The Rebel Faction

A simple mission can turn deadly. However, it may turn deadly for those that oppose the mission. Olmakh had been sent to wherever it was he was in order to scout out the planet. It was an elegant world but it had its downsides.

Olmakh had slipped on and off his transport without being seen. That was one thing Noghri were very good at. His shuttle had started at Hapes and brought him to this unknown planet. It was time to start his advance mission.

He slipped out of the starport and into the shadows of the city. Aurora and Morpheus had to be protected and it was his job to make sure they were. He padded through the city in the shadows. He stayed out of sight, and was not spotted.

Olmakh was displeased with what he saw. Fights were breaking out everywhere. Riots were in the streets, and people were being killed. He obviously couldn’t allow the two Hapan royalty members to roam the streets.

Inside the buildings wasn’t much better. Living conditions were harsh. People died from everyday sickness because the medical facilities were terrible. Food was scarce. Robberies took place about every two minutes.

The place was filthy. He would obviously have to get Aurora and Morpheus to the presidential section as fast as possible. There it wasn’t any better.

Protestors lined the streets because of the newly passed food limitations law. The planet was short on food and had to import it. Pirates had disrupted shipments and the food hadn’t arrived. The Government had had to pass a law to limit the amount of food one could purchase at a time.

He was satisfied that he knew the lay of the planet and how to move through the city unnoticed. He headed for the starport. Passing through an ally he hadn’t been through before, he was confronted by a street gang.

“What are you doing in our territory, alien.” One said.

“You better leave before we have to kill you.” Another jeered.

“I don’t think that will be happening anytime soon,” Olmakh purred.

With lightning fast attacks, he knocked all the members of the gang unconscious. He wouldn’t kill them. It would be too messy.

He finally made his way to the starport and slipped inside. Sliding through the shadows, he made his way to the docking bay that Prince Darksword had said Aurora and Morpheus would be using. He slipped inside and sat in the shadows where he wouldn’t be noticed. Then, he waited.

Unlike Morpheus, Aurora did not welcome more security. She belied that her cousin Morpheus was all the protection she needed.

However, her brother, Dakkon had insisted that the Noghri go along with them. As always, Aurora did protest against her brother's wishes, much to his dismay.

It was the disappointment in her brother's eyes that had made Aurora change her mind.

No matter how stubborn Aurora could be, she always trusted her brothers judgement.

All was right, except with Morpheus. She could not stand the thought of her cousin pampering her, it made her, to put it frankly...ill.

She despised being treated like royalty in some instances, such was the case with this mission.

Sight seeing sounded so wonderful and inviting, yet, so far fetched, the comforts of freedom would not be exposed to her, the princess was sure of it.

Well, if she could not enjoy the trip as she wanted to, nor would Morpheus.

Storming from her seat, Aurora set off in a dainty march, intending to see to it that she got to the shuttle bay, come hell or high water.


"Morpheus!!!"

The princess of Hapes screamed at the top of her lungs....

"What a shithole! What the hell are those Hapans doing here anyways?"

"What they're here for is to bring this "shithole" into the Hapan Consortium."

"Whatever, so what's the mission?"

Captain Belnonth smiled. Despite her second-in-commands un-educated demeanor, Master Seargent Vin Lay was really an extremely smart person and all business when it came to his job.

"These are our primaries. They're protected by a single Noghri."

Janet Belnonth passed the files on the three of them over.

"What's the tempermant of the public?" Lay asked.

"Bad. I'm going to be holding second squad in reserve. There definetly is an xenophobic attitude. Also food's scarce. There will be no leave and all our troops will travel in pairs disguised as beggars to protect from thieves."

Vin grimaced. "Why? Anybody try bothering any of our troops and they'll end with a smoking hole for a head."

"We're undercover Vin. No publicly declaring ourselves except if necessary."

"Alright. The Noghri will be good but probably not enough. We should have one team on each of the primaries at all times. They'll change their disguise and rotate enough so the Noghri doesn't know that they're following them." Said Vin.

"Ok. You work up an assignment schedule. Dismissed."

Belnonth and Lay both rose and saluted. Then lay about faced and left the command post.

"So what do you have?"

Soin dropped to the ground beside his partner Corporal Mon.

"That's what do you have sir."

Soin smiled, Jenon Mon and him had been in the same class in the academy but Jenon had been promoted first and he hadn't let Soin forget it.

"Yes sir, Officer Man, sir." Soin said.

"That's right Alex, it's sir and don't you forget it. Now do you see those two in the dark robes over there? They've been following our Hapan friends all afternoon."

"Do you think we should pay them a visit?"

"Exactly. We'll slip out of these rags and go ask them a few questions."

The two soldiers, stood and moved down an alley making sure that it was devoid of life. Then they pulled off their beggar robes revealing combat jumpsuits underneath them. Drawing their standard issue DL-18 sidearms, they crept out of the alleyway. The street was thankfully mostly empty with just the two followers there hurrying after the Hapans who had disapeared around a corner.

"I'd suggest you stop."

Jenon's voice rang out clear and strong. The two followers slowed and stopped then turned to face them. Reaching up with their hands they drew the cowls back from their faces revealing that they were both male. The one on the right had dark brown hair drawn back into a ponytail while the other was shaved completely bald.

Suddenly the one on the right's hand moved for one of the huge pockets on his robe as if to draw a weapon.

"Don't move!" Jeron yelled.

But it had no effect, the man drew out a lightsaber and ignited it.

Alex flinched in surprise. It seemed as if Jeron was right in his assesment that they seemed to be some kind of force users. Hoping that this man was just some poor fool with no talent who happened to own a lightsaber Alex flicked his blaster over to stun mode then fired into his target again and again.

The blaster fired and the air was filled with blue green stun blasts the man on the left tried to run for cover but a sucession of blasts from Jeron's pistol tracked him and he collapsed in a heap. Alex's target swung his lightsaber to block the blasts as Alex tensed to jump aside but he missed and the blasts hit the man, twice in the chest right over his heart.

Alex and Joren pumped two more stun blasts in each of their targets before they ran forward to grab them and drag them off the street. Alex pocketed his targets lightsaber before he dragged him aside.

"Hey Joren, I suggest you get on that comlink of yours and call base."

"I'm already on it." Joren said, all business with no joking around.

Alex slumped down against a wall as he holstered his blaster.

Well this mission just got interesting.

"Ma'am if those guys are sith then we seriously need to get out of here, and come back with a few hundred jedi."

"I think not Vin. Did you see the way those Sith treated each other? It was similar to a Master, Aprentrice relationship. And if the Master can't even block or dodge a stunbolt how good do you think the rest of them are going to be?"

"I don't know ma'am. Guess that's why you're the Captain and I'm just a Seargent."

"That's right Vin. Know I guess that those Sith are going to try and escape, probably using one of those mind tricks of theirs. So we're going to plant those tiny homing beacons that Command provided us for this mission. Then we'll let them escape and storm their command post."

"Yes Ma'am. I'll have Private Soin and Corporal Mon plant the transmitters and then guard them during their escape attempt."

"Good job Vin. Know I only hope these sith are the only surprise we'll get during this mission."