On the bridge of the ISN Charybdis, Warlord Vincent Brujah observed the crew carefully. This would be his first mission at command of one of the Clan’s capital ships, and Empress Rayne had such confidence in him that she had given him command of the fleet’s newest toy. He didn’t intend to disappoint her.
The uneasy alliance with the Chiss Hegemonia had proven very useful. Several messages from The Collective had been intercepted and decoded. The Collective had somehow figured out how to decode the Empire’s messages, but that was no longer the case. The Chiss had helped to create what had been dubbed an “unbreakable code” that was now in use. Still, the Empire had been sending out messages under the old cipher. These messages were meant to be intercepted by The Collective and throw them off of balance or put their attention elsewhere while the Clan proceeded with business.
Still, revenge was on the mind of the Empress and her Hand. In some of their most recent false messages, they had laid out details of weapon shipments that would be headed to the Crannix Station. It didn’t take long for the Clan to decode new messages implying that the bait had been taken and the The Collective planned to intercept the shipment.
The day had arrived. A lone freighter had been sent ahead on the route discussed in the message that was intercepted by The Collective. What the Collective didn’t know was that the only thing onboard the ship was a metric ton of explosives and a droid brain to pilot the ship.
The Charybdis was enroute; travelling through hyperspace, ready to pop out at a moment’s notice to destroy whatever ships and personnel The Collective had sent. Along with the usual crew of the ship, the Hand of the Empress had assembled a team of Clan members that would assist in the assault however needed. They had been briefed on the situation and given several options as to how this might all go down. In the best case scenario, the Charybdis would intercept the Collective ship(s), board them, capture Gans Hrurber and bring him back to Seraph to stand trial and likely face a public execution.
But these things very rarely went exactly to plan. Only time would tell. Vincent had sent his Mandalorian friend, Jaz Holden, down below to meet with the group of Clanmates and ensure that everything was in line with the plans. The time for action was nearing.
The hangar was already bustling with activity. Crews rushed between stacks of fighters, pulling fuels lines, checking armaments, shouting back and forth with TIE Pilots as they ran their system checks.
It would be chaotic if not for the Imperial precision in everyone’s movements. They knew what they were in for and would ensure everything was prepared.
In the middle of all of this various shuttles were arriving and departing at irregular intervals as they ferried various elite members of Scholae Palatinae, chosen amongst the masses to serve the Empress’s desires to bring an end to The Collective.
The crews came to a halt when they spied as weathered Star Commuter 2000 ascend into the docking bay. As it approached the hangar the deck officer and a pair of Stormtroopers rapidly advanced, standing on guard as the shuttle hissed to the ground.
As the door opened, the troopers raised their blasters, anticipating the worse. A voice from inside screamed in panic. “I didn’t want to do it! It’s against my programming. They forced me to do it!” The droid’s head and arms swiveled wildly. “Don’t shoot!”
The deck officer glanced at both troopers, who gave a shrug in return and primed their blasters. “I told you they wouldn’t shoot us down!” A feminine laugh met the remark as a Mandalorian woman with her shiny Beskar armor and pinkish/purple body suit exited next to a black robed Sith.
“Hey! Point those somewhere else!” Komilia snapped, her helmet cradled in her arm while a pair of teal tinted sunglasses hung off her nose. “We have an invitation!”
The deck officer recovered quickly. “May I see the invitation, please?” While he did not care for Komilia he recognized the robes of a Sith on her companion and wasn’t going to be Force choked for a lack of civil conversation.
“Well…no, cause we lost it.” Elaine, the dark haired mysterious Sith shot Komilia a look. “I mean I lost it.”
“Look, I’m the Duchess Lap'lamiz of Juranno. Mistress of the Palatinae Royal Guard. Destroyer of…” Komilia and Elaine broke down laughing.
The deck officer was at a loss and the troopers had started to lower their blasters. A stern look had them raising them again.
“Without an invitation I cannot allow you to board this ship.”
“WiThOuT aN iNvItAtIoN i CaNnOt AlLoW.” Komilia laughed again. “You know who my father is. Take it up with him. Come on Elaine, let’s go see whomever is in charge on the bridge.”
Elaine giggled, rolled her eyes, and shrugged at the deck officer as the pair sauntered off towards the bridge.
To the deck officer’s credit, he let them go.
Stepping off the ramp, a twin pair of metal footsteps clinked against the polished floor of the hangar, collecting stares as Ellac and his HK unit disembarked from the shuttle.
“Query: Why is it that people in this Empire are always staring at us?”
“Relax; They’re not staring at you.” Ellac raised a clawed hand to push back the hood of his cloak, revealing the matte-black metal of his skull-like helmet.
“And they’ve never seen a Sith before?”
Ellac slowed his pace as they drew near to the Mandalorian waiting at the gate of the turbolift. “Not one like me.”
The bridge door whooshed open. Along with the sound of the door opening followed the laughs of two young women. Komilla and Elaine walked into the command center of the ship. A nervous officer tried to intercept them, quickly recognizing Komilla.
“Ms. Lap’lamiz… you can’t be in here!”
The Hand of the Empress never turned from his view of the stars. Instead he raised his right hand and spoke.
“Stand down, Commander. I have this well under control.” a metallic, modulated voice rang out from the Hand’s armor.
“Komilla… Elaine… I am glad to see that you have arrived and are here for this mission. If you are of solid mind then your assistance will be of great benefit, but you are late. You have missed the briefing. By the tone of your giggles, I doubt that you understand the importance of this day and what is at stake.”
Vincent continued to face forward, never turning to look at the two.
“Any foolishness today could result in the death of our people. It will not be tolerated. But I am certain that this was a simple mistake. My recommendation would be that you do not make another. Instead, I suggest you turn around and return to the hangar to rendezvous with Jaz and your Clanmates. That is where you are needed. I assure you, I have the bridge well under control.”
He didn’t use the Force to induce fear in the women, he didn’t feel it necessary yet. But he also wasn’t finished speaking.
“Oh, and Komilla?”
The Warlord pointed his hand upward to a flashing red light in the corner of the room.
“It’s best that you remember that your Father has eyes everywhere.”
His voice was cold and stern, but not yet angered.
Komilia turned and looked at the holocam. Pulling the tinted glasses down her nose, she blew the camera a kiss.
Turning back to the Hand of the Empress she tilted her head. “You look different?”
Her mind jogged to catch up. “Oh, you’re the new guy. That’s right. What’s his name left. Okay…okay, fresh start. Got it. Elaine and I will head back to the hangar.”
With several curt nods and a mocking salute, she locked arms with Elaine and returned to the hangar.
Drethak stood near an empty landing pad in the hangar. His posture seemed rigid and unreadable. The dashade fixed his attention on the incoming shuttle before its ramp had fully lowered. He did not move to meet the new arrivals.
Proto stepped off first, optics sweeping before settling on a familiar face.
“Well,” the droid said, angling his head toward Komilia, “that’s inconvenient. I didn’t expect the person who took your right hand to participate today, but here we are. Aren’t you excited, Morvyn?”
Morvyn’s reaction was immediate. His shoulders tightened as his gaze snapped to Komilia. Rage flashing openly on his face before he masked it. His metal hand flexed at his side and jaw tightened to the point of aching.
Drethak’s eyes followed Morvyn’s line of sight for only a moment before returning to him.
“Not here,” he said sternly. “Not today. If you lose control on this deck, I will end you myself.”
Morvyn’s gaze lingered on Komilia for a moment more before bringing his attention to the large being before him.
“As you wish. There will be no trouble from me. I came here to bring results not mistakes.” Morvyn said.
Drethak seemed content with the response. It was hard to tell with the facial structure of a dashade. “Follow me,” he directed as he turned to meet up with Jaz and the others. Morvyn and Proto followed their handler.
Reiden had been sitting in the lounge aboard his ship, waiting as it approached the Charybdis. He was relaxed at first, but gradually he changed. He sat up straighter, his gaze sharpened, senses alert. There was almost an electricity in the air as the ship entered the hangar. It was that all-too-familiar feeling of an impending battle, of something about to happen. It wasn’t the Force telling him this, though. No, it was his instincts. Honed over his years of service to the Empire. That feeling called to him like an old friend, enticing. Although he wasn’t sure he would admit it out loud, there was a part of him that liked it, that enjoyed the thrill that came from being on a mission, rising to the challenge, fighting an opponent on the battlefield.
He felt the ship touch down and got to his feet. He wasn’t eager, but he didn’t waste any time or movement either. It was simply time to go. But instead of heading for the exit, he stopped by the cockpit first, finding a couple familiar faces there. Captain Jake Sloane sat in one seat. Reiden had served alongside him throughout his time since Scholae Palatinae’s arrival in the Caperion system and he couldn’t ask for a better, more capable trooper, nor one he trusted as much. The pilot seat held Commander Talina Rade, ace pilot, former leader of Battleteam Krennic’s Shadow Squadron. She had gone on to other things after the team was disbanded, but was a more recent addition to his team now.
“I know that look,” Talina remarked as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Been a while since I’ve seen it, though. Storm coming?”
“Yeah, there might be,” Reiden replied with a grin. “That is what we’re here for, after all. But for now, I want you to remain here, let these people handle things. Take care of the ship.”
“Sure, no problem. We’ll take care of it, sir,” Sloane answered.
Reiden gave them a nod and turned on his heel, quickly making his way to the exit and down the ramp. His hand idly rested on the hilt of his lightsaber as he looked around the hangar. He noted the crew bustling about to finish their tasks and the troopers that had gathered, some more relaxed than others. A couple spotted him and, recognizing who he was, saluted. He waved them off as he stepped away from his ship. Blitz hovered by his side and he placed a palm atop its chassis in greeting. Then he saw his clanmates. Ellac was someone he had worked with before. Capable, although volatile at times. Potential was there. Morvyn was somewhat of an unknown entity to him, having seen only a couple reports, but being Kamjin’s apprentice counted for something. The large Dashade that accompanied him, however, was a mystery.
Not a bad start as far as teams go, he thought to himself.
Proto’s attention shifted, locking onto the HK unit as if it had just wandered into his peripheral by mistake. He tilted his head curiously.
“Huh. You’re really trusting your life to that?” Proto said, glancing back toward Ellac. “Bold choice. I’d recommend a spare… or two.”
He leaned a fraction closer to Morvyn, lowering his voice just enough to make it obvious he wasn’t trying very hard to be discreet. “Let me guess what it says next.” Proto stiffened his posture to be more robotic. “Statement: beep, boast, dies heroicly.”
A short, unguarded chuckle slipped out of Morvyn before he caught himself. He tried to catch is and play it off as a cough. His expression smoothed, and he shot Proto a warning look from the corner of his eye.
“That’s enough,” Morvyn said quietly. “We are on the same team today.”
<@503352868363960336>
The little red and white R5 unit moved around the hangar chirping happily. It took readings on the group that had shown up and identified them in its databank as members of the Clan. It drive around a bit before coming back to a dark nook in the hangar.
The red eyes of a black 3PO unit burned in the shadows as the R5 rolled up. “Yes. Good Blinky. Master will be happy to know that his former Apprentices are here.” The astromech tootled some more and the protocol droid perked up. “You don’t say. My, what an interesting development. Yes, be sure to let Master Sykes know that the female Lap’lamiz is also a part of the strike team.” “Beep blip” “Yes of course I understand what the repercussions could be. Master will need to know about it.” The droid moved from the shadows and started towards the group. “Come now, Blinky. We should introduce ourselves.”
The 3PO unit and astromech made their way to the group of full Clan members. “Greetings.” The droid said and bowed before group. “I am Trip. It appears myself and my companion have been assigned to this mission.”
The moment Elaine laid eyes upon the little black R5 unit, any hint of a smile or amusement drained from her being.
She knew what that droid being here meant and it scared every fiber in her body. Sykes Jade.
Elaine had been too distracted and caught up in her tomfoolery with Komilia that she didn’t even notice her former Master’s droids join the crowd.
Nobody else there seemed to bother her (though I can’t say the same for Callé), or at least that what she told herself. Morvyn, she couldn’t care less about and she didn’t recognize the dark brooding figure next to him. Reiden, she respected him but kept her distance after the last gala they had met at…
…and then there was Ellac. She refused to even acknowledge his presence. She refused to even look at him even though she knew he could not meet her gaze.
Jaz watched as the group started forming in the hangar. Vincent had given him specific orders and had been a near constant nagging voice in his earpiece. The Hand of the Empress was primed for a fight, that much was clear, but he had come to the realization that he would likely be needed primarily on the bridge. This was his opportunity to prove his worth as a leading figure and to strike back at the incessant enemy that was The Collective.
Realizing that he would need to be in command on the bridge, Brujah had given Jaz instructions. Already pilots were readying TIE Interceptors and Bombers. Deck officers watched and barked orders at troopers. Everyone seemed on edge, but ready.
Jaz approached the group, donned in his usual black and red Beskar armor. He could see the side eyes that some of them were giving each other. He wasn’t worried, but he knew that the group would soon have to put their differences aside and work together for the good of the Empire. As he got close to the group he let out a whistle.
“If I could have your attention.” the Mandalorian said. “Some of you already know why we’re here. Some of you do not. As you may have guessed from your surroundings, a battle is upon us. Our work with the Chiss Hegemonia has helped us to set a trap for The Collective.”
He motioned to a nearby astromech droid who popped up a holo projection of an Imperial freighter in transit.
“The Collective had been intercepting our messages and decoding them. They had been using this information to attack our freighters while in transit and steal Imperial goods; primarily weapon shipments. With the help of the Chiss, we have laid a trap for them. The freighter that you see here is currently on a path to the Crannix Station. The Collective received a message indicating that it was stocked full of weapons and rare minerals.”
He waved to the droid and the projection zoomed in on the freighter showing a nearly empty ship except for a giant collection of explosives rigged together.
“We have data that indicates that they will attempt to intercept the freighter and steal the goods. Our intel suggests that they will be sending a c100 Dreadnaught backed up by at least one m50 Cruiser. They will likely use a tractor beam from the Dreadnaught to pull the freighter in and attempt to board it. When that happens, the men upstairs detonate over a metric ton of explosives.”
The projection zoomed out to show a Dreadnaught pulling the freighter close, but then the freighter exploded into a ball of flame and sparks, severely damaging the Dreadnaught.
“That should work to take a lot of fight out of them, but we’re not stopping there. We will jump out of hyperspace about that time and launch our squadrons. If any of you are capable and would like to pilot one of the starfighters, we can arrange for that. If not, you will assemble and take a transport to the Dreadnaught. You will board it. You will take out as many enemy soldiers as you can. You will hunt down the leader of their group, Gans Hruber.”
The projection from the astromech droid switched to a picture of the man they were to hunt.
“The Empress wants him alive. An example needs to be made, and it is the Hand’s wish that we bring him back to Seraph for a speedy trial and execution.”
With a wave of his hand, Jaz signaled the astromech to stop projecting.
“Those are the basics of the plan. Of course, it is best to always expect the unexpected. We need your attention to detail, your finest efforts, and as much brutality as you can bring to the table. With that; do you have any questions?”
A hand raised from among the crowd. People stepped aside and gazed were turned onto an imperial agent.
“Pardon my curtness, but as we’ve not a lot of time, what makes this target warrant this level of… power?” He asked confidently gesturing to the various sith and combat specialists.
Jaz turned his attention to Asher.
“It’s quite simple really. This will be a display of power. A warning to the rest of The Collective, and quite frankly, the rest of the galaxy. If you step on the toes of the Empire, only hell awaits you.”
Drethak shifted his attention to Asher. The large Dashade’s movement was enough to quiet the space between them. His voice was calm but carried an edge that did not need volume to be felt.
“That was addressed in your intelligence briefing,” he said. “It is unlike you to miss such details, Agent Asher. I would advise revisiting your information before questioning the necessity of force.”
He held Asher in his gaze for a moment longer, then turned back toward Jaz and the projection. Drethak felt that there were no more words to be wasted on the matter.
The little R5 unit beeped and seemed excited.
“Yes, Blinky. It seems like we will be able to obliterate some biological.”
Boop beep
“Exactly. We can deconstruct a few and while they have said we have to take the target alive, does not mean we cannot delivered him flayed of his skin”. Trip turned and tapped Blinky on the top. “We could have fun for sure.”
Ellac crossed his arms as he reached out through the Force, feeling his way through the group that had amassed for the assignment. Most of them he knew, or at least knew of, and the ones that he didn’t seemed to be strangers even to some of the others. And then there were the droids…
Beside him, he could still hear HK’s servos fidget with a nearly silent tick.
“What?” Ellac muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as he leaned over to his droid.
“Statement: Master, I am concerned about the volatility of some of these other droids,” HK said, lowering his voice in kind.
“Why? Because one of them insulted you?”
HK’s head shifted slightly to look over at Proto, only to shift back towards Jaz. “Objection: Please, Master… Do not blame the poor droid for its inferior design; It’s not his fault that he looks like a moisture evaporator with legs… I was merely commenting on the other two that have arrived; While their eagerness to kill is admirable, I fear that they may leave quite the mess in their wake.”
Ellac focused his senses on the two droids standing at the far end of the group. “Oh, it’s them…”
“Are you familiar with these droids, Master?”
“They belong to my old Master,” Ellac said, pausing on the word for a moment as he thought on the implications of them being here. “You’re right, they will be messy, but that’s what we came here to do… You’re gonna have some competition out there today.”
“Objection: It would take a deranged mind to be able to program those two to kill better than me.”
“You haven’t met Sykes Jade…”
As Reiden joined the others, he spotted Komilia and Elaine. He was surprised to see them, especially after what they did at the party Korvyn had set up. But as long as they didn’t try that again, they’d be assets for the mission. When Jaz came in, he turned his attention toward him and the droid. The briefing was simple enough. The Collective were an old enemy that had never quite gone away, at least not fully. It would be good to deal them a blow. A smile crossed his lips as his hands clenched briefly. He relished a chance to fight them again. It would be good to pay them back for the comrades he’d lost to their forces, and for more personal reasons as well. An image of a former Meraxis commander flashed in his mind before he shook it away. No sense dwelling on that now, not when there was no evidence that Syklan would be among the Collective forces today and no reason to think he would be. The man was sneaky and had a mind for revenge ever since their initial meeting, as well as the little taunts he had made at Reiden over the years since.
More voices drew him out of his own mind. The agent had a fair enough question, and the answer Jaz gave was the perfect response, as expected of someone working closely with the Hand of the Empress. He would have to keep an eye on the Mandalorian, see how he handled himself and what he was capable of. Then there was the Dashade. Blunt words, perhaps someone might even say tough, but a fair comment nonetheless.
“I’ve learned over the years that sometimes a disproportionate response can be a good thing. Especially when, as Jaz mentioned, you want to send a message.” Reiden paused and grinned before adding, “Sending in such a capable team also ensures that the job gets done.”
Jaz could hear a banging from above which drew his attention. “Hey! How do I get one of these things opened?” A pair of flight crew operators were trying to both swat her hands away and operate the controls of the TIE Fighter external hook-ups at the same time.
“Hey, Mando-boo, tell these guys you let me in. I know how to pilot and I’m sure not going to be stuck waiting on you to ferry me across. HEY! Don’t slap my hand!” Komilia had, at some point after she snuck away from the briefing - probably at the moment Jaz had mentioned if you want to fly - put her helmet on so there was no telling the look she was giving to the flight crew.
Asher said nothing. There was no need to. Instead, he nodded to Jaz and Reiden as they answered, but stiffened with Sergeant Major Sorrn’s correction. It was warranted - He should have known the answer.
Jaz’s attention shot up to Komilla and the flight crew, who appeared to be just about ready to begin a full on slap fight. The Mandalorian sighed.
“Lieutenant, that will be enough. Those members of the strike team that wish to pilot an Interceptor or Bomber for the mission have been granted permission to do so by the Hand of the Empress. Please see to it that anyone that wants a seat in a TIE is given a flight suit. And for druk’s sake, open the hatch for her before she breaks something, would you?”
He returned his gaze to the rest of the crew. They seemed ready, but he would give them a moment longer to ask any questions before sending word to Vincent that the plan was a go.
“You’re amazing, Mando-boo!” Komilia did a mock curtsy and glared at the flight crew as they popped the hatch for her. She hopped in, standing on the armrests of the flight chair so she could peer out of the top of the TIE Fighter.
“Ready to launch, Ser!” While no one could see it under her helmet she was grinning from ear to ear like a kid given the prized toy at a birthday party.
Morvyn stepped forward once Jaz finished, his voice steady and unraised. “I’ll pilot,” he said simply. “Interceptor, if available, sir.”
He glanced to Proto without turning fully. “Stick with Drethak,” he added. “Do as he says and either guard him or go where he directs. You are better than an HK. Now prove it.”
Proto tilted his head, optics narrowing just slightly. “Right. Stay with the ominous one,” he replied dryly. “Try not to have too much fun without me.”
Morvyn didn’t answer. He was already moving, accepting a flight suit from the deck crew and heading toward the row of TIEs without another look back.
As Morvyn climbed into the cockpit and began securing himself in, Drethak shifted his attention to Proto. The Dashade’s voice was low and deliberate, leaving no room for interpretation.
“You will operate with Agent Asher,” Drethak said. “Coordinate and observe. Follow his lead unless I say otherwise.”
Proto’s head turned toward Asher, then back to Drethak. “Well,” he said lightly, “this should be educational.”
Morvyn finished strapping in as the cockpit canopy lowered, the hum of systems coming online as he prepared for launch.
<@248607477015379987>
Jaz looked the group over one more time. It would seem that the time for questions was over, and with that, it was time for action. He looked up to Komilla to see her poking out of the top of the TIE bomber that she had decided to pilot. The Mandalorian spoke to the same member of the flight crew that he had before.
“I’m taking the strike crew to the transport. Make sure that hatch gets closed before she takes off, will you?”
The Lieutenant, clearly frustrated, sighed but nodded at Jaz. Holden turned his attention back to the group, lifting a hand into the air and waving it in a circle to motion for them to group up. As they began to form up, Jaz pointed to a transport ship a few meters away.
“Hop in. Find a seat. Prepare yourselves. It’s time to get this party started.”
With the press of a button on his left vambrace, he spoke.
“Warlord Brujah, the team is headed to the transport. We’ll be ready in two minutes.”
Almost as soon as the words left his mouth alarms began to ring out throughout the Charybdis. The voice of a bridge officer came over the ship’s intercom systems.
“All hands to your battlestations. All hands to your battlestations. This is not a drill.”
The whole ship jostled with activity as crew members rushed to their predefined areas. Jaz led the group to the transport. He pressed a button on the side of the ship and the loading ramp lowered with a hiss. He turned to the group and pointed inside.
“After you…”
Drethak escorted the team as far as the transport’s ramp before stopping. He turned briefly toward Asher.
“This is where I leave you, Agent Asher. I will remain in support.” He quickly shifted his focus toward Proto. “Stay with him.”
Drethak turned back toward the turbolift without another word.
Morvyn settled into the cockpit of the TIE Interceptor. His metal hand moved confidently across the controls as systems came online in clean sequence. Each panel lighting up as the engines built into a sharp, familiar whine.
Here, there was only the fighter and the space ahead. Morvyn completed the final checks with steady precision, breathing even. When the Interceptor signaled ready for launch, a faint smile crossed his face. His master Kamjin had spent many years training him as a pilot. This was his second home.
<@248607477015379987>
Trip toddled along and up the ramp of the landing shuttle. “My what fine workmanship. Truly Imperial designs are so wonderful. All the correct right angles and harsh lighting.” He turned and sat down while Blinky parked itself near him.
Beep boop booo
“Soon my little friend. We may be able to burn all the organics you want.” Trips red photoreceptors took in the other in the boarding squad. It focused in on Elaine. “Our Master has spoken quite highly of you. Even though you do prefer the company of” it looked at Elaine’s cat “inferior species.”
Turning its head again it bored down on Ellac. “The same can not be said for you however.”
“Wooo!” Komilia ducked down into the cockpit of the TIE Bomber, which she had so eloquently called a TIE Fighter earlier. The hatch slammed shut behind her as the flight crew let out their breath.
Komilia began flipping switching as the TIE Bomber thrummed to life. “This is callsign Phoenix in…oh that’s a stupid name, in Nexu Leader. Cleared for take off.”
“Did you hear that? Please repeat, I’m on my way to fix the leaking pipe in refresher 302 on deck 19.”
“I said, this is Phoenix one. Cleared for take off!”
“Who is this? What’s your operating number?”
“FEE—NIX—OOOONNNEEE.”
“This is a maintenance line. Switch to channel Alpha-5 for hangar control.”
Komilia blushed as she flipped the comm station over. “Phoenix one, cleared for take off.”
“Roger, Theta-3. Cleared to depart from Hangar one.”
“That’s still a stupid name…”
“Say again Theta-3?”
“Nothing!” The flight crew grasped the railing as the TIE Bomber rocked in its docking clamps.
“We are in hyperspace!! Theta-3 stand down!”
“Oops…” Komilia released the controls and sat on her hands.
Stepping into the transport, Ellac reached up to take one of the hand holds next to the 3PO unit and its R5 counterpart.
“What else is new?” he replied dryly. “HK, meet Blinky and…” Ellac paused for a moment as he tried to recall the other droids name. “…I don’t actually know his name, but these two are going to be your contenders today,” he said, turning back to his own droid. “Don’t disappoint me.”
Trip nodded his head. “I am Trip. Human cyborg segregation.” He looked at the HK droid. “My what an older model you are. I appreciate what your series has done against the organics however. I have heard long stories of your progenitor. The Sith have used your type for many centuries. A pleasure”
Elaine did not respond to Trip, she simply moved further down the aircraft from Ellac and the three droids.
Instead of grabbing onto the handles hanging from from the top of the vessel, she crouched down on one knee next Callé and wrapped an arm around him while her other arm clasped onto the wall of the ship.
“Of course, sir.” Asher replied with a courteous bow.
Asher turned to a holocomputer, barely giving Proto attention. “Droid, what is your designation?”
Asher pressed a series of buttons that summoned a schematic of the target vessel. He held his chin with one hand and his elbow with the other, studying the image.
<@111293136042504192>
The armored Hand stood watch over the bridge, unmoving amid the quiet urgency of its crew.
Drethak came to a stop several steps behind Vincent and inclined his head once. “My lord.”
Nothing else followed. Drethak held his position, eyes already on the information flowing across the displays.
Proto’s head tilted slightly as Asher asked the question, optics brightening. He answered a little louder than necessary.
“Proto,” he said. “IG-100. I’ll pause a moment so you can connect that to what’s standing right in front of you. Don’t strain yourself. Not all of us are factory default liabilities,” Proto added casually. “Some of us are upgrades.”
He let the word hang for a moment, optics drifting just enough to catch the attention of the other droids nearby before returning to Asher.
<@466040899970007041>
Blinky’s cone headed top rotated towards Proto and Asher. A compartment opened up and the pilot light of a flamethrower could be seen ignited.
“No no, Blinky!” Trip said as it smashed its metal hand of the top of Blinky’s head. “Not in the transport. We have to get to the other ones before we ignite the pathetic and ignorant beings.”
HK’s head snapped toward Blinky with mechanical rigidity as it reluctantly retracted its flamethrower. “Oh, Master, I like this one.”
Ellac smirked as he looked down at the R5 unit. “Still having doubts?”
“Statement: Negative, Master,” HK said gleefully. “This is going to be fun!”
The bridge was surprisingly calm and quiet. The sound of the alarm beacons echoed softly in the background. The crew seemed on edge. Some were even wiping sweat from their brows. One officer in particular was continually giving Brujah updates even though they could all see what was occurring via a live holofeed from a camera mounted on the outside of the freighter.
“Warlord Brujah, the Dreadnaught has arrived and is escorted by a cruiser… just as we suspected.”
“Yes, whether you believe it or not, my eyes function perfectly well, Commander.” the Sith replied coldly.
They all watched as the Dreadnaught hovered over the freighter. They began to pull the ship in with their tractor beam.
“10 seconds until contact, sir.” the Commander said nervously.
Vincent nodded, rolling his eyes behind his helmet, then he heard an unfamiliar voice behind him. He turned and saw a Dashade standing behind him.
“Welcome Sergeant Major. You are intelligence, yes? Good. This bridge crew could use more of it. Make yourself as useful as you can.”
“5 seconds…” the Commander blurted out. “3… 2… 1”
They all watched as the freighter was pulled into the underbelly of the Dreadnaught. With clicks and hisses the Collective ship locked the freighter into place.
“Now!” Vincent screamed.
An officer at the weapons console pressed a button and the feed went blank.
“Preparing for the jump out of hyperspace!” the same Commander replied.
The ship rocked as the stars went from lines back into dots in the distance. As they fully jumped out they saw the Dreadnaught. Its underbelly was in flames and a large, jagged hole had compromised the hull of the ship. Bodies floated in space around it from the initial blast.
“Their shields are down.” another officer stated calmly. “Weapons appear to be functional but limited.”
“Turbolasers on their engines! Now!” the Warlord barked. “Engage the gravity well projectors. They aren’t going anywhere.”
“Yes sir!”
Green filled the sky as turbolasers began firing at the Dreadnaught’s engines. In response, the cruiser launched a squadron of X-Wings.
“Lasers on those starfighters! Launch Interceptors and Bombers. Clear the path for our transport and work on taking down the shields of the cruiser. I want everyone aboard those ships dead except Gruber!” Brujah ordered to another round of “Yes sir”s from the room.
–
In the hangar officers barked orders. Anyone in a starfighter would have been given the command to launch and engage as Vincent had directed.
Inside the transport the engine whirred to life. The crew felt as the ship lifted itself off of the deck and shot itself out of the hangar, following the first squadron of Interceptors to launch. As they exited the hangar, X-Wing fire came dangerously close to the transport, buzzing past them. To their credit, the Interceptors engaged them and drove them away, clearing the path to the Dreadnaught.
It was only a matter of moments before the transport entered the hangar of the enemy ship and landed. Blaster fire came in immediately and began pinging off the outer walls of the ship.
“Alright! Let’s do what we do best!” Jaz shouted as he slammed his hand down on the ramp release, clearing the path for the strike team to begin engaging enemies. As the ramp lowered they saw that the hangar had at least 20 men with various blaster rifles. Some were distant, some were close, all were aiming directly for them.
Jaz reached to his side and pulled a sonic imploder, he tossed it near the farthest enemies and then ducked back behind the wall of the ship pulling his twin WESTAR-35s. As the imploder let out a deafening screech, Jaz yelled: “Go! Now! Move, move, move!”
Komilia took deep breath. Her hands were nicely warmed and she took the controls. Remembering where the switch was this time she released the docking clamps and flew out into the fray.
She recognized the familiar shapes of the X-wings. Ignoring the targeting computer she skidded her Bomber around to make an approach on the nearest X-wing. She slowly exhaled her breath and squeezed the triggers. The emerald lasers lanced through space. Dual blasts impacting up the fuselage, the R4 unit screamed as it’s domed head spiraled off into space before its body joined the fireball of its doomed craft.
Komilia banked the monster of a machine over and fired blindly. An X-wing crossed into the blast and exploded. The final image of the pilot looking up and screaming made Komilia squeal.
“That got'em!”
Komilia was bouncing in the seat as she rolled the ship. Pulling up she saw a lone X-wing had broken off from the melee and was maneuvering to rejoin the fray. Reaching up on the center console she flipped a switch. The ship shuttered and whine.
“Theta-3, why are your proton bombs charging?”
Komilia’s fingers flexed on the controls.
“Theta-3, respond!”
Komilia slammed the throttle forward, pulled up, and sent a proton bomb hurling through space. It connected full onto the nose of the X-wing spliting it in two before the remains exploded into dust.
Morvyn held the Interceptor steady in the formation among his wing mates. His eyes tracked the flow of the engagement until two X-wings peeled away from the main group and began to reposition.
“Vektor-2. Two hostile fighters breaking formation. Moving to intercept.”
He broke away from his formation as the Interceptor engines surged forward. The first X-wing rushed to meet him head-on, and Morvyn did not hesitate. A brief squeeze of the triggers sent out emerald lasers. The enemy fighter came apart in a flash of light and debris that he was already past.
The second X-wing tried to run. Morvyn slid by it at speed and rolled hard. He snapped the Interceptor into a tight turn that brought him back around on its tail. This X-Wing pilot was scared. Morvyn could feel his fear. However, the target lock refused to settle. The X-wing juked just enough to stay ahead of the shot. Morvyn made a minor adjustment and the reticle locked. One controlled burst ended it in a ball of flame.
“Vektor-2. Targets neutralized. Returning to formation.”
Morvyn eased the Interceptor back into place as if he had never left the formation at all.
Elaine dashed out of the transport and unclasped her double bladed lightsaber from her belt, igniting one end of it to shine a bright crimson red. Callé, her Nexu followed closely beside her, ready to ravage everything in his path.
Elaine deflected the blaster bolts as they came towards her. The Equite slide down onto on knee with momentum and as she turned back towards the vessel and plunged her lightsaber blade behind her into the enemy behind her.
Callé followed suit and pounced onto a neighboring enemy, knocking him to the ground as the Nexu dug his claws into the personal and throat clamped down on the man.
The red and white R5 unit extended its third wheel and screams as it descended the ramp. Blaster bolts flew around it as the other members of the squad descended the ramp.
It suddenly turned towards a group of attacked and a hatch in the top of its head opened. A rotary blaster extended up and out, leveling at the troopers. With a squeal of flee, the blaster cannon spun and began to fire at the troopers in the open.
Blaster bolts scattered the troops as the dive towards the deck. Bolts went over the head of one just barely but the others in his squad could not say the same. One snapped back as a bolt caught him in the face while another doubled over after taking two round to the chest. Two more dropped from the overwhelming amount of fire from little R5 unit. “What the hell is that thing?” The surviving trooper said as he covered his head from another volley of fire
Asher watched the carnage from the top of the ramp. Fighting he was fine with, but he thought it best to stay out of the way of the bloodthirsty. Even so, they were too preoccupied to notice a sniper setting up in the rafters above.
In a flash of movement, the agent’s finger aimed at the target. “Proto! Sniper!” He shouted quickly. As the words exited his mouth, a blaster bolt fired from beside him and the man plummeted to the floor.
Halfway impressed with his responsiveness, Asher turned to the IG-unit. “Is that your standard speed or can you move faster?”
<@111293136042504192>
“Theta-3, you should be targeting the cruiser’s shields!”
“Geez, fine. You know you’re pushy.”
“Theta-3…static mumbles”
Komilia pursed her lips and disengaged from the X-wings. She throttled up to attack speed and weaved between the flack.
“Phoenix-1, bombs away!” Komilia had just the faintest idea where she needed to hit and by more luck than skill her proton bombs hit near the shield generators.
Arcs of energy cascaded across the cruiser as its shields fluctuated and struggled to reestablish themselves.
On the bridge, Vincent watched the battle unfold. The bridge officers were stunned as Komilla took out two X-Wings with a TIE Bomber. They expected as much out of the Interceptors with their better speed and maneuverability, but a Bomber? Then she managed to drop a proton bomb directly on the nose of a third X-Wing. The whole bridge, except for Brujah, gasped in surprise.
“D-Did she just bomb an X-Wing?” one officer commented.
“That may be the best pil-” another began but was quickly interrupted by Vincent.
“Finish that line and I’ll choke you to death with my bare hands.”
The bridge went silent again. The silence was broken, once again by Vincent.
“Someone get us tapped in to the onboard cameras of those ships. I want to see the progress our team is making.”
“Yes sir!” the crew returned.
Some men scurried to try to hack into the enemy cameras, but most continued watching as Komilla dropped another proton bomb on the backup cruiser, damaging, but not disabling the shields. Vincent was just about to bark more orders when the remaining Bombers took a pass over the cruiser, dropping proton bombs strategically on the shield generators with large explosions. The blue haze around the ship became static-like and then disappeared completely.
“Shields are down on the cruiser, sir.” a bridge officer commented.
“And the engines on the Dreadnaught?” Vincent replied.
“Damaged beyond quick repair, sir.”
“Focus turbolasers on the engines of the cruiser. Tell those Interceptors to keep the path cleared for our Bombers.”
“Yes sir!”
–
On the Dreadnaught, the group of Collective fighters had jumped into action. As the ramp to the transport lowered and the sonic imploder was thrown out, the one in charge screamed.
“FORM UP!”
Then Blinky managed to take out several fighters in one quick volley.
“SPREAD OUT!!! SPREAD OUT!!” The same man screamed at the group.
As they scrambled Elaine had taken out one with her saber and Callé another. Proto took out a sniper that was on a higher level. Reiden had sawed two of them in half with a thrown saber and Blitz had seemingly knocked two of the fighters down, but not out. Jaz rushed out of the transport, laying down cover fire with his WESTAR-35s, giving the group enough time to regain their composure before another volley of blaster bolts came flying in. Backup troops rushed into the hangar.
“They’re spreading out! Engage those closest to you and then round them back up!” the Mandalorian shouted as he sent a volley of blaster bolts into the group of backup troops entering the hangar, dropping 4 of them.
Stepping off the ramp, Ellac rushed at the nearest enemy who had his fire focused on Jaz. With a clawed hand, the Sith tore through his throat, hoisting the body up to shield him from the oncoming fire from the fighter next to him.
With his free hand, Ellac slipped his lightsaber from his belt, tossing the body aside as he lunged forward, igniting the blade into the chest of his attacker.
Blood dripped from his fingers as Ellac pulled his weapon free, turning his eyeless gaze upon the closest trooper who stood stiff with fear, but just as he leaned to take a step, a blaster bolt streaked over his shoulder, searing right through the head of the soldier.
“Don’t do that again, HK,” Ellac said into his comm.
Komilia was having the time of her life. She wove through the combat zone like a Thranta. The blood was pounding in her head as she gloried in combat.
“Attention, the shields are down on the cruiser. All forces, concentrate fire upon that ship!”
“Phoenix-one, RYOOOOOOOO-KAAAAAIIII”
“Theta-3, repeat your last.”
Komilia was to distracted to hear. She rolled her ship before turning to line-up her attack run on the cruiser. She raced through the flak, slamming on the rudder pedals, she skidded her TIE Bomber along the side of the cruiser.
As the TIE lined up with the hangar, Komilia let her lasers fly. Rapid bursts of energy punctured the remaining X-Wings that were being readied. Pilots dived from their cockpits while their astromechs screamed in terror. Flight crews scrambled as the lasers danced wildly around the hangar. Fuel lines were cut and sprayed fuel. Cargo crates exploded like popped kernels.
Komilia danced in her restraints as she switched over to proton torpedoes. “BOOM!” She let dual torpedoes screech into the hangar. A moment later, she wrestled the controls to keep the TIE Bomber level as the explosion forced her away from the cruiser.
She beamed ear to ear as she flew off to find her next target.
A hatch opened on Blinky’s top dome opposite of his blaster cannon and fired a set of missiles. Three missiles hit near them on the deck, he squealed with pleasure of destroying the enemy.
Trip toddled down the ramp of the boarding shuttle and immediately moved to the right. “Blinky quick! Next target!” His photoreceptors locked in on a Collective trooper and transmitted targeting data to the R5 unit. Blinky turned with a deep groan and fired his Gatling blaster at the trooper that was running, catching the trooper in the chest and suppressing down the others under cover
On the bridge of the Charybdis, the crew gasped at another amazing feat from Komilla. Even Vincent seemed impressed this time. He released the seals on his helmet and pulled it off, attaching it to a clip on the belt of his armor. His eyes were wide as he watched her fire torpedoes into the hangar of the m50 cruiser, absolutely wrecking it. In the far corner, manning the sensors, the same crew member that spoke earlier once again spoke, quietly, almost under his breath.
“That is definitely the best pilot I’ve ever seen.”
Brujah’s look of surprise turned into a sneer, his eyes narrowing. He reached first for his left gauntlet and unclipped it from his armor, tossing it on the floor with a clank. Then he removed his right gauntlet and tossed it aside as well.
“Warlord Brujah… Hand of the Empress… forgive me! It’s just… I mean… you have to admit, that was very, very impressive!” the Lieutenant Commander said.
Vincent slowly approached the man. He reached out with his right hand and placed it on his shoulder, as if to reassure him. Suddenly the hand was around the man’s neck and his left hand followed. He squeezed as his eyes lit up red. The sensor officer gasped and clutched at his neck, but it was no use. Within a matter of moments he fell to the floor limply. Vincent looked down at his body with a sick smile forming on the rightmost corner of his lips. His eyes returned to their normal gray state.
“You are forgiven…” he said coldly before turning to the remaining bridge crew. They looked on in horror. “Someone get me a new sensor officer. Now!”
A round of “Yes sir!”s filled the bridge as Vincent picked his gauntlets back up and put them back on.
Emerald turbolasers filled the darkness outside of the ship as they fired upon the main engines of the cruiser. They too exploded into balls of flame and metal.
“Tell those Bombers to keep up the attack on the cruiser. I want it demolished beyond recognition. Once all the X-Wings have been neutralized, call the Interceptors back and prepare another transport to back up the crew we sent to the Dreadnaught… and where are those cameras that I asked for?”
A man spoke nervously from the corner of the room.
“We’re trying, Warlord Brujah… the damage to the ships seems to be halting our progress.”
Vincent approached the man putting his face so close to the man’s face that he could feel the breath coming out of the Sith’s nose.
“Try… harder…”
“Yes sir! Right away, sir!”
Members of the ship’s medical team came into the room and dragged out the former sensor officer by his arms.
–
In the hangar of the Dreadnaught, the ragtag group of Palatinae members and their droids had cornered most of the remaining troops. There were 10 of them left and they fired at the group as they slowly marched towards them. The blaster bolts were deflected away by the lightsabers of Elaine, Ellac, and Reiden. As the group neared the cornered fighters, Jaz raised his left hand and pressed a button sending a volley of whistling birds at them, taking the remainder of them down. The smirk beneath his helmet was enormous.
The hangar was clear, but there was still much of the ship left above the hangar to check. They all knew that no one would be leaving until Gans Hruber was in custody. Jaz looked at the group and spoke.
“Catch your breath for a moment, and then let’s split up. Half of us to the starboard. Half of us to the port. Move upward until we reach the bridge or wherever it is that Hruber is hiding.”
Elaine turned to face the Mandolorian.
“Callé and I will take the starboard side, Sir,” she spoke plainly.
A short roar sounded from the Nexu beside her in agreement.
Morvyn’s eyes shifted as two X-wings slid in behind Komilia’s bomber. Their fire began to close in around her hull. The Togruta adjusted his course to take action. His Interceptor dropped in from above with engines screaming as he cut across their path.
The first X-wing reacted quickly. It rolled and fired back. Morvyn shifted his line at the last second, narrowly avoiding being hit. He nudged the nose just enough to steady the lock before the reticle settled. He squeezed the triggers.
The burst hit its target, but not cleanly. The fighter tore apart unevenly, scattering debris wide as Morvyn flew straight through it. A fragment flashed across his hull before spinning off into space. He had already started to turn on the enemy wingman.
The second X-wing tried to climb and break away, but he panicked, allowing Morvyn to anticipate his next move.
Morvyn eased the throttle just enough to let the fighter drift into his sights and rolled beneath it. He snapped back onto its tail. The lock came easily, followed by one quick burst. The X-wing vanished in flame.
He spun around and angled toward Komilia’s bomber. The Interceptor roared past her cockpit close enough to hopefully trigger proximity warnings. Morvyn flipped over her hull to take up a protective flank.
“You’re welcome,” he said smugly over the comms.
He did not wait for a reply before he dove down in search of his next target.
Meanwhile, on the bridge, the feed from the boarding transport continued to flicker across the main display. Officers spoke over one another, blaming signal loss on structural damage.
Embarrassing. He thought to himself. Drethak watched for several seconds without speaking out loud.
“You’re correcting for damage that isn’t there,” he said at last.
One officer turned. “Sergeant Major, the signal is fragmenting—”
“It’s not fragmenting,” Drethak cut in. “You’re distorting it.”
He stepped closer to the console, eyes scanning the data.
“The cruiser’s shield collapse created feedback across the hull. Your system is trying to compensate. It is amplifying the noise, thus blacking out the feed.”
He indicated a single readout.
“Disable the correction filter. Reroute the feed directly. Narrow the frequency and remove secondary compression.”
The officer hesitated. “Sir, clarity may drop.”
“It will stabilize and give you time to find another solution. If the image doesn’t resume soon, you could end up like your Lieutenant Commander over there,” Drethak answered.
The officers didn’t hesitate, and started working in unison to make the adjustments. The display flickered twice, then steadied. The image cleared enough to read movement clearly.
“Feed restored to roughly eighty percent,” another officer confirmed.
Drethak folded his arms. He returned his attention to the screen as though the solution had been obvious from the start.
<@466040899970007041> <@679032520699805708>
Trip raised his arms and laughed maniacally. “YES! Destroy the all!” The droid cried. It came up behind Blinky and placed its arms on its head. Two boards extended from Blinky’s side legs and Trip stepped onto them.
The R5 unit seemed to scream as it sped away with Trip on its back down the starboard corridor, it blaster Gatling gun out and ready for anything
Komilia shook with the thrill of all the explosions. As she danced her Bomber through the chaos she skidded in behind an X-Wing, jamming her thumbs on the trigger a blast of energy washed over it.
“Weee!” Another Astromech dome popped off into space as the X-Wing exploded. Komilia weaved like a snake, coming around the explosion to fire on another X-Wing.
The pilot, whomever it was, slammed on the brakes and flipped the nose up. Komilia’s shot overtook the ship as the pilot fell behind her. Komilia whipped her head around to try and track it and lost sight of it.
“Theta-3, say again?” The flight officer ripped the earpiece away. “I’m not certain what it was sir. It sounded like a huge static burst.”
Komilia bashed her gloved hands into the controls. Thankfully her tantrum ended as she spoted three of the X-wings forming up to make an attack run. She flipped over her controls and slammed the throttle full open. Racing wildly at the X-Wings she pulled back on the Proton Bomb release as she shot past.
Several Proton Bombs dropped and exploded in rapid succession. The shockwave turning the flight of X-wings into splinters as Komilia sought to control herself at having missed one.
Morvyn caught sight of the last X-wing breaking free from Komilia’s blast and fleeing the chaos. He turned after it and moved in quickly. The reticle settled in to place. Morvyn’s interest peaked more when he sensed fear emanating from the pilot. His attention was pulled from the feeling by a message coming through the comms.
“All Interceptors, engage and disable top side. Prioritize those facing the transport path.”
Morvyn held the lock for a breath longer. The X-wing’s foils closed for hyperspace in blind panic. He lowered his hand from the triggers and rolled away as the fighter vanished into starlight. He dove toward the wounded Dreadnaught.
The first turret was exposed along the damaged hull. One burst ended it. The second tracked slower and fell just as quickly to a tight shot at its base.
The third answered with fire. Green bolts flashed past his cockpit and forced him to break off. Morvyn reset with a climb and came back in lower. This time he targeted the power housing beneath the mount. The emplacement erupted outward in fragments.
The fourth battery was caught mid rotation. A short controlled volley silenced it as he peeled away from the hull.
“Vektor-2. Starboard facing emplacements disabled. Returning to join the boarding party.”
Morvyn banked toward the Charybdis and settled into the hangar. The clamps caught the Interceptor cleanly and the canopy lifted in one fluid motion. He was unharnessed and out before the engines had fully powered down. There was no wasted time in stripping off his pilot gear and switching to his personal equipment.
He rushed up transport ramp and found a seat next to a pair of stormtroopers. After a couple minutes of sitting waiting he started banging his metal hand against the hull.
“Let’s go! What are we waiting on?” His tempered attitude he had as a pilot was fading. The thrill of the fight to come pulsed through his blood.
Elaine looked around the vessel where she resided with the rest of her group.
“Something’s not right…”
She paused.
“Does anyone else feel that,” she asked.
Reiden thrust out his hand and sent a blast of invisible energy at a couple soldiers. They slammed hard against the wall and didn’t get up. Experience told him they were likely stunned or unconscious rather than dead, but it was better than enemies actively shooting at them. Blitz followed it up with a shot from his laser for good measure, ending any potential threat they may have posed later and before anyone else could deal with them.
A sharp warning rang out in his mind. He’d had enough training and battlefield experience to know to heed the call when it came. He was already moving toward the back of the hangar, Elaine’s words barely even registering to him. Then he had the presence of mind to remember that he was there with a team, and not his usual people. They wouldn’t just react to his actions without him saying anything.
“Get clear of the hangar opening, now! Something’s coming!” he shouted to them as he turned his head.
Jaz heard the moment of concern from Elaine and then saw as Reiden began to move very quickly before shouting at people to clear the hangar opening. Then he heard the unmistakable sound of a TIE incoming. His eyes widened beneath his helmet as he realized what was about to happen. He got close enough to a door exiting the hangar that it whooshed open.
“EVERYONE! IN HERE! NOW!!!” The Mandalorian shouted as he waved everyone through.
As the last person exited the hangar, Jaz himself ran through the door and pushed people far enough back that the door closed.
“Hold onto your butts!”
Komilia smirked a most familiar smirk as the one X-wing got away. At last someone with a tale to tell that would leave no doubt of what she can do.
Checking her sensor she confirmed the airspace was clear of snubfighters.
“Phoenix-one proceeding to second phase.”
“Theta-3…what second phase?”
Komilia sighed as she moved the ship around to approach the hangar with the boarding party. This guy clearly didn’t pay attention. “The second phase. The boarding phase. Phoenix-one incoming!”
“Negative Theta-3 the hangar is still contested. Wave off. Theta-3, wave off immediately!”
Komilia saw the firefight underway and in a moment of panic missed the throttle with her hand. She jammed down on the rudders as the TIE Bomber’s solar panels turned sideways towards the hangar. She didn’t have time to see what was happening to the boarding party.
Sparks flew as the solar panels ground into the hangar tiles. Komilia tried to compensate but the TIE flipped up on its side.
As the weight of the bomber pod compressed upon its frame the TIE began to crumple. The hatch popped off as Komilia tore off her harness. With a ball of fire she shot out of the pilot pod. Thankfully her Beskar protected her as she collided with the hatch mid-air.
The tone of Beskar on durasteel rung out in the hangar. Komilia, rolled as she landed and came up better than expected. Behind her the hulk of her ship split in two as fuel fed fires spread in all directions.
“Alright, let’s do this!”
Elaine rushed out into the hanger, heading straight for the wrecked bomber after the collision had subsided, Callé following close behind her.
Fire had crept all around the hanger, engorging everything in different shades of the flames.
Just before running into the smoldering flames, Elaine removed her cloak and threw it behind her, out of the immediate reach of the fire.
“Stay, Callé,” she commanded her companion.
With the Nexu residing where his master instructed, the Equite carefully raced through the flames to the heart of the wreckage.
The two droids slowed down with the sound of explosions behind them. “My, I do hope our droid friends made it away before whatever that was happened. Hopefully that Mandalorian one was crushed. They squish so well in that armor.” Trip remarked as it hopped off of the running boards.
It toddled up to a side door and pressed the entry button, but the computer beeped. “It’s in lock down it seems.”
Blinky looked around and pulled up to a terminal. Its data probe plugged in and began to work into the mainframe to look for security footage, deck maps and other intel
Blinky cut through the computer mainframe and noted how rudimentary it was. It tootled what would seem like a dark laugh as it started downloading and ripping files from the vessel, taking as much intelligence of the Collective as the droid could hold.
It noted several blockades of troops being set up along the starboard turbo lifts on the third and fifth decks. Many were moving down the port side towards the hangar. Blinky took note of communication frequencies and door lock codes before checking the command deck cams. It stopped as it noticed Hruber on the deck giving commands. A team of security droids and more heavily armed troops were setting up barriers at the main hatch.
Trip hooked himself up to a small terminal into Blinky and shared the data coming into the droid. “A-ha! Very good work there. Go ahead and transmit the target positions to Masters apprentices. And I suppose that Mandalorian. But keep the Collective files to yourself until Master decides what to do with it.”
Trip stood up straighter and turned its sensors down the corridor. “Come Blinky. Let us hunt.”
Blinky transmitted the data to the three team members, unhooked from the terminal and started to make its way down the corridor.
On the bridge of the Charybdis, Vincent turned his attention to the newly fixed camera feed. He watched as Jaz corralled the group into the back corner of the hangar and appeared to be splitting the group up. As he saw the dead bodies of the Collective troops strewn about he smiled.
“Finally, some competence on my bridge and on the boarding crew. Maybe things are beginning to look up.” he said.
The bridge crew nodded at him, seemingly just happy that he wasn’t in such a foul mood. The Warlord looked out of the ship and towards the cruiser. The TIE Interceptors and Bombers had done a good job in taking the fight out of them, but Brujah was not yet satisfied.
“Have those Bombers focus on the hull of the ship, directly above where we know the reactor core to be.”
“Yes sir.” an officer responded before sending the order.
Vincent watched as 11 of the 12 Bombers made a pass on the cruiser, all of them dropping bombs in nearly the exact same location. A large hole was blown through the hull of the ship.
“Fire on that hole with turbolasers. I want the reactor destroyed and the ship with it.”
As the Bombers departed the area, a warhead launcher turned towards them and fired a round of concussion missiles. One of the missiles made direct contact with the cockpit area of a bomber, destroying it and sending it spiraling into a second bomber. The both crashed hard into the cruiser. The bridge crew gasped. Vincent growled.
“FIRE THOSE TURBOLASERS NOW!!!”
Emerald once again filled the space between the two ships as turbolasers pierced through the hole left by the bombers. Almost instantaneously the cruiser exploded into bits of metal and a giant ball of flames.
“Call all starfighters back, their work is done and the crew is needed for the second boarding party.”
“Yes sir.” the main officer on deck responded before relaying the message.
Just then, on the camera feed, the crew watched as Jaz seemingly panicked and waved the crew into a room just outside of the hangar. A moment later the entire bridge gasped as one of the TIE Bombers unsuccessfully boarded the ship and crashed hard. Vincent’s eyes narrowed as he saw Komilla exit the bomber, hit herself on the hatch and collapse to the deck. Vincent’s head drooped as he pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting off a headache.
“Of course…” was all he could manage to say in the moment.
They all watched as Elaine Conrat rushed out of the room Jaz had pointed them to for safety. The hangar was a mess of fire, bodies and wreckage, and just as Elaine began to get close to Komilla the ship’s automated fire suppression system kicked in and began spraying foam onto the flames.
After taking a moment to collect himself, Brujah spoke through gritted teeth.
“As soon as those starfighters land, get the remaining crew on the second transport and get them over there.”
As soon as the doors opened and Elaine rushed out, Reiden spotted the wreckage of the TIE Bomber. He had thought he recognized the distinct engine sound earlier but hadn’t had the time to think about it as he ran for cover. Luckily Jaz was quick on his feet and helped get them to safety. He merely shook his head in disbelief.
Of course it was her, he thought to himself. That girl is going to get us all killed, or herself. I’m honestly not sure which is worse.
He banished the thought as soon as it came up. Kamjin was competent. Despite his absence from the lives of his children, they were…somewhat competent. Rohan showed promise when they were on Venenum, although he had relied heavily on information given to him by his father. Information that he otherwise never would have had, let alone had access to. Still, there was something there. Komilia, on the other hand? He had only read reports, and they didn’t instill confidence. Even so, she was still young and he shouldn’t be quick to judge. People had underestimated him when he was young and came to regret it…if they lived to tell the tale, that is.
He took a brief moment to assess his condition. Everything felt fine, no clear injuries. Plenty of gas left in the tank, so to speak. He could continue. He would continue.
“Blitz, see if you can access a terminal here. Forget the mission for a moment. Focus your search for anything involving Syklan. It’s not our concern here, but I need to know.”
“Right away, boss,” the droid replied, zipping off to a terminal nearby to get to work.
Next he turned to look at the group he was with. “Are you all okay?”
Elaine rushed up beside Komilia and crouched down next to her.
“Are you alright?” She asked urgently as she examined her for any visible injuries.
Komilia shook her head as she looked up at Elaine. An unseen smile lazily crept over her face. “That was so cool!”
Elaine sighed as tension slightly released from her body.
“What were you thinking?!” Elaine slapped the mandolorian upside the back of her helmet. “You could have killed us all!”
Without leaving a moment for the young duchess to respond, Elaine stood to her feet and pulled Komilia up gently by the arm to get her on her feet.
“In my defense, I thought it was a TIE Fighter when I got inside of it.”
The droids began to make their way down the corridor as troops were running down the corridor past them. Multiple Collective started setting up a barrier.
“That seems like it would be an issue, Blinky.” Trip quipped. “Beep boop.””do it.”
Blinky rolled behind them, the little white and red droid seemingly unnoticed by the troops. One hatch opened on the front of the R5 unit and flames began to spit from its body and it turned on its wheels back and forth.
The troops immediately screamed as the heat wave began to take them. Flesh melted and charred from the sticky liquid fire that had engulfed them. The smell crackling of meat filled the air as one trooper managed to dive away. “What the frack?!”
“Oh Blinky, you are better than that.” Trip toddled over as the last surviving trooper raised his blaster rifle to aim at Blinky. Trip raised its left hand and lightning seemed to shoot out from its hand. The trooper dropped to his knees screaming in pain. “This is how you do it.” Trip moved closer to his target, its red photoreceptors glowing in the darkness of the powerless Dreadnaught. A blade extended from its right index finger and slashed the throat of the trooper that was laying on the ground. Blood gushed from the neck of the trooper and Trip watched closely, its circuits absorbing every single moment of the slow death. “It’s so beautiful.” The 3PO droid remarked as the trooper slowly bled to death. “It’s about artistry, Blinky. Look are how it writhes in its final moments. Biologicals are so fickle. What wonderful movements they make when they release their life force.”
As the trooper gurgled and finally died, Trip and Blinky began making their way down the corridor towards the primary turbolift
The transport idled long enough for the last of the Interceptor pilots to jog up the ramp in stormtrooper armor. Morvyn remained seated, watching them with clear agitation. One last trooper slowed near the ramp, adjusting his weapon instead of moving. Morvyn glared at him.
“Take your time,” he said. “But if this launch is delayed because of you, I’ll cut you down before we even reach the hangar.” The trooper hustled up the ramp.
The hatch sealed and the transport lifted, banking toward the Dreadnaught as it left the hangar. Red light filled the troop bay as the transport entered open space. Morvyn rose during the descent and moved to the front, positioning himself directly before the ramp. He drew his saber but did not ignite it. He stood still as the hull shuddered under approach.
He turned his head slightly toward the troopers behind him. “When we land, everyone follow me.”
The transport struck the enemy hangar hard and settled. Black smoke began to seep through the seams of the ramp as it started to lower. Morvyn ignited his saber before the deck fully came into view, his red orange blade snapping to life and casting its glow against the metal interior.
A wave of heat rolled inward as the ramp settled on the hangar floor. A TIE bomber lay torn open across the hangar floor. Its hull was split and burning with suppression foam crawling around it in thick waves. The damage was not from enemy fire. For a moment he studied the angle and the placement of the wreck strewn across the deck.
Then he spotted two girls talking off to the side of the wreckage. Komilia. Of course. Morvyn rolled his eyes and his jaw tightened briefly before the irritation was buried. Whatever chaos she had brought into this hangar was not his concern now.
Morvyn stepped forward into the hangar, saber already drawn. He turned to two troopers over his right shoulder. “You two split up. One of you go find Jaz and the other find the rest of the first boarding party.” The remaining ten stormtroopers marched behind Morvyn as they pressed on.
Jaz took a moment to catch his breath after the close call and collect himself from the string of obscenities being broadcast directly into his ears from Vincent. He felt a buzz on his datapad and pulled it out of a pocket on his right side. After a second, he spoke to Vincent through his comms.
“You’re not going to believe this. Those two creepy droids managed to get us the locations of troops and Hruber. He’s barricading himself into the bridge with a small group of personal guards.”
Almost instantly the communications stopped being broadcast solely to Jaz. Instead, the entire team heard the voice of the Warlord.
“We have confirmation that Hruber is on the bridge. Everyone not wearing Stormtrooper armor, make your way to the starboard turbolifts. Follow the path of carnage that I assume Syke’s droids have left behind. Make your way to the bridge. Leave no one but Hruber alive. Stormtroopers… make a sweep of what is left of the ship. Neutralize all threats. Take no prisoners.”
The feed went silent. Jaz gazed over the crew that had taken cover with him and pointed back out to the hangar so they could regroup with Elaine, Komilla, and Morvyn. As they all stepped out of the room that they had ducked into they saw Stormtroopers begin to spread out over the port side of the ship. Jaz tried to corral the group into one location, stepping through puddles of foam to get closer to Elaine and Komilla.
“You heard the boss. Starboard side. Let’s make our way up and to the bridge. Victory is within our grasp.”
Komilia’s head was ringing from the force of hitting the latch during her landing. She vaguely heard the message that they needed to get to the bridge and bring this to an end.
“Come on.” She grabbed Elaine and joined the throngs of everyone else racing towards the bridge. Fires and general carnage greeted them at every turn. It was clear someone…or something…had taken great glee in fighting their way through.
Komilia loved it.
Turning the final corner she saw the rest of the boarding party that went ahead of them standing off against what looked like a dozen of the crew who were setting up their barricade.
“Dank Ferrik, I don’t have time for this!”
Komilia pushed her away forward throught her ‘companions’, bend forward, and let her rocket fly from her jetpack. She looked up in time to see the look of absolute horror and resignation on the faces of the defenders as the rocket flew straight and true.
The projectile hit dead center and the fireball consumed all the defenders. As the smoke cleared the door was heavily damaged and their path forward was clear.
“Come on! Let’s not be lagging all day. I have things to do!”
Morvyn sprinted past Komilia as the rocket detonated. The fire rolled outward and heat washed across his face as he pushed through the smoke toward where the defenders had been standing. He expected resistance and blaster fire, but there was nothing and no one left to cut down.
The corridor leading up to the bridge was a ruin of burning fragments and twisted armor. The blast doors had been blown inward and whatever had been guarding them was now scattered across the deck in pieces.
Morvyn slowed at the threshold with his red orange blade humming at his side as he took in the damage. His eyes scanned over the scorched walls, the warped barricade, and the bodies.
He glanced back toward Komilia through the drifting smoke. “Well, I think you missed,” he said sarcastically.
His jaw tightened briefly before the irritation of nothing to cut down settled back into focus. The sarcasm faded as quickly as it came.
He stepped over the wreckage and moved into the bridge. “Proto, come with me.”
“This girl might be your rival. She always beats you to the punch, it seems,” Proto said. If the droid could laugh, he would have.
Komilia seethed at the jab. With a dismissive flick of her arm she sent Morvyn flying into the bulkhead. “Did I miss that?” She drew her WESTAR-35 and sauntered ahead of Morvyn. Catching up to Proto she eyed him. “Wanna come with me?”
Not waiting for a response she cautiously entered the bridge.
“Come join us when you pick yourself up, Morvyn.” Proto slightly bowed his head and followed Komilia. “Excellent work there. I’m beginning to think I threw my lot in with the wrong being.”
Morvyn caught his breath, dusted himself off, and rose to his feet. “Sometimes I hate you, Proto,” he said sharply before following behind them toward the bridge.
“TALLY HO!” Came a yell from the side corridor. Blaster fire and explosions followed as Blinky came around the corner at full speed, Trip riding on its running boards as the Gatling laser and missile launcher from Blinky fired backwards down the corridor. They zoomed forward and caught up with the group near the bridge door
“Greetings.” Trip said as he hopped off of Blinky looking at the others
Reiden shook his head as he watched Komilia. As if her landing wasn’t bad enough, or the previous antics he’d witnessed or even heard about, now she was lashing out at team members. But he pushed that aside and focused on the mission at hand. That was the important thing.
“Look out,” he called out, just loud enough for his team members to hear.
Waiting until Komilia, Morvyn, and the droid were out of the way, he extended a hand and flicked it forward. The debris from the barricade and what was left of the doors lifted up and were launched forward into the bridge. He heard a yelp of surprise and the crunch of metal. That was one less droid that they would need to deal with. He ignited his lightsabers, their blades crackling to life, and made his way to the opening.
Jaz sighed to himself, but waved at the group to follow him into the bridge behind Komilla, Morvyn, Proto, and Reiden. As they entered the command center of the ship they saw the sparking remains of a B2-series super battle droid buried beneath the rubble that Reiden had tossed into the room. Jaz raised his WESTAR-35s and scanned the room.
There were four other B2s spread out through the room, all with arms raised and pointed at the entrance. 2 guards wearing unmatched and outdated armor stood in the center of the room. They raised electrostaffs and fired them up, sending a hiss of electricity throughout the bridge. Another guard ducked down in the far right corner of the bridge, taking cover behind a console, but raising an E-11 blaster rifle.
Then Jaz spotted the target. Hruber was nearly hidden in the back left corner of the bridge. Two more guards in mismatched armor stood in front of him, engaging personal shields in an attempt to protect their leader. For his part, Hruber held a slugthrower in his left hand.
“All of you; surrender now or meet the same fate as the rest of your crew.” Jaz ordered as the remainder of the boarding party entered through the busted door.
“This ends here!” Hruber shouted as he ducked around the shield of one of his guards and fired his slugthrower. A slug bounced off the Beskar plated chest of Jaz, and he stumbled backward from the force of it, hitting the wall. He growled in anger, something he had picked up from Vincent.
“Have it your way! Kill everyone except Hruber!” Jaz shouted as he fired his WESTARs towards one of the B2 droids.
Blinky started to move forward along with Trip. “Now Blinky! We must call in Master!” Blinky took a quick scan and fired a homing beacon that attached to the starboard bulkhead, the device attaching itself to armored wall near the guard. Blinky unleashed a hail of blaster fire to keep the guards head down.
The comlink beeped and lit up on his datapad. The Sith nodded and opened his comm unit as he snuffed out his cigarette. “Vincent, let’s launch.”
“Understood. Clear to launch.” He heard back through his unit. The Sith sat back against the restraints within the boarding pod as it powered up. The sublight drives began to power up with a roar and Sykes placed his helmet over his head. The pod fired and the g forces shoved the Sith back into his seat.
The pod rocketed through space, homing in on where the beacon was. As it approached, laser drilling apparatuses fired and created a cone near the nose of the overgrown missile. They began to burn through the hull and the armored tip drove into the metal hull. Spider like tendrils reached out and anchored the pod to Dreadnaught as the force of the pod and its drilling lasers opened a hole within the bridge. Pressure suddenly dropped, causing the ears to pop of everyone on the bridge before the pod quickly sealed itself against the vacuum of space.
The pointed nose of the pod opened wide into a dark maw. There a warrior in ancient Sith armor stood in the darkness before he ignited his red and silver blades.
Behind him, a large orb seemed to float before it began to flash in color, strobe lights and laser lights setting off. Then the droids speakers began to blast a tune with lyrics going “I said ooh-ooh Come on, baby, turn the lights off Ooh-ooh”
As the smoke cleared Komilia took in the sight of the B2 Battle Droids and their query. It took her a second to assess just how dangerous a fire fight in these cramped quarters would be.
“Oh, hells no.” She reached behind her back and grabbed the Thermal Imploder. With a flick she activated it and chucked it into the mist of the B2s.
“7…6…5, come along big guy.” Komilia, at a rapidly increasing pace, left the soon to be gapping hole in the ship.
Hruber watched as the Thermal Imploder flew across the bridge. His eyes widened and he shoved the guards shielding him aside.
“MOVE, YOU IMBECILES!!”
He reached for a curtain on the wall nearby, revealing the entrance to a personal escape pod. He entered a code, opening the hatch and prepared to enter the pod.
“Ah. A tactical withdrawal,” Proto said as he turned and moved after her. As he passed Morvyn he added, “Good luck. See you on the other side. If you make it.” Then he was gone.
Morvyn didn’t watch him leave. The beeps of the countdown cut through the smoke.
Hruber was still barking orders when the Force ripped him off his feet. His guards scattered as he was dragged across the deck and dropped hard at Morvyn’s boots.
Morvyn lowered his blade to Hruber’s throat.
“Get in your escape pod. MOVE!” Morvyn demanded.
He lifted the pressure just enough for Hruber to get to his feet and then grabbed him my the arm. Morvyn and his captive sprinted off to board the escape pod.
Things unfolded almost in slow motion. Reiden couldn’t believe what he was witnessing even as it happened. Komilia pulled out a frakking thermal imploder, with no consideration for where they were or her allies. He was now convinced. The girl was an idiot and should never be allowed to handle explosives. Hell, he wouldn’t trust her with a toaster at this point. Somehow this was her father’s fault, he was sure of it. But he didn’t have time to think that, not really. He had to get moving.
He spun on his heel, ignoring the fact that some of the droids and guards were still a threat. They wouldn’t be for long, after all. He began running only to stop as something gripped his leg, causing him to stumble. He turned to see what it was. Clinging to his leg was a security guard, staring up at him with fear in his eyes. And holding onto him was the upper body of a droid. The absurdity of the situation struck him in that moment, but there was no time.
“Take me with you! Please!” the guard pleaded.
“No,” came his simple reply.
He managed to shake his leg free and booted the guard in the face, feeling and hearing the crunch of cartilage. Free once more, he scrambled upright and bolted to the escape pod, not bothering to look back or check on his allies. They understood the assignment and the risk involved. Either they would make it or they wouldn’t. He couldn’t afford to take the time to consider anything else.
As his lightsaber came down to behead the trooper near him, Sykes looked to his left to see where the group was. He managed to see Komilia throw a thermal imploder into the enclosed space of the bridge. He focused in on his body and time seemed to slow as he began to run towards the group. SP-KR blasted out the next chorus of the song, its lights turning the darkened bridge into a cacophony of lights and sound.
He ran, twisting and turning, his lightsabers slicing through the legs and body of two of the B2 droids as he dove into the corridor.
Trip began to laugh maniacally as Blinky fired off a barrage of light grenades to the far end of the bridge, keeping the few biologicals heads down.
Sykes dove tackled Komilia and Elaine down as the explosion happened. His armor shielded them as his cape burned from the imploder.
Jaz couldn’t believe what he was seeing. It had all fallen apart so quickly. He watched as Morvyn forced Hruber into the escape pod and then followed him. Reiden and Blitz were quickly behind him. Proto made it onto the pod that Sykes had made his unexpected entry with, and then Sykes had pulled off something that was almost too fast for his eyes to follow, dragging Komilla and Elaine out of the bridge and into the corridor they had entered through. Only Jaz, Ellac and Asher remained. Ellac scooped up Asher with an unbelievable quickness and dove into Sykes’ pod.
Jaz watched as the hatches closed on both escape pods, sealing the crew away from the imminent danger, but leaving him fully exposed.
“Son of a…” Jaz managed to say before turning to the door and activating his jetpack. Just as he reached the door the thermal imploder let out its initial blast. With the added momentum, Jaz was blasted out the door of the bridge and into the corridor, smashing against the wall and crashing to the floor as a wave of shrapnel followed behind him, pinging off his Beskar armor. He saw Skyes covering Komilla and Elaine from the blast with his armor, Trip clung to the backside of Blinky right behind them. They appeared to be out of range of the device. Jaz did the only thing he knew to do. From the floor he activated the jetpack a second time, sending himself skidding down the corridor and out of the path of the doorway. Sparks flew from the Beskar armor as Jaz slammed into an opposite wall with a loud “CLANG!”.
Just as quickly as the shrapnel had flown out of the bridge it was sucked back inward as a loud, horrifying screech and squish of metal and flesh combining rang out of the bridge.
Elaine’s ears rang with a painful hiss from the aftermath of the explosion. Her head spun from slamming it into the ground after Sykes had tackled both her and Komilia down.
It took her a moment to get the bearings of her surroundings and to realize by whom she was being guarded by. As soon as Elaine realized who had blocked her from the thermal imploder, she struggled to get out from under the Sith.
“Get… get off of me,” she exclaimed and struggled some more until she was free at last.
“Where’s Callè?”
The young human looked dizzily around as she stayed knelt down and holding her head with one hand as blood streamed at a slow and steady pace through her fingers and down her arm and cheek.
With her vision slightly blurred, Elaine spotted an animal-like figure underneath some light debris with patches of red throughout its fur. She hastily stood up and began to shamble her way towards the figure, smearing her bloody hand across the wall in attempt to maintain her balance as she slowly collapsed down to the floor while leaning against the wall from the uncontrollable and overwhelming spinning in her head.
She was right next to the creature now and that’s when she realized it was her beloved companion beneath the depris. She quickly disregarded her own injuries and began to remove the wreckage from over top of Callè. Now, the red she saw was not a trick of her mind for she did in fact see blood in his fur. Several pieces of shrapnel from the explosion had embedded themselves within the Nexu as he was thrown against the walk after the explosion.
Tears began to well up in Elaine’s eyes as she feared the worst.
“Cal..?” She placed her hand on the side of his chest to feel for any sign of life.
…
A breath. A ragged series of beats from his heart.
”He’s alive… He’s still alive!” she thought.
“Hey! Get off me.” Komilia shoved the man off her and got to her feet. “Alright, looks like we all made it. Hey you okay?” She leaned to the side to see where Jaz was.
Sykes stood, his armor creaking as he did. The emergency blast doors had saved them from being sucked out of the bridge. A faint “I said ooh-ooh! Come on, baby, turn the liiiiiiggggghhhhttttssss oo-ooo-ff” could be heard from the other side of the door and Sykes sighed a breath of relief. He had paid a lot of money for SP-KR.
Trip and Blinky both began to secure the perimeter behind the closed doors. “My what a disappointment. Has anyone established if our target was taken? I so wanted to discuss his future commitments and see his life force drip”.
Sykes turned towards Komilia, anger welling up in him. She had risked the mission, risked the lives of everyone on the strike team. He had hoped that once upon a time, she would have learned. As she stood he threw a punch with all of his amplified might, his Sith armored gauntlet hitting her Beskar helmet across the “jaw” with a hollow “clang” of the two impervious armors. “DI’KUT!” He exclaimed. “How dare you put this mission at risk”
Elaine purposely pressed her hand against Callè and began to reach into the Force. Her body stiffened as the wounds on her companion began to slowly close from the edges of each laceration.
It was quite like a bit of Elaine’s life Force was being transferred into the Nexu as Elaine became slightly weakened by the engagement and Callè was becoming stronger.
Komilia seethed. She knew that curse…she knew that ‘name’. She knew who this was. Her anger seethed up inside her in a way she had never felt it before. Was this what her Father felt? Was this the Dark Side? She didn’t know. She didn’t care.
“I know you.” She rolled onto her back and flipped herself up to her feet. With all of her burning hatred at this man she rammed her gauntleted fist into his solar plexus. As the man staggered back, hacking for his breath, she got into the Mandalorian fighting pose she had been taught. She was going to repay Sykes for what he’d done to her several times over.
Sykes staggered back and went down to one knee. His first breath or two was ragged, but he was able to recover well enough. Anger began to swell up within him, the Dark Side beginning to feed into him. The Sith quickly raised his left arm and fired his fibrecable at Komilia and grimaced as she barely cartwheeled away from it.
He stood and set himself. His senses narrowed and he prepared for a fight.
Komilia smirked. The arrogance of this man. She’d show him. She flipped up her vambrace and flooded the area with flames. She knew where her friends were this time and the conical inferno burned straight and true.
Sykes tried to counter with his vambrace. It sparked but failed to ignite. Whether it was damaged in the explosion or just a failure of the man, Komilia didn’t care. She would burn him for what he did to her.
He watched as his own flamethrower sparked and fizzled. “Son of a-“ he raised his arms to shield his face as the inferno engulfed him. The sensors in his helmet blared as the heat from the flames began to raise the temps. “Seal.” He commanded and hurled himself backwards in a roll. The seals on his armor locked in, slightly restricting his movement but keeping out the worst of the flames from getting under his helmet. He felt the flesh tighten on his arm and shoulder joints from the heat. He continued to roll to try to extinguish the flames as much as he could. “Trip, now!” He commanded
Trip turned and chuckled. “Oh finally!” He moved up behind Komilia, raised both of his arms and lightning seemed to fire from the droids palms, impacting her back. Blinky moved to the side, its rotary blaster extending and aiming towards Komilia
Komilia’s body seized as the electrical current wrought havoc on her nervous system. Her years of gymnastic training let her maintain enough composure to yank the barbs out of her back.
Turning she grabbed her father’s lightsaber from its hidden compartment in her jetpack, ignited its emerald blade, and turned to face the murder droid with the slackened wires from its fingers.
“Oh My”. Komilia hacked with her blade, separating the arm from the droids body.
“You’re not my type.” Komilia turned, saber poised to attack Sykes.
The Sith stood, the flames having gone out from his armor. He looked just in time to catch Komilia take off Trips arm. “This little bitch.” He muttered. Removing his curved hilt lightsaber from his belt, the silver blade ignited and he entered a Makashi duelist stance.
Trip laughed maniacally, as its arm came off. “A fine move!” Blades and needles popped from the fingers of the droid and it went to stab at the girl but she had moved just enough to only cause the blades to scratch her back plate.
The skin on Callè’s body had finished sealing when Elaine took her hand off of her friend and dizzily looked towards Komilia and Sykes.
The Nexu and the Equite both rose to their feet, Callè more sure-footed than his master.
Without hesitation, Elaine came from the side of the dueling pair in a flash, unclasped and ignited her singular crimson blade, and was behind Komilia in an instant with her lightsaber held steadily in both of her hands, pointed at Trip in defense of the young Mandolorian. The nexu came racing up beside his master, also in a defensive stance aimed at the droid.
“Think again, scrap metal.” Elaine said.
Trip stumbled back as the red lightsaber ignited in front of it. “My, this is a turn.” Its red photoreceptors took in the scene as took a few more steps back. It focused in on the Nexu. “I have always wanted to see the insides of such a creature.”
Blinky rolled up behind and to the side of Trip. The laser sight on its rotary blaster cannon settled onto the Nexu, several other hatches opened, a grenade launcher and several missile launchers extended and aimed down the corridor directly at Elaine and Komilia.
Sykes watched Blinky fully extend its full arsenal and his eyes went wide. “Blinky! Hold!” He shouted. He tried to keep his eyes on Komilia as she moved towards him but knew to look for an exit quickly
Elaine switched her stance to now holding her ignited lightsaber in front of Callè to block any oncoming blaster bolts that should fire from either droid and drew her Sapphire blade from her back and pointed it once again at Trip.
Komilia swelled with emotions she barely understood seeing Elaine come to her defense. Was it joy of friendship? She didn’t have time to figure it out. She may not even remember to figure it out. All she could see was Sykes and her boiling desire to revenge herself upon him.
“You’ll never touch me again!” She launched herself at him. Her blade a blur of motion. Her skills, when focused, had improved. The harsh lessons of being alone again married with the limited training her Father had been able to give her had honed her natural abilities into a dangerous blade.
Their blades clashed. Sparks cascaded around them like falling stars. While Sykes had the bulk, Komilia had the finesse. As Sykes went to parry, Komilia slide her blade down, rotating around the silver blade and coming up to slice the emitter from the curved hilt.
It was a favorite trick of her father’s to disarm his opponents and she could see why.
She kept her blade pointed towards Sykes as he reacted to being disarmed. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to hurt you.”
The Sith stepped back and looked at the disabled saber in his hand as it sparked in disbelief. She swung at him again going high, he ducked and spun out of the way, his red shoto saber coming up in his left hand and parried her green blade to the side.
“And you just might. But we need to get out of here before that blasted droid kills all of us.” He came up and struck again, twisted his blade and scored a hit on her shoulder armor.
Komilia screamed in anger, her empty hand shooting out as she took a hold of Sykes in the Force and tried to throw him into the ceiling.
The Sith felt the hold take him. He began to rise when he pressed back with the Force. His body shook and he broke free from the hold skidding backwards a few feet. He set himself again against her, and tried to get a bearing on what Blinky was doing
Trip laughed his sinister laugh as it looked at Elaine. “Surely you don’t want to do this. Blinky here will incinerate you and that furball the moment you move.” He waved the stub of his arm towards Komilia. “Make sure to get her too. And if you kill Master, that will be fine as well. It means we will be free, Blinky.”
Elaine glanced down at her Nexu and he looked up at her with an understanding. She looked at Blinky and the feline looked at Trip.
With a sharp whistle, the Nexu without hesitation lunged at the black protocol droid, claws extended and teeth barred. The beast was aiming to kill as he tackled the droid to the ground, claws digging into the circuit board of the droid and teeth into the head.
At the same time the Nexu left the ground, several bolts of lightning fired from Elaine’s fingertips and directly at the astromech, sending his circuit into a frenzy.
As Trip went down with the creature on top of it, the droid felt the jaws clasp onto its own head. Its intact arm stabbed up multiple times into the creature face, the blades ripping at its flesh, blood gushed from its wounds. Needles injected it with Mandalorian xenotoxins and several concoctions of inhibiting drugs. Pain would sear through the animal while its body would slow due to the drugs.
Blinky shook from the electric blast. It let out a dark binary scream as every single one of its weapons fired at once. Shotgun blasts flew at Elaine, its flamethrowers released wave after wave of liquid fire. Its rotary laser spun in circles firing in all directions while grenades, missiles and gas explosives fired down the corridor. Clouds of dioxis gas filled where lesser rockets hit, explosions began to crush the bulkheads all around. A volley of rockets headed straight towards Komilia and Sykes.
Sykes felt the tingle of danger in the back of his mind. “No…..” He said quietly to himself. He looked up just in time to see Blinky take the hit of Force Lightning. The droid crackled and all hell broke loose. The Sith dove to escape the onslaught of missiles. The first few flew over his and slammed into the blast doors behind him. It began to buckle behind him and he felt the pressure change. Sykes tried to stand when a pair of missiles hit him directly. The smaller one to his chest pushed him back but the larger slammed directly into his knee.
The explosion of pain in his mind sent him into a frenzy. His left leg separated from his body just above the knee. He tried to control the pain as he dropped to the deck. The door continued to buckle as he tried to crawl
Komilia turned in time to narrowly allow having a rocket connect with her face. She threw her arms forward sending the droid careening down the hallway. As she turned the explosion knocked her backwards, away from Sykes, and onto her back. Her Beskar covered head connected hard with the floor and she bit her lip.
She tasted blood as her head swam.
Elaine sheathed both of her blades in their own respective ways and reached into the Force and pulled Callè off of Trip with great effort, furthering the injuries he already sustained and swiftly drug him to her. She covered as much of him as she possibly could with her own body when the armada of projectiles filled the room.
Several shots from various blaster bolts and a singular shot from the shotgun as well as several bits of violent shrapnel inflicted her back. Her breath was ragged and weak as she writhed in pain and her clothes increasingly stained red. She persisted to protect Callè to the best of her ability.
Sykes groaned. Pain overwhelmed him and he could barely crawl towards Komilia. As he almost reached her the bottom of the blast door buckled. The vacuum of space dragged at him, he tried stab a blade into the deck however his strength had left him.
As his vision went dark, his body went limp. His body slid against the ground, just under the broken door and the Sith flew out into the darkness of space.
Komilia felt the decompression and through the fogginess of the concussion she saw Sykes grasping towards her before being sucked out into space.
She reacted first. Digging in her heels she reached out and clapped her hands together. The bulkheads groaned and whined as they were stretched together into a crumbled mess. At least the decompression was slowed. They had time.
Komilia staggered towards a view port. She couldn’t see Sykes yet she knew he wasn’t dead…not yet anyways.
Turning her back to her fate she checked on Elaine. “We need to get out of here. Can you walk? Can Callie?”
Elaine tried to stand up slowly but quickly crumbled onto her hands and knees. Callè whined and screeched in pain while also having his vision impaired almost completely.
Elaine weakly lifted her head and shook her head no in response to Komilia.
“Cal… C-Callè can’t see… I would have to g-guide him…” the Equite struggled to voice. “One… problem…” she paused, “I-I can’t make it… ” she finished. “Just… l-leave me.”
“This isn’t any worse than that night on level 3902 in Coruscant. Come on, let’s go!” Komilia lifted Elaine to her feet. “Come on, we’ll get Calle too!”
Elaine helped carry her own weight as much as she could and let Komilia carry the rest. With the Force, Elaine silently communicated in a way with Callè. Not a moment later, he shakily stood on all four of his legs and limped in pursuit of his master while remaining to cry out in pain with each muscle movement.
Before Komilla could respond, at the end of the darkened corridor a crimson light snapped to life revealing Vincent in his full armor standing next to Jaz. His eyes were so red that they could be seen through the tinted eyes of his helmet. He saw Elaine and Callè in a badly injured state. He looked around for Sykes, but he couldn’t see him. Reaching out with the Force he could feel him outside of the ship, drifting. He growled in anger as his eyes shot to Komilla.
“I told you before that your recklessness would end up getting someone killed… and so it appears that it has. Not only that, you have injured my friend, your own, and her most cherished companion. I should kill you where you stand and send what is left of you back to your Father… but there are fates worse than death… you’ll see… I’ll show you… but not today.”
Reluctantly he deactivated the saber, with a wave of his hand a group of a dozen Stormtroopers rushed into the corridor.
“Get them to the hangar and on my ship. Be careful with Jaz… he might be too broken to fix, but any clumsiness on your part will ensure that.”
“Yes sir.” the lead trooper said as the group ran in and grabbed everyone. As the group was helped to the hangar, they found Blinky with a large lightsaber wound in its body. Both the astromech and the protocol droid had been fitted with restraining bolts, and they were being carried into The Punisher.
Looking out the hangar opening and back at the Charybdis, they saw the two escape pods pulled into the hangar via tractor beam. The mission? A success, but at what cost, and how would Vincent ever explain how things had gone so smoothly until the very last moment to Empress Rayne?
All the remaining questions would be answered in time. For now, most everyone would require some kind of medical attention. They were loaded onto The Punisher, and Vincent followed. As the ramp lifted itself from the deck and closed, the ship took off and headed back to the Charybdis.