the one left in the hangar with the support of the others, but there was no need to risk more lives than necessary.

“Can the ventilation system in those sections be isolated and rerouted?”

A shrug response, so much unnecessary movement, “Couple of minutes,”

“Reconnect them to the generators gas vents, and get the ship in position to make the jump.”

<<<<>>>>

Selaena

[00:00:45:01]
She hadn’t spoken for all those years.  She hadn’t been there, disconnected from her body as it was used and tormented by the Outsiders.  No voice, and no words that could express anything that did justice to her suffering, no sound would even be heard had she tried. 

Now she spoke…her rifles barrel shoved into the Outsiders mouth, cutting his ability to communicate, violating its body just as they had done to her, she spoke with her finger as it pulled the trigger and sent showering viscera in a beautiful brown arc across the wall.

Selaena spoke in the only language the Outsiders understood, the only language they had spoken to her. 

Violence.

An oration was written in weequay blood along nearly 40 metres of the ships access corridors as they raced toward what they hoped was the bridge. 

Hazard stripped doors tried to block their path periodically, easily dealt with by Lyaea’s telekinetic expertise.

These outsiders, Weequay mercenaries were not aether warriors, they were blind deaf mutes like the thousands she had killed with the Sons. Every word she gave them, spoken loudly with her sniper rifle, or subtly with her telekinetically guided combat knife or shikkars was the same ‘END’.

Despite the Violence she instructed them with, they kept coming, sheer numbers thrown into her path, mud to drag her boots, these Outsiders did not even value their own, such was their depravity. Rifle in right hand, knife in left, boot forward she shot, severed and slammed three down in a single word before bashing through a Turbo lift door and leaping up across the chasm to the next level.

The next area was trapped - the guiding hand of the aether had them run along the walls avoiding floor trip wires, armoured bodies peeked from cover to fire, dozens missed but one knocked her shoulder, the armour was good enough to take it, her control of the flying combat knife good enough to riposte Outsiders sentence. 

She was proud of her daughter, noting how swiftly she obliterated the Outsiders - bone crunching telekinetic grips imploding skulls and rending spines from backs – fast efficient use of the aether…yet it pained her into silence that her baby had to fight at all.

The Outsiders just kept taking and taking from them…she took another head with the knife, a chest with her rifle…there was no explanation, they were simply violent insane creatures who communicated nothing but pain and death. The bulk head began to close, they couldn’t stop it in time, but she could drag one of the retreating weequay under the door as it slammed shut.   

Now they wanted their babies…they just wouldn’t leave them be…Lyaea ripped the door open, the metal curling like petals allowing Selaena to fire through and bring another three down.

Beings that attacked the Babies of the People were truly beneath speaking to…it hurt her to have to communicate…drawing her short sword to save ammunition she resigned herself to speech.

<<<<>>>>

Lyaea

[00:00:43:45]

“She Walks Warily down the street with the brim pulled way down low” Lyaea sang along to the 5th track as another bulkhead slammed before them, the last two sections had been all but abandoned…something was up…they were only one deck down from the bridge, but she could feel in her vestibular system that the ship was turning – positioning for a jump…

“Ain’t no sound but the sound of her feet, Machine guns ready to go” she tore at the ninth bulk head she began to feel the first signs of exhaustion…slaying six dozen Weequay could do that…

Behind the wrenched door half a dozen power armoured goods were primed

“Out of the doorway her blasters rip to the sound of the beat!”

Head, chest, leg

“Another one bites the dust”


Close, grip, twist

“Another one bites the Dust”

And another throat slashes, and another neck snapped, Another one bites the dust!

She crooked her finger to the last
“Hey I’m gonna get you too!” he charged straight into her reverse spin kick, lower jaw through pallet
“Another one bites the dust.”

“Lya!”

Her mother screamed and tugged her attention out of the rhythm of the song to the vents above their heads- a rich black smoke began to pour out. Her helmet sensors picked up change in atmospheric content

Fluoroantimonic acid…PlutonUranic Acids…they were venting the drive core – it would ruin the ventilation system sure, but it would melt them too.

She reached out to Melron…maybe he could…Danger, desperation, twisting churning…he was in trouble

It was too much at once…trapped and about to be liquefied…

“How do you think I'm going to get along, Without you when you're gone?” it played in her ear

“The babies…” Selaena said mournfully then placed her hand on Lyaea’s helmet
“My baby…”

“You took me for everything that I had, And kicked me out on my own”

The lyrics resonated with her only recently reunited Mothers emotions, Lyaea closed her eyes as the pressure built behind them, this really wasn’t her area of expertise...she could think of no other way…

Tugging her two grenades form her belt she dedicated three levels of consciousness to telepathic assaults…

“Stand back…”

<<<<>>>>

Tok

“Hull breach deck nine captain!” cried the tactical officer, only one level beneath the bridge…

Tok felt the press of a mind searching…seeking something…trying to effect the mind of the…yes the Captain of course…Tok and his five Brethren were ready…they surrounded the Weequay mentally, denying the…female…yes female…her victory on the depraved mind.

Tok’s eyes squinted trying to discern their plan…they were getting desperate, soon they would make a mistake they would not recover from…they wanted out of the fumes and knew the ship was preparing for a jump.

“Ready to jump?” asked the captain oblivious to the walls erected around his mind.

“Two minutes, final checks, deep core is a bitch to get into, harder to get out captain,”

Once they entered Hyperspace even the best mag-boots would be shorn by the jolt of pseudo motion.

“Kriff it, just jump us out of here, let them smear across the sector!”

The Helmsman sighed,

“Coming about sir…”

<<<<>>>>

Melron

[00:00:38:45]
Aether Warriors…he had never fought an aether warrior to the death…there was no violence on Aethas between People…and he had never ventured off planet with Valens or Kiraea…he regretted that now.

He felt the smack of the staffs handle against his shoulder and barely strafed out of the follow through slash.  It was the fourth time the armour had saved him.  A Guardian shouldn’t be so hard pressed by four Outsiders…and yet here he was.

He had underestimated what was out there, the true extent of the threat to the People…no that wasn’t true…he had known but he had been afraid…pure simple.

Fear of the unknown mingled with inadequacy of being the lesser of the Guardians, the keeper of lore and history not a fighter.   

The fist flying toward his helmet denied him the comforting thought the younger ones could handle things, and convicted him for not learning and adapting with the times.

Fear of change, he didn’t want to change his ways, to admit his world was gone…it was simply too painful.

Another slash to his legs he barely leapt from, back tracking away from the melee to gain space, but they spun and leapt to keep him surrounded.  These were professionals, real warriors not the cannon fodder brown aliens.  And he didn’t think he could beat them.

He’s used his age as an excuse to stay on planet, working with the Chiss to excavate ruins…really he was hiding his shame, shame at not having died alongside the others at the Devastation, shame he could not help them in this new environment…shame compounded by his inaction.

He had seen it in their eyes, they looked to him, but he had nothing to offer…Lyaea and Adaea most of all, her disappointment that she could not really rely on him to really help had been palpable, and she was justified.

His thought distracted him and he took fist full on, helmet bucking back more than the padding could cope to slam the facial mask painfully along the ridge of his mouth and nose.  He staggered back, they advanced, their spear staffs winds of death slashing forward. 

He deftly pivoted as best he could regretting not taking Valens up on his offer to be rejuvenated…he had failed the People, failed his role as Guardian…his shame was greater than he could bear.

Falling to his knee under the weight of blows, the Blackstone armour was strong but not invincible, the gravity of his shame and failure brought his shoulders down, his sword barely keeping pace with the stabs aimed at the joints in the armour.   

He spared a single glance to the Kuati ship where 20 Children of the Aether awaited death or worse at the hands and tentacles of these Outsiders…

Despair and humiliation filled him to the brim as the ship entered Hyperspace. 

<<<<>>>>

[Karmack]

So...  The Aethans are into Queen....   :-)

So it was a multi-layered ambush.   I really feel for Melron.  He felt left behind and let his fear of change hold him back, and now that he's really needed ... he's under-equipped to do what needs to be done.  Meanwhile, the ship jumps to hyperspace, which we've been conditioned by the dialogue to this point to see as a point of defeat - or no return - and so I have to wonder...

What now?

Somehow I doubt they'll just go quietly into the dark.  :-)

And the Morgukai!  They're just ... nasty!  The Weequay are bad enough, competent warriors, but Tok and his crew are dedicated Jedi hunters!  Well played.   Lyaea, Melron and Selaena will certainly have their hands full!

[TheDutchman]

So...  The Aethans are into Queen....   :-)

So it was a multi-layered ambush.   I really feel for Melron.  He felt left behind and let his fear of change hold him back, and now that he's really needed ... he's under-equipped to do what needs to be done.  Meanwhile, the ship jumps to hyperspace, which we've been conditioned by the dialogue to this point to see as a point of defeat - or no return - and so I have to wonder...

What now?

Somehow I doubt they'll just go quietly into the dark.  :-)

And the Morgukai!  They're just ... nasty!  The Weequay are bad enough, competent warriors, but Tok and his crew are dedicated Jedi hunters!  Well played.   Lyaea, Melron and Selaena will certainly have their hands full!

OK Karm I literally Lol'd with that.  And I LOVE Queen 

AWESOME look into the Morgukai mindset, LSG.  And I have to say: the rollercoaster ride of Aethan emotions: celebration, determination, anxiety, mournful loss, regret... Even the strongest individual can be overwhelmed.  How much worse when you feel defeated by your own inaction predicated by fear?  GREAT scene.

Then, the window into Salaena's past...now I see WHY she wouldn't talk...and why the distinct possibility of losing her own daughter would be such a soul-wrenching loss... GREAT writing.

If Lucovis gets another 20 embryos... I shudder to think what he'll be able to do with them, what he WILL do with them. 

[Karmack]

Oh, he won't get them.  Its just a matter of whether or not the Aethans will survive or not at this point.   And its about even odds, I'd say...

[Lord_S_Gray]

Then, the window into Salaena's past...now I see WHY she wouldn't talk...and why the distinct possibility of losing her own daughter would be such a soul-wrenching loss... GREAT writing.

Thanks guys,
Yeah one thing I wanted to do was look beyond the regular 'heroes' (or villains...or neither just protagonists) amidst the Aethans and explore the other survivors POVs, there are obviously strong similarities to the others but also hopefully enough distinctions to make them feel like individuals. 

[Lord_S_Gray]

Chapter 24 — Home Front — No Welcome Home

Part 1

Yncara

A mere moment before the blast hit Yncara’s blade was up, sputtering red searing the droid in two, a low spin took him through another before rising up to slice a third to pieces vertically.

A rain of fire erupted from the Mandolorians, the cargo droids bulky and slow only surprised those standing close by, two crushed in loader claws, one fried in his suit by fusion cutters designed to open hard-seal shipping containers, the contents of his abdomen spilling out onto the permacrete floor.

Regardless in less than a minute the Mandolorian blasters and the Advosze’ sabre had reduced the two dozen droids to sparking ruins that stank of seared metal amidst the vast Stations hanagar.

There was no time to recover - Yncara spun round and grasped with all his might on the blast shields above and below the void shield and pulled them shut with a metallic thud mere seconds before the force field that separated artificial atmosphere from empty void deactivated. 

He had only closed one of the three doors before the fields died and let hungry vacuum in -Tern flew from his feet as the air he needed to survive swept him out. Yon gripped onto a rail of what had been the ceiling cargo rail fumbling to get his helmet on as Meeda slammed back into Assault transport Strill just before the transports hatch sealed sensing depressurization saving her life.

The others already suited quickly activated their boots magnetic strips to keep grounded against the hurricane of escaping air and creaking shudder as the Station stopped its rotations and artificial gravity died.

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

[00:00:26:25]
She hadn’t expected the loading droids to do much damage, but at least the venting should give them something other than her to think about.

The Basilisks redirected to try and scoop up the eight Mandolorians sucked into the void, it let her gently reposition the Lucky Gondur and rotate the Gobril. 

She really needed the others to get here…she could feel the Aether warrior seeking her out…it was only a matter of time, and she wasn’t sure how long she could keep on the run. She didn’t think she could win a fight one on one…especially not if he had Mandalorians helping him…

She might not have a choice….

<<<<>>>>

Nek

The enemy had been strong, fast, skilled by not a real master, he had relied on his natural advantages and powerful armour.  It had been a draining battle, Nek was tired, keeping up with the enemy was difficult, and had any one of the brethren with him fallen the enemy would’ve been too much for the other three.

But that time was past - the warrior was visibly sagging, the force filled with dishonour, the warrior had not given his all to his art, not made every effort to improve himself.  Whilst Nek benefitted from the warriors laxity, there was little honour in defeating an enemy who wilfully failed to stay at his peak ability.

The warrior knew his failing and felt shame, this was as it should be, at least he would not die in self-deception.  Struggling parries diverted their spears, but each was a little slower, more opportunities began to present.  He felt his brethren prepare, it mattered not who delivered the blow, they had all fought well and would meditate on this battle for some time – this warrior would serve as an example for others not to follow.

Almost on all fours, sparks flew with each connecting blow, Nek saw the opening.

<<<<>>>>

Melron

[00:00:31:39]
They despised and pitied him…

Outsiders despised and pitied him…

So be it…but they could never despise him as much as he despised himself.

He had resigned himself to obsolescence after the Devastation, died to himself and the others, the death he wished had come to him at the same time as Andis, Taran Karintha….  To live knowing what they had lost caused him to hate living and himself.

Such self-hatred was a poison in the Soul that needed to be expelled – he gathered it up as his back plate took another heavy blow.  It was contained, a boiling red of despair and failure toxic to his body –

He pushed it out.

In a blast of blue fire the four Morgukai were flung across the hangar, their cortosis armour taking the brunt of slamming into durasteel beams and plasteel containers, Ritual battle trances partially diverted the aether fires of Melrons self-hatred –

Only partially.

Two writhed uncontrollably on the deck, one staggered up and charged forward, assuming the blast had been a last ditch effort.  He was mistaken – the removal of the pain was renewal not desperation. 

The Morgukai were known as Jedi Killers, their dance like ritual spear-staff combat renowned for felling some of the greatest blades-men. This particular one had just all but beaten down his enemy…but he did not meet the same broken, haunted opponent that had cowered seconds before – he faced an Aethan Guardian. 

Melron shifted into his slash, taking the blow on his chest plate with a screech as cortosis met blackstone.  His hand flew forward faster than the Nikto’s neck could twist and took his face. 

Then he took his thoughts, the memories of a hard life on the Endless Wastes of Kintan, hours perfecting the dance of the Morgukai, frozen desert nights meditating on the aether to deny their enemies telepathic abilities. 

When Melron had taken all this his fingers crushed the red leather face inward.

<<<<>>>>

Tok

He felt the battle shift far below him…a blast of hatred, anger, fear unleashed – he had already surmised these were not Jedi, this only confirmed it.

A brief hand signal summoned all but two of his Morgukai, the tunnel of hyperspace was spiralling before them – the jump and the knowledge he was now lost had no doubt caused their enemy to explode in rage. 

He could not confirm the other two enemies were dead, but suspected they were sucked out of the breach into space before the jump.

“I am going to the Hangar to ensure the remaining enemy is dispatched, these two will remain in the Ready room,” he informed the Captain…he sensed trepidation from Nek, uncertainty – he was confident in his son but no need to take risks, and in all honesty Tok was curious to see one of these warriors alive.

Hand on his cortosis staff he swept into the Turbo lift.

<<<<>>>>

Lyaea

[00:00:31:15]
The Nikto Aether warriors had protected the Captains mind well…the helmsman and the navigator not so much.

Before they had linked up with Valens, Kiraea had made her spend hours subtly manipulating Outsiders in the shopping malls of Commenor, working out what they wanted to buy and switching it to the most outrageous opposite items possible.  In this case she need only add a little prompt here and there, a 4 instead of a 3, Z axis instead of Y - subtle suggestions that meant they were jumping to orbital Station 3 in the deep core rather than a Black Sun trading post….

Her legs were straining from the weird sensation of running in zero G, her heart pumping as she released a stream of pheromones to partially cleanse the cortisol build up in her brain, her face flushed as the sympathetic nervous system piled more Aertemisin hormones through her to counter the weariness. She might have Guardian training but she didn’t have their stamina.   

They had made the 10 metre leap, tearing the outer hatch off one of the bridge escape pods to get inside just before the jump to hyperspace.

Her mother punctured through to get into what looked like a ready room where three stunned Weequay only saw Selaena’s combat knife when it returned to its sheath – not as it flew through their necks.

The cool of the link-orb between her breasts reminded her,

“We’re coming in hot Ada…and not in a good way…”

Selaena shifted protectively…Lyaea frowned…he message had been…Blocked!
 
Spinning low Lyaea kicked out at her attacker who had underestimated her speed, taking the shin in a wet break.  Over her head the silenced thwump of Selaenas rifle popped body parts with projectile rounds that detonated on contact.   

There was still one moving, spinning a staff like the ones in the hangar, it lunged forward as Lyaea moved into its range, sword and arrows gripped in her mind.  The Nikto’s twists and turns were expert, almost more dance than combat form.  The first clash of blade on blade was odd, Lyaea had expected her Blackstone sword to shear through the material and into the body – this thing was better armed than she thought. 

Risking her back she spun into its guard, arrows detaching from the cylindrical open mag lock quiver, repointing into a sharpened tail that Lya backed into her opponents chest –bereft of kinetic energy she had to push in to penetrate, reaching back to grab the helmeted head and pulling it down into her knee as the arrows tore up through the neck.

“Bad?” mother asked her

“Ugly thing…interfered with my communication…hmmm…shall we take the bridge?”

<<<<>>>>

Selaena

[00:00:28:47]
She told them a story – a story the Outsiders had told her first, a story she could never forget, etched in scars that remained long after flesh had healed.

Of course it was about Violence, for this was all Outsiders knew or cared for. This was about the violence that could be expressed by a superior warrior against those unequipped, unprepared, and unaware of the nature of their enemy.

Selaena suppressed the room with the Aether, killing all sound by stilling the air that carried the waves to ensure she wasn't heard whilst Lyaea telekinetically hit buttons and lock down commands to seal the doors startling the deck officers whose consoles lit up without being touched.

Two by two, then three by three she used Lya’s arrows and both their combat knives along with her armoured hands to retell the story to them – how they had come in flying carts, with lighting sticks and terrifyingly horrific bodies upon a peaceful village and unleashed Devastation upon a People who had only eleven warriors.

On that night and hundreds there after she had been as impotent as they were now – their reflexes so slow, their weapons so far from their hands that necks were severed before they reached them, their deafness to the aether preventing half of them from even knowing they were under attack until their skulls were hollowed by oblivion arrows.

Such was the story they had forced upon her, and her babies only one of which she had with her…

Such was the story she retold to them in blood and bone.

<<<<>>>>

Yncara

She was close…but the Station was vast.  He floated in zero gravity as the Mandalorians bustled about trying to recover their comrades and retreat to their Cruiser.

His body was ready, filled with hate ready to turn to suffering…but she remained elusive, her threads in the force were strong but complex…they twisted and turned though precise flows inscrutable to an outside observer. If she increased her pull he would find her easily…

The one named Meeda was screaming across the open comm from the transport below him.
“…Frell out of Here…Witches and Sorcerers…Get Tern to the Mythosaur!”

A thought dawned as he descend to the cluster of Mandalorians boarding the transport to escape.

“What the frell do….chhkk”

“You will order your Cruiser to fire upon the Station immediately,” his mind on her throat he noted the Eye of aversion etched recently into the Red Armour…pathetic superstition he thought as the Red Masters Ritual decaying wyrm itched at his spine.

“We’re…still..ahhuhh…in it…”

“So is SHE!”

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

[00:00:18:13]
Storage Pod 4 erupted into chunky shards as the Mythosaur’s Turbo Lasers streaked green across the stars.

Why did the Outsiders have to ruin everything!!!

She leapt up and began crawling through the access shafts back to the surface, she needed to get out of here…for that she needed a ship…she had three…but bringing one out would reveal it…so she needed distractions first.

Mind across three ships like three needles above a Gormin wool dress – she pierced the first stitches in.

The Lucky Gondur fired up and sped out of Pod 3’s shadow above the hangar where the Basilisks were waiting to escort Meeda back to the Mythosaur,

Ultra-Dense projectiles sheathed in burning blue energy burst from the Gondurs magnetic accelerator cannons ripping three to shreds of metal and man as droid brains on the other ships recoiled before the pilots could register what had happened.  They pivoted toward the source of the fire, shockwave generator rods priming up as missile targeting sought a lock in the area – but none came.

“Scanners are Dren old fashioned way!” the pack leader called before unleashing the first blasts of energy where the bullets had come from. 

Adaea sped the Gondur away as she primed the Happy Gorbil, two ‘Shikkar’ Torpedoes jetted from the lower hull – like their name sake they were designed to destroy from the inside out, sharp shards of death that streaked silently into Mythosaur – the first tore a sparkling white hot tunnel across the outer hull  second integrating energy scans from the Gromin to weave through the brightest power draws on the surface – currently the Turbolasers. 

One by one they burst apart as the projectile tore durasteel apart, by the time the torpedo had been eroded to dysfunction by the collisions all of the main cannons were blazing welts on the Cruisers surface. 

And the third stitch, the Smiling Gormin activated from a dead float to surge toward the patrolling R39’s, with the aether she guided the ship toward the aetheric presences of the pilot, popping them one by one.

The aether erupted in panic and fear, but Mandalorian cool began to settle quickly, she was too distracted piloting the three away from retaliatory fire to pick up much of the thoughts, but ‘Scan for gravity fluctuations,’ and ‘Proton residue tracing’ featured prominently.  She swallowed hard…this was going to be tricky.

<<<<>>>>

Nek

He watched in a mix of terror and admiration as the warrior rose stronger, his self-confidence restored.  Now there would be honour in victory…yet as Nek struggled to his feet, micro fractures in his femur added to the build-up of cellular waste products in his muscles to slow him down…he realised victory was no longer assured.

As he summoned his spear staff he felt a jolt as the ship rumbled through hyperspace uncertainly…Something was wrong – he feared the enemy was no longer trapped by the Morgukai – the Morgukai were trapped with this enemy.

With a nod to his other brethren batting out the flames of the blast and an opening flourish - Nek charged forward.   

<<<<>>>>

[Lord_S_Gray]

Chapter 24 — Home Front — No Welcome Home

Part 2

Tok

He had just left the Turbo lift and was racing to help his son when the alert pinged across the intercom
“Evacuate Deck 2…all personnel evacuate deck 2,”

Still in a jog he pulled his comm

“Captain what is the situation…”

Static

“Captain…”

“All Personnel Gas leak spread to Deck 3 all personnel evacuate…”

The ship shuddered and buckled…many things were going wrong…his Son, the Captain…the Ship…

“Go on ahead…” he ordered, “You with me, we return to the bridge!”

<<<<>>>>

Melron

[00:00:24:01]
This fight was radically different from the first, the weight of his failure gone the blazing Red eyes of the Ladies condemnation lifted.

The Morguaki as he now knew them came, a Djen-Sha sweep high followed by a Djen-wo – low flourish…the knowledge he had lifted was exhilarating, exciting…why had he refused for so long…it did not make him any less People for learning Outsiders ways…it made him better able to defend the 20 babies nearby.

He responded with Tur-Kan – mid defence unconsciously modified for Blackstone sword rather than cortosis staff.  The impact was less than it should be, his disadvantage now was not self-doubt, not ignorance, rather it was the injuries he had accumulated whilst still under those clouds. 

Djen-Kan and Ven-wo came at him, he took the Djen Kan on his gauntlet, pulling high over the Ven-wo to ram his on Ju-Sha, strong high down upon the horned Niktos head, slicing clean through the helm and into brain matter.

The younger Morgukai realised the winds were against him…until the side doors opened and two dozen weequay marines and five more Morgukai rushed in to support.

<<<<>>>>

Lyaea

[00:00:23:48]
The leader of the Nikto was racing back here.  She had the bridge sealed, and played their own game against them, venting the overactive generators toxic exhaust fumes they had wanted to boil them with onto the Weequay across the ship.

“Increase by another 10%” she ordered the slightly groggy helmsman as her mother improvised defences by overturning unneeded consoles and rigging grenades from power cells taken from the deck crews side arms.

“Yes You Highness….” If Lyaea was going to be a leader she deserved a high title.

She was blasting the hyperdrive and generators at 140%, they would be utterly ruined when they hard reverted, but it would get her to Station 3 and Adaea quicker – the Stations defences weren’t the best – but Lyaea had already shut down the Destroyers shields - they would mince the Cruiser like mom ripped Weequay apart and they could escape in the confusion.

First of course…they had to get there…and that damn Nikto was coming.

Time for Track 10.

<<<<>>>>

Yncara

He leapt from his skipper into the void – the embrace of the cold seeping through his armour…he followed the rivers of the force she was gushing to the source, the crystal clear font of power.

Even if he could not take her alive, she was a glorious first kill in his new life as Darth Yncara.  The dark side propelling him, he sped toward the confluence.

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

[00:00:15:32]

Gondur was taking glancing hits on its shields from the pursuing Basilisks, Adaea threaded it through the columns and cargo-ways that connected the main station as Storage hubs exploded as the Mythosaur bereft of turbolasers launched missiles to support plasma blasts from the Basilisks in pursuit vaporizing chunks of the station as they missed the black spear head ship.

Gromin was coming in fast, a second flight of R39s was moving to intercept and she could only spare enough concentration for basic evasive manoeuvres.

Gobril was zipping up and around toward her position, she ducked low then swept through the gap out to the stations hull still piloting the three ships.  As she came out onto the hull she stopped dead…

Before her the robed Aether warrior with red crackling sabre alight.  Without any preamble lighting surged from him.

She darted aside as she twisted the ships into rolls, the Mandalorians were getting wise to how to track them, and while their shields and armour were better than theirs, they were not invincible. 

She took the blast and reflected it back in one had summoning her bow with the other…she didn’t need two hands to fire it with the aether and telekinetically launched two bolts that were dismissed with a wave of his ominous red blade as he levitated forward, his ships hold open behind like a tomb waiting for her to be interred.

Her sword to her hand she launched the shikkars and grenades that came standard with her armour, the bright blue-white detonations were contained by his telekinesis, the glass daggers chipped off his armour, but the distraction bought her time to close in on her terms, pivoting round in free floating space to hack at his legs – plenty of vac suit joints - all she needed to breach was one.

Upside down from each other, spinning and twisting in the gravity confluence they hacked away, Adaea’s biological advantages offset by her aetheric fatigue and split concertation. The Advosze pressed her hard, systematically working her blade style while forcing her to burn through the aether deflecting his lighting blasts.

Behind her the Mythosaur’s fire began taking the station apart piece by piece, fast flying detritus began sweeping past at hundreds of kilometres per hour – each piece potentially fatal if it hit one of them.  She did her best to direct the flow toward him as explosions lit the abyss green and yellow, but a dam of aetheric energy protected him as their blades kissed and clashed between knees and twists.

Gondur was getting buffeted, Gormin outpaced the R39’s and she tried to bring it round to support Gondur.  Gobril was coming up but now she had to weave it through the wreck of pod 1 to get to her. She just didn’t have the concentration for all of it, she had to abandon one of her ships…

A brown grey lump erupted into her peripheral vision…it was too big to be Lyaea…a Rendili Star Drive Gladius if she recalled correctly…

Adaea was not a very Happy Gorbil, nor a Lucky Gondur…

<<<<>>>>

Tok

The weequay were already trying to bash the bridge doors in

“The auxiliary bridge?” he called

“First to get gassed out!” the reply from a commander came as the ship jolted once more…they had left hyperspace earlier than he thought…

A piercing whine filled his ears followed by a metal shriek…something had just broken…something big…

“Stand aside…” he ordered twirling his cortosis staff in Djen-Sha.

<<<<>>>>

Lyaea

[00:00:14:21]
Station 3…was not the saviour she needed…the whole thing was coming apart, fighters swirling around it, a Mandalorian Cruiser with holes where turbolasers should be pouring fire from smaller turrets …and behind her the bridge bulkhead being rent open by the Nikto.

“Risin' up, back on the street, Did my time, took my chances” she mouthed as the last track began

She could feel Adaea struggling…and Melron below even worse…It was up to her and Mom. Time to be a leader…

“Divert all power from the shields to the Cannons, then open fire on the Mando Cruiser, everything you’ve got!”

“Yes your highness…” the helmsman set an intercept and the navigator wandered over to weapons control.

“Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet, Just a girl and her will to survive!”

Behind her the doors burst open…

<<<<>>>>

[Lord_S_Gray]

Chapter 24 — Home Front — No Welcome Home

Part 3

Melron

[00:00:11:21]
Heaving breath, pain across his broken body more than his endocrine system could compensate for, armour chipped and scuffed.

The Morgukai had given up fighting close combat after the third fell, now they directed the Weequay to slowly corner him in the far end of the hangar with volleys of fire.  His arrows had all been captured by the Morgukai from the bodies of heavy weapons teams, the Nikto disabling their recall ability, his grenades spent on a dozen Weequay that littered the hangar in smoking chunks of meat. 

It was inevitable, the armour was getting heavy, he couldn’t dodge the next rounds that hammered him to the floor for the second time this hour.  This time there would be no renewal, no burst of energy.

The Morguaki moved back in, Tur Wo – low defensive strikes, heavy arms offered momentary delay as he was bashed onto his back.

“You fight with restored honour Warrior…” the young Morgukai leaned over him kicking his blade into his brethren’s hands

“You began conflicted in yourself, but you die firm, this we respect.”  As he raised his cortosis spear for the Ven-Dai – the killing stroke

“You will be honoured on the Wannschok,”

His blow never reached Melrons neck – the explosive decompression ripped Nek from his feet and landed him face first on a support beam.

<<<<>>>>

Meeda

“That showed the Pfasssks!” she smiled as the Gladius Hangars burst apart, scattering bodies and fighters into the void.

She had no idea where it had come from or why – frankly after being beaten by her own men and watching ghosts and witches destroy their fighters she was past asking questions like that, or indeed why it fired on them when its shields were off and generators overloaded from a hard real space reversion.

“How much longer!”

“6 minutes!”  Their main weapons were down, but the engine was intact, they just needed to patch a few of the torpedoes deck breaches they couldn’t seal with bulk heads before they jumped out of this hell hole.

“Recall all fighters, I want out of here,”

<<<<>>>>

Yncara

The Mandalorians were fleeing, afraid of this petulant little girl.  He did not fear, He WAS Fear. 

Red blade spun against the veil of the deep cores clustered stars, the oblivion like blade she wielded in response so deftly filled with almost erotic glee – what a trophy to pry from her cold corpse!

Amidst the threads of control that threatened to spiral beyond her grasp he felt a subtle pressure, an instinctual thread trying to connect from the newly arrived ship that duelled the Mythosaur with missile.

The thread was unlike the others she used to control her variegated devices, it was…primal…desperate to feed in – he pushed against it denying her its comfort – yet like the tide it persisted – his blade sparked along hers as she kicked toward his face and he threw his robe between them to offer a floating soft tangle of an object to deal with as the thread pressed harder – now it came from her as well a deep seated primordial need to link with its companions.

The wyrm in his neck itched in envy – the connection to the Red Master seemed paltry and artificial compared to this pure communality rendering it all the more dangerous to him should it connect.

His attention like hers grew split as he held back the tide of the thread and the spin of her blade.

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

[00:00:12:01]
She couldn’t feel who or what was on the new ship…the Advosze blocked her mentally and her knees and blade physically and she hadn’t the strength to break through either barrier. 

She wanted to let go of it all, curl up with her pet gobrils and go to sleep…12 minutes…so long…and every clash made it feel a week….but Melrons training on the steppe had forced her to keep going…even though he hadn’t really believed it himself…she would keep going.

<<<<>>>>

Tok

Fire and fury erupted as soon as the door burst open, the two warriors who had deceived and twisted their way to control of the situation stood before him.  He leapt over their makeshift barricade with Vo-Sha, his brethren beside him…

But the bodies were not there…his battle trance dispelled the Force illusion just before he landed…it did not dispel the pistol power packs set to overload where the false enemies had been.

One of his five brethren had his legs flash burnt, a second’s shoulder exploded as a sniper rifle thumped behind, arrows of strange make skewered the legs of a third.

They ran along the outer edge of the bridge firing their pistols and rifle, hammering with telekinesis and lighting as the Morgukai stood trapped in the centre.  Sparks began to fly not from the battle but the punishment the Gladius was taking from the ship he now saw in the distance – this was not their intended destination.

The ambush had been reversed the Morgukai were in a strange land, assailed by strange warriors.

His debt to the Red Master was not this heavy…he had made an error, honour might be served agreeing to this task, but logic was not.  They would not allow Tok to escape alive. 

<<<<>>>>

Selaena

[00:00:03:51]
She would not let them escape, they had wanted to hurt their babies…her baby. Tears filled her eyes to think of her lost son, knowing what had been done to her…she couldn’t think about what might’ve happened to him.

She felt their doubt in the aether, the dominant one had realised he was beaten, but he would not surrender – nor would she let him.

Lyaea leapt the barricades first, twisting into the Nikto’s guard with her shot sword, taking the joint at the back of his knee, Selaena kept their attention split with her rifle fire, but she had only four shots left…

Four words to impart a message to the Outsiders.

“NEVER” she aimed high to make the beast raise his staff but swiftly switched low with an aetheric push as she fired to take his ankle apart, dripping pain made him easy pickings for Lyaea.

“HURT” Selaena had to duck as the one with the wounded shoulder closed in, fighting competently with one arm, she crouched into a spin bringing her file under his chin, arms wide she pulled the trigger with the aether.

“PEOPLE” the body flopped away and she rolled between two stations firing into the right shoulder of the one grappling with Lyaea from behind. The burst of armour and flesh letting her get in and rend her sword through its guts.

“AGAIN” she rose up from the roll, reserve kicked the only Weequay dumb enough to try and intervene, then guided her last shot into the arm of the Nikto they had pinned to the deck with arrows in the leg, slightly impressed he had kept fighting.

There was one left now, his heart pumping so loud she could hear it, his guard up, grip loose ready to adapt to whatever they did.

<<<<>>>>

Melron

[00:00:02:02]
The armour was shattered, but he was alive. 

After the initial blast of displacement the storm had died, now he simply held onto a docking cradle for want of floating anywhere else.  The bodies floated silently amidst the wreckage, he saw a cross section of the ships aft where missiles had torn apart the unshielded hull. 

Their ship…the Kuati one he had long since forgotten, lay in the docking clamp beside the thing called the ‘tractor beam’…if he survived he would learn about all these things…

Painfully moving his hand he retrieved the detonator Lyaea had given him what seemed like a lifetime ago…perhaps it was…his broken body could be rebuilt…better…instead of an ossifying remnant of the old ways he could help bridge the gap as Kiraea did by keeping the teachings of the Ladies that he as Male dare not speak of directly.

If they survived – he could feel Lya and Sel, and…someone else…but they were being blocked by a dark oil stain in the aether - their instinctual connection to each other hampered making the other feel alone. 

He couldn’t help physically…but mentally…he pushed down through the slick puddle that held their battle meld apart…it was the least he could do to work the sharp line through the miasma to connect with …Adaea…

He coughed out blood into his helmet unable to help her anymore.

Staring out into the corpse strewn hole he began his vigil finger on the red button…if anyone other than People came through that demolished opening…he would happily destroy himself and the Children of the Aether rather than let the Outsiders have them.

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

Her heart rose with hope as she finally felt People.  Her opponent did too, she felt the aura of the Mandolorians shift, their attention no longer on her ships, but on the Gladius and getting away. 

She could finally ease off the mental strain of controlling three ships and focus all her attention on her opponent - but not before Gormin finally swung in behind the Advosze and obliterated his skipper with laser lances.

He spun out to avoid the rain of his ships debris, her mind felt slightly slack from relinquishing such tight control for so long, but there was enough to broadly guide 62.4% of the stream of detritus against his 37.6% - Outsiders struggled to concentrate on more than two things at once and even depleted Adaea was still able to manage four.  Spinning and twisting in the hailstorm, she forced his movement as his cloak shredded apart and armour chipped with micro impacts…

Straight into her grip, a failing red slash gripped in her mind now she had let go of the Gormins controls, one arm darted around his throat as he struggled to keep the particles from hitting him from behind – she used him as a shield against the petering barrage of his ships rubble as her blade skewered him, blobby crystals of blood seeping out as she turned the sword round and up through the chest, side to side to damage the most organs possible.

Now…how was she going to get to Lyaea…

<<<<>>>>

Meeda

The Gladius Cruiser had stopped firing, stopped doing anything…Meeda wasn’t interested any more
“How much longer!”

“Last patches are going on now!”

Her mouth twitched in annoyance…as she stared through the bridge view port.

Something…she could’ve sworn she saw that star blink…

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

[00:00:00:58]
Meeda had been right…a Shikkar torpedo had obscured her vision briefly as it sailed over the bridge then dived into the main engine, orange light and plasma overflow blossoming out crippling the Cruiser in an instant.

It was a Lucky Gondur after all, Adaea smiled along with the Smiling Gormin she was piloting as the Gobril cut past the Mythosaur’s hangars dropping its four sonic charges as the last of the Basilisks docked. Zipping the Gobril toward her she detonated – the shockwaves crippling the just landed fighters by causing a system overload, oh it could be repaired…
But not before the Other others arrived.

<<<<>>>>

Lyaea

[00:00:00:02]

“And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night, And he's watchin' us all with the eye of the Rancor”

She sized up the last Morgukai, Tok…yes she knew the name now…she had stolen a piece of the puzzle and a decade of study in the ways of the warriors of the Endless Wastes from each of the others till the three of them stood alone, the Weequay evacuating the dying ship.

“Face to face, out in the heat”

“You can’t beat us both…” Lyaea noted
“Death in battle is honourable,” he replied, but she sensed his conflict

“Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry”

“Not against someone who is not your enemy…give over your employer and we let you live,”

“I….cannot dishonour his trust…”

His reasons for being here, honour code, this she now understood enough to grow his doubts.
“They stack the odds 'till we take to the street for the kill with the skill to survive”
But did it have to be that way?

“He has betrayed you already, who do you think sent the Hutt recruiters to Kintan in the first place…hired your sons…then came in to save you from the Hutts and return your family thereby bonding you to his service?” Lyaea danced through the logic on the fly.

His leathery face dropped with realisation at his mistake…he had assumed one who performed generous actions would not be guilty of such advanced duplicity.

Tok did not know if her accusation was true, he would need more evidence than her words…but something about it rang all too true.

“It is a grave dishonour…” he said cautiously, “To kill one who is not your enemy…such is never cleaned by all the brittle sand of the Wannschok against your skin.”

Lyaea remained silent, truth had been spoken. Her mother protested in the Aether but Selaena would not defy her.
“Risin' up to the challenge of our rival”

As the ship rumbled once more, Tok backed out slowly – he was not her true rival just another pawn sent to test them.

“The enemy of my enemy…” Lyaea noted once he was gone

“Is still an Outsider…” Selaena replied caustically, but then relented, “…wise Lya…wise…” she wandered over to hold her daughter as they felt Adaea approach, tired but healthy,

“Let the Outsiders speak Violence to each other first,”

<<<<>>>>

Adaea

[00:00:00:00]

The Smiling Gormin smiled with her once more as the other’s arrived right on time…

She felt the concern flood the aether and replied with warmth and confidence, directing them with broad cues on where to go and what to do.  It was kind of funny telling Guardians what to do, but they were all Guardians of the People now.

She backed off controlling the Gobril and Gondur as the others took over, stepped out of her seat and headed for the med bay to prepare to collect Melron.

<<<<>>>>

Meeda

“Mandalorian Vessel – you have breached the integrity of Allied space and damaged asset termed Deep Core Station 3, lower shields and prepare for boarding,”

Meeda was past trying to fight back…the ship that had exited hyperspace above both her Mythosaur and the Gladius cruiser was huge, well-armed, and backed by dozens of fighters and four frigates – None - absolutely NONE - of which she could identify.

“I seen ‘em once…” Tern coughed, on the bridge despite the broken ribs he’d earned being flung into space.

“That’s Chiss…ain’t no hope against them…we’ve been right royal frelled up the exhaust port on this job…”

When she reached the hangar fifteen minutes later she wasn’t overly impressed with the well ironed black uniformed blue skinned officers and their grey armoured goons rounding up her men.

They could take this lot…get onto their carrier…Chiss tech was worth a fortune….

“Don’t even think about it.”

Jarys overly heavy hand grabbed her left shoulder, buckling her beneath its genehanced weight onto her knees.

She turned painfully to see a monster in Night black armour, a bloody bestial rage even she could sense simmering just beneath the surface, looming over her.

She decided to follow his advice.

<<<<>>>>