Korriban

[Delta73]

A heavily encrypted message arrives for the Hutt Sith Master from his old friend Delta.

 

 

"Operation Hammerfall has begun, target Bothawui. Feel free to exploit the results of the destruction of the Bothan Unity Council."

 

[Delta73]

The Marie exited hyperspace with all the grace of a drunken twilek dancer who had a broken clavicle, the engines flaring majestically, and the shields positioned double front, in semblence of the overlarge tummy a dancer may get from over snacking on corellian white cake. A hard ignition of the sublight drives as the ship hit the stratosphere broke the similarity of a ship to an overweight dancer like the legs of a bunk bed holding up a trifecta of hutt twins in their mid thirties.

 

On board the Corvette, the many cloned clone trooper Delta Seven Three, pulled himself from the cramped quarters of the Kaminoian Cloning Pod. A rebirth. A chance to live a life devoid of crime and terrorism. A boring life. A stupid and unfulfilling life more like. Delta dried off from the clone cylinder and changed into a fresh set of Mandalorian armour salvaged from the Kal-Koran estate and walked to the hangerbay as the ship set down. He opened a comm frequency to Sheog and requested that he could join him. Delta awaited the loving affection of his girlfriend and daughter and when they arrived at the ramp he gave each of them a brisk and loving hug.

 

"Hey you guys ready to hang out with a bunch of friendly Sith? I hear there are no sword fights this time!"

[Delta73]

He smiled at Qaela as he put his black and red helmet on. “We are here to find due support and offer the assets of the Black Sun to the Sith. As it is currently, our command structure is falling apart all over the galaxy, the Sith have asked to take the Black Sun under their wing, and with our past with them, I see it as a good idea. I do not, however plan to let Telperion be mentored by any of these Sith.” He didn’t mean it as an insult to her, he knew it would be a fight if he sent her to the Jedi, but whatever Qaela thought was best he did not care for. He would not have his adopted child turn out like Qaela or any of the Sith here on Korriban.

 

The three of them walked in unison into the great feasting hall and Delta gave his name to the courtier who duly announced it when there was a break in the conversation.

 

“My Lords and Ladies, may I have the pleasure of introducing Delta Seven Three of the Black Sun, Qaela of the Darksong, and her daughter Telperion of the house of Ar-Pharazon, long may he live.”

 

What a weird way of introducing people. Delta rolled his eyes under his T-visor and bowed to the hall of Sith, all whom he recognized. Including the darling little Raia. She was looking good. He grinned and then he bowed to her as well. He probably still had bits of her mother's scalp embedded in his armoured gloves.“My Lords and lady, I have been summoned, how may I be of assistance in your Sithly ways?”

 

He reached out and grabbed an oversized goblet of Muja-twi wine.

[Delta73]

Delta took off his helmet and ran his hand through the short cropped blonde hair, he looked around for the glowing red eyes of the Tuk’atas before safely placing the mandalorian iron helmet on the highest table present. He turned to Montar, “Raynuk, if there is something my company has done, I will gladly answer for it publicly or privately. I will tell you that the Bespin stronghold that you helped me establish by sinking the last one has recently fought off an imperial invasion force and captured an Imperial Cruiser...If this has to do with my shenanigans on Bothawui, it was to restore life to my adopted daughter, who is still suffering from the curse of the nightsisters.” He then remembered that Montar had referred to the young Sith Raia as his child. Sadly, kissing her was definitely off the table this time, and the little gift box that he had in his belt pouch would definitely not help the situation at all. He would have to wade carefully through the pool of bantha doo that was this gathering. So many fragile egos to accidently brush against. At least Draken wasn’t here. He turned to the giant hutt,

 

“Thank you for your hospitality your greatness, I assure you she will not touch this heart of mine.” His ice blue eyes glimmered for a second before her turned to Raia. “It does my heart a kindness to see you here little lady…” He gently pushed Telperiën towards her, “This is my daughter, Telperiën, if I could ask that you look after her while the meeting progresses, I would be most grateful. For You are the kindest soul in this room, and the only one here I would trust with her care should your father and I get into a spat over business dealings.” He highly doubted such a fight would happen, but the young dathomiri looked like she needed something to do. He placed the gift box and another soft pouch into Telperiëns hands and he turned to the room as a whole, “Where is Furion? I expected him, Draken, and Emily at a meeting like this.”

[Delta73]

Delta winced and grabbed the cup as it was slammed into his chest, a few rancid drops dripping onto his red cape and black armour. The accusation shocked him for a second and his mind worked feverishly to come up with some excuse before he dragged his datapad off his belt and with a few button presses and a DNA sample, passed logged reports of every black sun dealing in the last month to the Sith Lord. They were itemized and outlined by date. He glared for a moment, “You should really back that up before you accuse me or my company of something like that, especially since according to the Holonet, she likely ended up in imperial hands. My company would never give something as valuable as a Sith to the Imperials. You know I have killed plenty of sith back in the day-” He gestured to the saber of Darth Lucifer on his belt, “but I wouldn’t harm Emily, I wouldn’t want to defeat her a third time. That would just be embarrassing. ” He grinned and tossed the still full goblet behind his shoulder where it spattered on the ground, causing a serving girl to slip and fall with a crash. Taking with her most of the drinks offered, and destroying at least a million credits of decanted Alderaanian wine.

 

He slapped the sith lord on the shoulder as he walked with him his voice a stage whisper. “And you really have to stop sleeping with every pretty woman in this galaxy, you must leave some for the rest of us, before you know it you will have told me you slept with Jaina Jade Skywalker too!” Not that Delta was in anyway prejudiced to that. “As I told the coresec agent that called me, I will do whatever is in my power to help her out, and save your kid along with it. Now look through that datapad for yourself and tell me if she was taken by my company.”

 

He looked over to Raia and Telperien and was glad to see that they were in close company and not fighting it out like all the sith here seemed to be wanting to be. A sudden jolt of fear ran up his spine. Hopefully Telperien would not tell the girl everything she knew...

Edited July 8, 2017 by Guest

[Delta73]

As the Black Sun fleet started to arrive piecemeal in the upper atmosphere, Delta could feel his heartbeat begin to slow down. There was not to be conflict here today between him and his old friend. However the revelation that Raia was actually Rayncuk’s daughter, did give his stomach a slight flutter. That one kiss would be as far as he dared for some time to come. No need to get a lightsaber colonoscopy just yet. “This cult will need to be dealt with in time Lord Montar, even if you are willing to sacrifice the mother of your child and your biological child to save the galaxy, i would deem that a mistake. Some children are worth the price of the galaxy.” He nodded to where their daughters were huddled. The force knew he would burn the entire galaxy himself included if it was to save her from harm. He laughed at the thought and looked back to his old friend.

 

“I am afraid she is not all that well, the Nightsisters used their deepest magic to harm the children…” He shook his head, “And it lingers even still. I am afraid for her Raynuk. I put nearly the entire continent to the sword in revenge, and killed a thousand bothans, but it has not brought her fully to health. I am afriad it is up to the force now.” He rubbed his chin, scratching at the stubble that persistently grew there. He didn’t mention the boys. The memory was too hot in his mind. The very image of them dying in his arms made his breath shake, and his hand itch for its blaster pistol. “What is our next move? Strike the Galactic Alliance? The Remnant and their queen? Or perhaps this Cult of yours?”

[Delta73]

“Like seriously what the kriff was that all about? One minute we are chatting about chicks and the next good old LAP decides that instead of force ghost fighting the ghosts of 12 darth mauls he’s gunna go after Tel? I think not.”

 

Delta twirled his blaster pistol menacingly at the walls as if to taunt any remaining ghosties to appear and try him. Heck next thing he knew Oblivion and Dagon would walk through the door hand in hand whistling ‘dixie’ and invite them all to a cupcake and tea party. Not bloody likely. He reholstered the stolen pistol he had grabbed off Scorp’s dessicated corpse and walked over to where Qaela and Telperien were. He checked on them and picked both women up and brought them over to one of the large couches to rest. He kissed Qaela on the lips and sat with her until the worst had passed. He looked over to where the Trinity had formed when both the girls were asleep.

 

“So whats our next move oh King of Kings?”

[Delta73]

A low whistle of breath escaped Delta’s nose at the request. He wasn’t dissatisfied with the deal, it would save the organization, but he didn’t like how it felt like such a hostile takeover. But he knew that this was now his new viceroy, and orders were something he was good at. So he did what he was told and began the asset transfer as ordered, while maintaining direct control of the Marie and the large casinos on Cloud City. He plugged his datapad into the wall and clicking through a few controls and firewalls, and accessing the long datalist, began the transfer of personnel files, asset lists, secret documents, holocaust denial research, coruscant memorial conspiracy theories, and long lists of secret facilities and hidden assets. All to the council of the dark lords. With a few clicks, nearly 50 million employees received notice of change of employment and their retirement funds changed from Black Sun and Red Dawn Hegemon International, to the Sith Committee for the Wellbeing of Nations. A well renowned nationalized fund, backed by solid investments from Coruscant to Therancisn. All stocks were liquidated and placed into these funds, and the audits of black sun accounts showed a few glaring errors. There were several backdoors syphoning off money in Black Sun accounts! These were isolated, traced, and tracked back to the survivors foundation as such a large transfers of funds quickly identified any part credit transactions. Delta had seen Wookiee Office Space. It wasn’t very hard. The fact that it hadn’t been seen earlier made him quite worried. But in the end it wasn’t really his problem anymore.

 

While the transfer, hacking, and shenanigans transpired over several hours, Delta was left to his own thoughts. He watched Qaela and Telperien sleep and was left with pangs of sadness that he hadn’t felt in years. Sounds ricocheted around his helmet and he was drawn back to a life long gone.

 

Blaster bolts tearing through cyan coloured cloth

 

Feminine screams of pain

 

Crystal Blue Eyes staring lifeless, accusingly back at him. Piercing through the T visor of the old republic era Katarn Armour.

 

His heart dropped out of his chest and he was in utter darkness again.

 

Crunch

 

Durasteel soled boots of droids flattened the snowpack of a harsh Mygeeten winter, and the biting cold wind howled against his white camouflaged armour. The Jedi girl next to him buried in the snow as they watched the IGBC base of operations. He could feel the warm touch of the force as she warmed their bodies against the bitter -100F temperature, for without it, he would have simply frozen in place even with the heating elements of his armour. He would imagine that she would be quite a jedi popsicle without the force, even with the fur lined, blue jedi robes, the hood covering her flaming red hair, and the macrobinoculars covering her eyes. She could sense him looking at her and smiled.

“Wakey wakey Ca’Aran. Wouldn’t want to miss your shot now would you.”

 

Her girlish giggle filled his heart.

[Delta73]

Delta started awake with a gasp. He ran his hand through the short blond hair on his head and stood. He hated flashbacks. He could still feel the cold of that Mygeetan winter storm, and the feeling of that eerie cold frightened him. As he walked, he ran through the nearly century old encounter in his mind. The feeling of pulling a trigger and seeing a IGBC leader’s head explode and the hunk of durasteel fired by the slug thrower made a mist of his brains. They had used slugs for their lack of laser trail, that and battledroids couldn’t track the shot very well. Especially in the middle of a storm. Delta Made his way past the landing zones, passing a Ace starfighter, that was getting dismantled by a large group of Sith and Black Sun slicers and scientists. He rounded the corner to enter a meeting room where a Male Duros awaited him.

 

He bowed to the alien and extended his hand.

 

“They call me Delta, Vigo of the Black Sun Corporation, a pleasure to meet you, how can I be of assistance?”

 

When their hands met, he could feel warmth that wasn’t there. Soft hands that projected love and support. Her hands grabbed his and the giggling filled his head again. Her beautiful eyes filled with mirth as they undressed after the week long mission. The warmth of the sanisteam clung to him under his armour. He tried to ignore it as he talked to the strange Duros. Walking a line between gripping memories and reality.

[Delta73]

Delta nodded. He didn’t quite like this duros’s tone when it came to discussing the downfall of the Black Sun. Although Delta had nothing to do with the downfall, he did still carry some degree of the blame, and considering that he had personally dispatched several Sith during the last battle of Coruscant, working with the Sith seemed a tad bit odd. But these were drastically different times. There was no reason for war between the Sith Empire and the Black Sun, and if they could work together and both thrive then that was what must be done. Delta pulled out his own Datapad and began flipping through the Holopages.

“We have the Shipyards at Fondor. Which were once used to construct Super Star Destroyers, though the facility itself is in need of reconstruction if it were to produce anything other than fighters and smuggling vessels. The corporation there has fallen onto hard times. We also have a base near Nal Hutta called the Darkhaven Sovereign and of course the meager assets of the Benediction Firebrand. There is of course the magnificent palace at coruscant, those are the physical assets we retain for now. We do have several agents inside CoreSec and an owning stake at the CelCon shipyards, but we have not yet made inroads to the Galactic Senate.”

 

With a flick of his wrist the clone trooper sent a long list to the other man’s datapad.

 

“As for fleet assets, we have: Two actionable corvettes, a captured Imperial cruiser, a captured starliner. 60 heavy fighters, several smuggling ships, and an assortment of ground troops. Though they would need to be transferred from our base at Bespin.” When all was compiled on the sheets, it appeared pitiful compared to the glorious days of Smash. He did not mention the remains of the black sun fleet that had bombarded Dordjooba back a decade before. They would be found and rebuilt in time. When Fondor was recommissioned perhaps. For now he would keep those as a bargaining chip, or if he lost the current ships in play.

[Delta73]

Delta cradled his helmet under one arm as he extended the other to the Duros in the human sign of farewell. “I have nothing further, if you need me of the black sun armada, feel free to call my comm at any time.” He left his card in the duros’s hand and turned to make his leave. He still had a bad feeling about the whole adventure, but he trusted Sheog. Not enough to fly in his ship with a jedi council on board, but enough to know he wouldn’t screw him over for a mere fleet and credit resource.

[Delta73]

Delta grinned as he placed his helmet on his head. The pop hiss of the seal completed and he grabbed the datapad, glancing over it with a flicker of his eye to the inbuilt mandalorian armour helmet he relayed the orders to his fleet commanders on board the St. Cathryne and the Marie.

Action Stations. All hands prepare for immediate departure.

 

As Delta saluted the Droid fleet commander the fleet overheat began to take shape. He walked briskly to where his daughter and girlfriend were, kissed them, informed them of where he was going, and left for the skies.

 

The 12 heavy fighters (Rebuilt ARC class) formed up alongside The 20 assault bombers and 30 remaining attack starfighters and began a departure vector alongside the Marie and the St Cathryne. The pale blue of the frigate’s hull paint contrasted against the black and red of the Marie, but in the end that was black sun’s style. A hodgepodge fleet, and one that would make the old Black Sun Armada commanders blush with shame, but it would do. The MC30 and CR-90 upon receiving their commander launched into hyperspace and the remaining 30 starfighters and Imperial Cruiser stayed in geosynchronous orbit over the Korriban Temple as a last ditch defense should the attack and rescue operation turn into a total route.

[Delta73]

Like the many scattered and self important attendees to a Naboo Royal Wedding, the combined arms fleet of the Sith Empire and the Blackest Sun arrived over the sandy desert world of Korriban. It was overkill of course, as was everything done by the Blood Prince, but the combined fleet carried thousands of prisoners taken at Kuat who had been deemed fit for service. Some had even tested positive for force ability, and as an offering, the Black Sun had brought these newly minted slaves to the halls of the Sith Academy.

 

Delta himself had come to see how his daughter and his ex-lover were doing. Qaela would likely be in the halls somewhere screaming at men for being in her way, and Telperien would be with...what the Dark Lord? Maybe? He didn’t know, but dressed in his black armour none the less, walked through the halls of the Sith Academy, looking for familiar faces.

[Delta73]

 

The caves were so full of the force on Korriban. Delta was not too fond of the force, and in his lifetime he had seen more death and destruction brought to the galaxy because of religious differences between the two warring sectors of force users than any man made plague. Of course he did not mind the death and destruction, for every bullet or starfighter expended in the pursuit of domination, the military estate made someone money. And luckily through many years of deals, the Black Sun brought in much of that money. Deepening the pockets of the Vigos and those mercenaries that survived their adventures in the service of the Black Sun. It was in thinking of those trillions of credits that Delta’s thoughts fell to something he had not thought of in a long while. A forbidden thought crossed his mind.

 

What is it all for?

 

Instantly the ever present ghost of a long dead Jedi General was there to whisper in his ear.

 

Ca’aran…

 

The Blood Prince took a deep breath and shook his head. No matter the eons that passed, the trillions of parescs he travelled, or the thousands he had murdered, that presence was always there. Waiting for a moment to exploit the chinks in his psychic armour to torment him with conscience. She was always there. That red haired demon. If only she had joined the force with his blaster bolts instead of grabbing onto him.

 

His eyes looked down the corridor, hoping not to see any pale milk blue eyes that indicated a physical apparition, but just as fast as Kailen had appeared, she had vanished again. Leaving him fighting against the wave of conscience that she always brought with her. But it was not blue eyes he saw in the corridor ahead of him as he fought his invisible fight against guilt, it was Red eyes. A crimson flash that paused his steps, but then a feline arm had wrapped around his and a voice smooth vandian silk whispered in his ear. A smile replaced his frown, as the shields in his mind were restored to double front.

 

“Then I will not mind the company.”

He reached a gloved hand and placed it over hers, two black hands hidden in the darkness of the shadowed corridors. His heartbeat increased at the thought of the nights end, however the voice was familiar and it awakened another memory of a meeting on Onderon.

 

“I recognize your voice from Onderon during the takover there, tell me beautiful, what journey brought you to this world?”

[Delta73]

Rituals. Why did the sith always have to have rituals? Why couldn’t they just be normal people who sometimes dabbled in the art of being a religious nutcase? But he did not know this girl yet, so he could only assume that the rituals were like those he had seen Ar-Pharazon do aboard the Marie some decade earlier. Those were mostly bloody affairs that had involved the youngest members of the old Naboo royal family, which while fun, had left a distinct sour taste in his mouth.

 

But hey, anything for power and wealth right?

 

Right?

 

His heart did not agree so he ignored it and continued to walk down the winding corridors towards the feline’s waiting vessel. But the mention of dark rituals did set his mind on alert. He shelved it for later discussion as they continued their walk. This was a strong girl, who had been through a personal hell and he could only respect anyone who had been through the mess which was Sheog the Mad’s court. His voice was hesitant as he spoke.

 

“Then we shall drink to your victories, though I hope that somewhere deep down inside there is a kernel of the person you once were to keep in check the pure lust for power that can corrupt and seduce so many of the Sith. That desire that spurns any past dreams to only grasp at the ever out of reach last credit or last throne.”

 

It was not romantic language, but he knew he was there mainly speaking only of his own journey. So to add humour which was in his best opinion the best way to break ice or tension from previous statements he spoke again. Appearing to all the world as Bi-Polar as he felt.

 

“So you said you studied ancient civilizations and history eh?” He rubbed his chin with his spare hand and gave her a sloppy grin. “Ever hear of the clone wars?” He laughed again and pulled her closer as they approached the hanger together. “Well miss, I must say I am grateful to have come to you in that hospital, and you are welcome.” They entered the hanger which sprawled out for nearly a kilometer of carved sandstone in the rock of Korriban.

 

“Before I join you up into that ship…” He raised his hand which was clasped with hers as he pointed to the looming Starwind class pleasure yacht that sat on its landing struts with all the grace of a beached Antaluviian turtle. “You should know that I am the fleet commander of the Axis combined arms, so you know, don’t like sacrifice me to and old Sith like Dagon or something like that.”

[Delta73]

 

Oh she’s crying? Classic me.

 

He ground his heels into the dust covered Korribani hanger and seized her by the shoulders. His two strong hands encapsulating her lithe shoulders and pinning her in place. His eyes, steel blue as they were, were full of grim determination as well as a touch of fear at what he himself was uncovering.

 

“You are not someone who needs saving, you have made countless decisions that left you here. If you are happy with what you are, then I am glad of it. I know and fear that decisions made are often regretted. For I am a creature of regrets, and if that scrap of heart I still have had its way I would place the barrel of my DC17 under my chin and join my brothers in whatever counts as an afterlife for clones. The galaxy would rejoice in my fate and my brothers in this Axis would be glad of another step up in the ladder of power I opened for them.”

 

His eyes flicked up and to the left, looking off into space that was unoccupied. His brain rushed from thought to thought, despising the fact that he had opened up to this poor Sithari girl. His heart told him that there was a chance of salvation here. His brain told him that she was not worth his time and his loins told him a very different thing. It wanted what every evolutionary biologist deemed the desire for every lifeform. But he could ignore lust. He was trained to do that, to live and die in a trench on Christophsis, and not to be distracted by that Jedi general laying beside him…

 

He shut that thought down before it awakened a spirit long subdued, and the mind and heart went back to war. So he spoke finally when the ramp had firmly settled onto the hanger floor with a hiss of outgassing from its interiors.

 

“I…”

 

His face scrunched up to a scowl and he spoke the words that both his brain and loins hated him for.

 

“I would like to get to know you, then we can decide if passion is our game.”

 

Then he leaned forward and placed his forehead against hers, so their eyes were close and his skin could feel the silk of hers. It was a Mandalorian tradition, usually done when helmets were on, a sign of affection and trust. His voice was very soft as steel blue looked into crimson red.

 

“For you are no monster.”

 

He released her and walked confidently up the ramp into her ship.

[Delta73]

Where Delta found himself was jarring to him, the girls atmosphere had been all evil and dangerous, but aboardships looked more like a homesick girls college dorm. Not like he had been in many of those in his time as a vagabond in the employ of the Black Sun, but he had seen enough Holofilms to get the idea. To him she seemed very conflicted, which spoke to his heart. A girl hesitating before stepping into the speeder traffic that was the dark side. But was it his place to save, or to pursue her? He couldn’t make up his mind, and before he could she had returned in an outfit that was very much not what he expected. It brought a smile to his face and he walked with her to the lounge and as she sat, he did as well, though on some kind of exercise ball which shifted uneasily under his weight. Plus the durasteel armour he wore could likely pop the thing so he decided to get more comfortable. He grinned at her sloppily,

 

“Mind if I get comfortable as well before the interrogation starts? Plus it wouldn't be proper to get to know a girl unless she also can ask questions, so ask away if you want, let's make this a double sided interrogation eh?”

 

Ritualisticly, as he had done for many years he began to remove the Katarn class armour, beginning at his hands. Seals hissed and they were released, and he pulled off his gauntlets, freeing his hands from the durasteel which enabled him to slowly pull his vest and chest armour off. He kept his eyes on the beautiful feline as he did so, and to break any tension he started some small talk.

 

“Your quarters are very nice, they remind me a lot of my Jedi Generals back in the day, though she was…” He was about to say ‘Much younger than you and just an apprentice’, but felt that was an insult so simply pulled his chestpeice over his head to change the topic following it up with. “But that was a long time ago, you probably know the origin of someone like me, but in case you don’t...Hi i’m a clone of some mandalorian, bred on Kamino and trained by the Republic to be a killing machine. What is your story?”

 

Within several minutes of frustrating work he had left a orderly pile of durasteel and armourweave beside the flexing ball of air and polymeerine plastic he was sitting on. He himself was now dressed in a red undertunic much akin to the type he had worn on Kamino so many years before. He piled the weapons he carried haphazardly on her floor, and sat back, cradling the lightsabre he had kept for decades for but a moment before tossing it into the pile. A relic of a time long passed. A time of murder. Then he looked back at her, his strong hands twisting awkwardly as if they desired a blade or blaster to hold. “Are you happy here among the Sith?”

[Delta73]

There was a glimpse of kindness in her question, perhaps through a lack of knowledge of the Clone Wars or perhaps because she was a nice person underneath the Sithari personality. But what he did not expect was how with a single probing question that she brought back so much horror, so much regret, and those feelings of worthlessness. He could feel his stomach surge for a moment, but his tough military exterior saw him through. Outwardly perhaps his face became more hard, the lines at the corners of his mouth twitched into a small frown.

 

“Miss.” His voice was soft, as if what he was saying was impossible. “I had to learn to live again. We were chattel to the Republic and the Empire after it. If anything what I learned from the clone Wars was that the Republic deserved its fate. Most of my men were silently put down when strain from their actions in the war began to show or if they were too wounded to continue on. The rich fought a war against separatists without ever getting their hands wet with the blood of millions that died. So my first choice when I found out that I was going to be ‘retired’ was to live. To venture into that void outside the purpose for which I was designed. My second choice was to bring whatever revenge I could upon those royal houses, and those vestiges of the Republic. I have fallen from that path to pursue simply riches and blood because that was easier. We all have a part in the Great Game whether we wish it or not. For to turn away from the game is to play it for what it truly is, to find your fate in a galaxy torn by war.”

 

He grimaced. This was very personal stuff he was throwing out into the space between them, and he could sense his chances of getting some tonight slowly slipping away. So he continued as he could feel small ghostly hands upon his shoulders, and he knew that if he looked up he would see them. Always trying to draw him into the past, to be swallowed there. To acknowledge that he should have pulled that trigger on the battle worn DC-17 he had placed against his temple after he saw what he had done after sixty six. He had been a man without purpose, without the only thing keeping him sane. Without Her. He quickly looked up to the black coated cathari and smiled. Distracting himself from those memories at his back.

 

“I am very glad to have met you, though I cannot recall if I have ever learned your name. So we must start there. My pod brothers named me Ca'Aran. But you must also tell me of where you come, what was it like to have a family, what is college like?”

[Delta73]

What would I have been if I had grown up like her? If I had not been trained to kill and obey with every fibre of my being from the time I could talk? It was a pointless exercise of course, to think of what he would have done in uni, or how he would have reacted to a mother. Oh but if he could have a mother. He would kill for that loving embrace. But his mother was the blue tinted walls of a transparisteel cloning pod. There was no warmth there. No intuition to teach, no values to pass down. It was strange to him to be so very and acutely jealous of this young Cathar and of every experience she had. But her kiss had been loving enough, an the warmth of her body against his, her small hands caressing the muscles of his arm and he knew jealousy could wait, especially if she was with him. For what had it been that Kailen had said back on Christophsis, while she had sat beside him, her blue robe and his red kama blood soaked and spattered with clinging mud.

 

“Jealousy leads to a dark heart Ca’Aran. That’s what I said.”

 

And ghosts had the tendency to prey on every bit of him when anything turned or the good in his life. Ghosts that called him back. The desired his presence where he belonged. Ninety years before, where the victims of the first war for the galaxy belonged. But this Cathar was different, and the past could wait. If he was damned to join them, then they could wait another few hours, or few years. Before the melancholy of the lone survivor finally claimed him to it eternal bed. He looked into her crimson eyes and smiled warmly, if slightly stiffly. For now was not the time to turn to the past, but look and develop to the future.

 

“Ailbasí. That is a pretty name, what does it mean?”

 

Such a pretty name, for such a pretty girl.

 

“If you like learning and reading, there are many collections of historical novels and books that we have captured over the centuries. If ever you should desire them, you are welcome to them.”

There he was throwing gifts out like candy, when he really should be asking a more serious question.

 

“What do you want Ash?” It was not a light question, and not one asked in demanding. But an invitation for her to talk about what she wanted from the night, or any other thing that she could think of. He wasn’t good at flirting, but he pressed his forehead against hers. A keldabe kiss in the culture of his people as pale blue stared into crimson red.

[Delta73]

 

The lick was ticklish and it traced the line of an old scar up to right below his eye. The gesture brought a smile to his face and he laughed heartily as she laid claim. His smile stayed as he picked the lithe girl up and carried her to the room only a few meters away still locked into that passionate kiss. When he broke for air he smiled with a grin,

“You might love history, but have you ever had anything mass produced?”

 

_________________

 

Three hours later

 

_________________

 

Ca’Aran sat beside her, tangled in the mess of her sheets and staring up to the ceiling where some band that he did not know’s holoposter slowly rotated overhead. He felt strangely clearheaded, as if the last few hours hadn’t been exhausting but incredibly restful, though he wished he could have a breath of those flimsplast tobacs they used to hand out during the war to the troops. But alas he was plum out, so he simply lay where he was and thought about all she had said. Darkness, Salvation, Grace, Weakness. His heart in turmoil as it began to reflect on his past in black sun. Turning over to throw an arm over her he spoke softly in case she was asleep.

 

“Ash, do you think someone who has done great evil can ever been redeemed?”

[Delta73]

It took a very long time to fall asleep, even with the comforting warmth of a woman beside him or the soft sounds of her footsteps while she trained. He stared up at the ceiling as he felt her soft breathing. Every inhale and exhale he could feel the soft fur bristle against his arm as he held her very close. When he finally drifted off it was to feelings of love and mild depression. For no matter how much he had worked and slaved for the Black Sun, they had never brought him this kind of feeling.

 

Was this love?

 

He couldn’t answer that. And though he hadn’t been in love since the clone wars, he knew it was far too early to pursue such a thing.

 

When he awoke some half a dozen hours later, it was from a dreamless sleep. A restful sleep. He lightly kissed the back of her neck and untangled himself to begin his own training regimine.

[Delta73]

The sleep was restful till its bitter end. Where nameless and shapeless darkness turned to vivid nightmares. Nightmares were a constant for Ca’Aran the Recon Commando from batch seventy three. They had started more than a hundred years prior before the great sleep of carbonite and ashen shadows. Dred Priest, had haunted him both day and night as A2532 was formed from the scared tubeborn child into a deadly warrior. A trainer from the mandalorians, Priest had been the most brutal of the dozen men and women selected by Jango Fett to train the clone commandos. And his training had proven effective if not terrorizing for those involved. It was at a very young age that A2532 had scored his first kill in a circle of burning torches in the bottom hanger of Kamino 743. THat kill had been an honourable young fellow clone, and the feeling of his life leaving him as A2532 buried his vibrodagger up into his chest had frightened the young clone. But that action had carried him to the frontlines of the RC programme, and upon graduation Geonosis had come.

 

Geonosis

 

That pyrrhic victory for the republic that had wasted the lives of tens of thousands of young clones, and some seventy jedi knights. A wasteful start to a long war. Delta had been the only survivor of his cadre, and had been attached to a regular platoon upon the dissolution of his unit to assist as a guide and a scout for whatever the Republic put in charge of that unit. Some young jedi who was not qualified in the least to lead warriors. But when his hard eyes met her iceblue ones, his heart had never been the same. It was those eyes that woke him, or at least he believed they were as the Sith magics filled him with dread.

 

He sat bolt upright with a cry and shivered for a second as he looked around the room that looked like a young girls dormitory in the first years getting out of her parent’s house. His fierce blue eyes found the Sithari spirit and he drew back in fright but quickly squared himself for whatever would come.

 

“...Kailen?”

 

But the booming voice marked it as not her, but instead the guardian of the woman he had just slept with instead. An equally frightening event, but he met the gaze with stern recognition and nodded. Implying that he should ask away.

 

“...My intentions are not known even to me, for though I may intend something, the lady may desire the opposite. If you ask that I should intent to court her or something...perhaps? I do not yet know her. And I have every intent to get to know her. I did not know she was decended from ghosts." He pressed for his own question. Guessing at the source of this apparition. "Are you some Cathar warlord that I have not heard of? Or are you from the generation of Sith like Ar-Pharazon who sired the one I call my own daughter?”

[Delta73]

Delta’s survival instinct kept him from saying something like, ‘she has given me a lot of comfort as well’ or something equally snarky that would end with him killed by some weird sith magiks. It was also interesting to him that Sithari like Dagon actually loved their offspring. Ar-Pharazon had all but ignored Telperien which is why she had fallen into his own care. The revelation grew his respect for the long dead Sith that he did not expect. There was some kernel of good in the sith, and in that moment of realization Delta made his decision.

 

He would for his part, be the counter weight to the gnawing evil that would affect the daughter of Dagon in the Sith Empire. He would stick to the long road, and if not stop evil, become its rival. All while serving the Sith as a General at arms. It would be a redemption of sorts, and one long in the making.

 

“I will stay by her as long as she will have me, come what may. You have my promise.”

 

He extended a hand to the Sith spirit. As a sign of respect, even though he doubted the other man could shake it.

[Delta73]

Delta straightened his back and pulled his handshake into a salute as he watched the Sith spirit depart. Then, he turned, walked out of the Cathar’s quarters, locked the door, and made his way to the Marie. That blessed ship that had carried him for over a decade. He smiled as the crew welcomed him aboard and after consulting with the officers he went to his quarters as the ship was prepped for hyperspace.

 

It was when he had sat down on his grav couch, his pile of armour sitting beside him that his comm chirped from the Cathar girl with the Sith father. He smiled. What a lovely idea to go gallivanting to her species homeworld. He had never likened much to furries until he had met Ailbasí so he had written her species down as furry-lite. At least acceptable to let live. They weren’t Bothans afterall. So he made his decision, and walked back to the girl’s ship, dressed completely differently than anything Mando like. He passed the coordinates to the captain, and watched the Marie take off into the upper atmosphere before he walked back to the girls quarters and slept until they arrived. The Marie would follow should they need her.

[Delta73]

Hunt Mission Korriban: Round One

 

Rebel Fleet Actions

 

Offensive Actions

|Aeneas| Attacks |Goliath| - Intercepted by Sith Defensive Escort |Minotaur| which takes 8 damage at delayed speed

|Enyo| Attacks |Apophis| with 2x Bombers Inbound for 8 damage at delayed speed

|Bes'bev| Attacks |Apophis| for 6 damage

|Akalenedat| Attacks |Naïve Miscreant| for 6 damage 

|Acre| Attacks |Naïve Miscreant|  for 6 damage (8-2) at delayed speed

|Auvergne| does nothing

 

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Fighter Rush on |Naïve Miscreant| (3 damage to Corvettes)

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Fighter Rush on |Naïve Miscreant| (3 damage to Corvettes)

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Fighter Rush on |Naïve Miscreant| (3 damage to Corvettes)

 

Defensive Actions

|Chayaikir| Escorts |Enyo| and |Auvergne|

|Phobos| Escorts |Enyo|

 

___________________________________________________________

 

Sith Fleet Actions

 

Offensive Actions

|Eye of Sagittarius| and |Melting Iron| attacks |Chayaikir|, this action is assisted by the Meditation Chamber aboard |Goliath| for a total of 16 damage at delayed speed. 

|Naïve Miscreant| and |Goliath| attack |Aeneas| with support from the Gunships of |Revenant| for 6 damage

|Geist| attacks |Akalenedat| with 2 Bombers Inbound for 6 damage to the hull

 

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Chayaikir| for 3 damage to the hull

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Chayaikir| for 3 damage to the hull

 

Special Actions

|Apophis| forces |Bes'bev| to escort it. (It intercepts nothing) 

 

Defensive Actions

|Minotaur| Escorts |Goliath|

|Naïve Miscreant| Escorts |Geist| 

|Banshee| 2x Forward Deployment

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| 1x Forward Deployment

 

Notes:

|Minotaur| is now on fire and will take 1 damage to the hull every turn.

[Delta73]

Hunt Mission Korriban: Round Two

 

Rebel Fleet Actions

 

Offensive Actions

|Aeneas| and |Akalenedat| Attack |Naïve Miscreant| for 6 damage regular speed and 6 and 6 at delayed speed (6+8-2) 

|Enyo| Attacks |Apophis| with 2x Bombers Inbound for 8 damage at delayed speed to the shields

|Bes'bev| Attacks |Apophis| for 6 damage (Goes around Escorts)

|Acre| Attacks |Banshee| for 8 damage at delayed speed

|Auvergne| does nothing again

 

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Naïve Miscreant| (2 damage) Fast Speed

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Naïve Miscreant| (2 damage) Fast Speed

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| 1x Forward Deployment

 

Defensive Actions

|Chayaikir| Escorts |Enyo| and |Auvergne|

|Phobos| Escorts |Akalenedat| (Arriving in time to intercept Bombers inbound)  

 

___________________________________________________________

 

Sith Fleet Actions

 

Offensive Actions

|Eye of Sagittarius| and |Melting Iron| attacks |Aeneas|, this action is assisted by the Meditation Chamber aboard |Goliath| for a total of 16 damage at delayed speed. 

|Naïve Miscreant| and |Goliath| attack |Acre| with support from the Gunships of |Revenant| for 6 damage

|Geist| attacks |Akalenedat| with 2 Bombers Inbound which is intercepted by |Phobos| for 2 damage to shields

|Apophis| forces |Acre| to fire on |Akalenedat| for 8 damage

 

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Bes'bev| for 2 damage to the hull 1 to shields

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Bes'bev| for 2 damage to the hull 1 to shields

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Bes'bev| for 2 damage to the hull 1 to shields

 

Defensive Actions

|Minotaur| Escorts |Goliath|

|Naïve Miscreant| Escorts |Apophis|

|Banshee| 2x Focused Deployment on |Apophis|

 

Notes:

|Minotaur| is on fire and takes 1 damage to the hull 

|Banshee| is now on fire and will take 1 damage to the hull every turn.

|Akalenedat| is now on fire and will take 1 damage to the hull every turn.

|Naïve Miscreant| is Destroyed

[Delta73]

Hunt Mission Korriban: Round Three

 

Rebel Fleet Actions

 

Offensive Actions

|Aeneas| and |Acre| Attack |Apophis| for 14  damage at delayed speed (8+8-2)

|Enyo| Attacks |Banshee| and |Goliath| for three damage to the shields of each 

|Bes'bev| Attacks |Banshee| for 6 damage 

|Auvergne| Ion strikes |Apophis| disabling it

|Akalenedat| attacks |Melting Iron| for 3 damage to an escort and 2 to the Cruiser

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Banshee| (3 damage to hull)

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Banshee| (3 damage to hull)

  

Defensive Actions

|Chayaikir| Escorts |Enyo| and |Auvergne|

|Phobos| Escorts |Akalenedat| 

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| 1x Focused Deployment on |Bes'bev| 

___________________________________________________________

 

Sith Fleet Actions

 

Offensive Actions

|Eye of Sagittarius| and |Melting Iron| attacks |Aeneas|, this action is assisted by the Meditation Chamber aboard |Goliath| for a total of 16 damage at delayed speed. 

|Goliath| attack |Acre| with support from the Gunships of |Revenant| for 7 damage (6+1 from Revenant ability)

|Geist| attacks |Bes'bev| with 2 Bombers for 6 damage to shields

|Apophis| is disabled

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Bes'bev|  for 3 damage to shields

 

Defensive Actions

|Minotaur| detaches 

|Banshee| 2x Focused Deployment on |Apophis|

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| 2x Focused Deployment on |Apophis|

 

Notes:

|Aeneas| is destroyed

|Minotaur| is on fire and takes 1 damage to the hull 

|Banshee| is on fire and takes 1 damage to the hull 

|Akalenedat| is on fire and takes 1 damage to the hull 

|Apophis| is now on fire and will take 1 damage to the hull every turn.

|Bloodsteele| begins a rescue mission on the destroyed |Aeneas|

[Delta73]

Hunt Mission Korriban: Round Four

 

Rebel Fleet Actions

 

Offensive Actions

|Enyo| Attacks |Minotaur| for 6 damage to the hull

|Bes'bev| Attacks |Apophis| for 6 damage (Goes around escorts)

|Auvergne| Ion strikes |Apophis| intercepted by |Minotaur|

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on |Apophis| (3 damage to shield)

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Fighter Escort on Bomber inbound

 

Defensive Actions

|Chayaikir| begins to redeploy to |Bes’bev|

|Phobos| redeploys to Escort |Bes’bev|

 |Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| 1x Forward Deployment

 

Other Actions

|Akalenedat|  Retreats

|Acre| Retreats

 

___________________________________________________________

 

Sith Fleet Actions

 

Offensive Actions

|Eye of Sagittarius| (8), |Melting Iron| (8), |Goliath| (5) attack |Bes’bev|, this action is assisted by the Meditation Chamber aboard |Goliath| and with support from the Gunships of |Revenant| for a total of 21 damage at delayed speed. (Intercepted by |Phobos|) 

|Geist| attacks |Bes'bev| with 2 Bombers (Intercepted by |Phobos|) 

|Apophis| forces |Acre| to fire on |Akalenedat| for 8 damage

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| Bombers Inbound on  |Akalenedat|  for 3 damage 

 

Defensive Actions

|Minotaur| Escorts  |Apophis|

|Banshee| 2x Focused Deployment on |Apophis|

|Fleet Commander Starfighter Action| 2x Focused Deployment on |Apophis|

 

Notes:

|Apophis| is destroyed

|Minotaur|is on fire and takes 1 damage to the hull 

|Banshee| is on fire and takes 1 damage to the hull 

|Akalenedat| is on fire and takes 1 damage to the hull

[Delta73]

The Rebel Fleet Escapes

 

Battle of Korriban is over