The Rebel Faction

[font=Verdana]Jan sighed as he read the information that was on his datapad. Recently accessed from the Galactic Coalition Military High Command it showed that the military was in sore shape. After the war funding for the military had been cut drastically. And because the war had cut down on the amount of personnel in the military, all the new personnel had to be fully trained. This cost a lot of money and it just hadn't happened for the military. Once the Outer Rim Sovereignty had joined the Galactic Coalition and brought it fleet and personnel with it funding had been increased, but not to the levels that it had been since the war. As well the Outer Rim Sovereignty had been forced to surrender large portions of its fleet to various governments, which had left it with too many military personnel. Then a Ruling Council decision further cut down the number of ships in the fleet. While this allowed all ships to be at their maximum crew levels, there were still a lot of excess personnel. For most this meant early retirement packages, or ERPs, but this had a couple unforeseen consequences. The older, more experienced commander and personnel were given ERPs and the military was left with what essentially was a force made up of new recruits. These recruits had been trained, but studies showed that they were not up to par compared to other governments’ militaries. As well a lot of the crewmen and officers who were given ERPs then went on welfare, as there were too many of them all at once for them to all go into civilian transport services, as many of them wanted to. Now the military wanted more money and had even written up a plan to show what the money would be sent on. There was an excess of one thousand to two thousand meter main line battleships in the military compared to command ships, large main line battleships and escort ships. Therefore the military wanted to place some of the one thousand to two thousand meter main line battleships in dry dock and then build some more escort ships, as well as a couple new large main line battleships which would end up serving as command ships for some sectors. As well they would then produce new training centers for the military on numerous worlds. To run these new training centers they would use a lot of the men would have been given ERPs, which would take them off welfare and help train the troops. They generally ignored the state of the army, which was terrible, but they felt that if they had a good enough fleet they would be able to stop the enemy from landing and wouldn’t have to worry about their army.<O:p</O:p[/font]

[font=Verdana]<O:p</O:p[/font]

[font=Verdana]Jan began preparing the arguments that he would bring to the Ruling Council in favor of this new plan. He had long been the spokesperson for the military in the Ruling Council and he knew of some of the arguments that would be brought against him. Some of the members would argue that a large military wasn’t need and that their military was strong enough as is. However he could point to various incidents where they military hadn’t been able to do anything against threats arrayed against them. At Honoghr the Black Dragon Empire had forced them Galactic Coalition to flee. This technically broke the peace treaty they had with the Galactic Coalition but the military had been too weak to do anything about it. Now the Black Dragon Empire had Mon Calamari, the capital, cut off from the rest of the Galactic Coalition. In another area of the galaxy, at Lorize, the Imperials blockaded the planet and had it completely surrounded by enemy forces and the military had been forced to sit back and do nothing. This was obviously not the act of a strong military. That would be able to convince most of the councilors of the necessity of having a strong military. With that one argument Jan should be able to convince the Ruling Council to vote for the bill and pass it, though it wouldn’t be passed unanimously.<O:p</O:p[/font]

OOC: More too come soon.

<B>The Planet Teth.</b>

The Imperium's task force consisting of two <I>Kessel</I>-class Pickets, two <I>Cutter</i>-class Gunships, one <I>Shoto</I> battlecruiser, and one Tion Star Destroyer-- six vessels in all-- had gathered in orbit around the sixth planet of the Kessel Sector, where it would not so readily attract attention. A <a href="http://www.therebelfaction.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5572">Dragon Corvette</a> was the last to join them and was one of the smaller ships, save for the Pickets and the Gunships. The Corvette was dwarfed by Captain Pakpek's command ship, the Tion Star Destroyer <I>Gaheris</i>.

"Priest Alex Cross," said a young-sounding voice from a Falleen clad in black uniform. "This is Lieutanant Xixon, officer of the day. We've just got word from the Tethian Governor-- they have been expecting you, sir. Would you like us to relay the message you will be meeting with the Tethians on the surface?"

The Daemun priest stepped forward with staff in hand and nodded to the small holoprojection on the bridge. "Yes, Lieutanant. Inform your Captain that I will have my private shuttle escort me to the coordinates given. Tell them I am eager to discuss negotiations for the annexation of Teth into the Black Dragon Empire."

"Yes, sir." The hologram faded from view, followed by a subsequent silence.

"Commander, escort me to the hangar bay, and have the new Soldier MK I's accompany me to the surface."

<B>Surface of Teth</b>

The <a href="http://www.therebelfaction.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2004">MK I</a> bodyguards fell in beside the Daemun priest as he stepped down from the boarding ramp of the Tion shuttlecraft. There were four of them, and their appearances were all the same-- tall, broad shouldered, alert-eyed, and silent.

One of them was plugged into a backpack full of electrical and chemical sensors. It was his job to make sure no bomb, poison, pathogen, radiation, or microdroid harmed him. The MK I's preceded him around corners, through doors, and into closed spaces.

High Regent, Sully Anre, had gotten the chief of security to order the protection and had won a reluctant promise from the priest to accept it.

Alex Cross had learned to pretend they weren't there, even when they shared a liftcar, a transport, or a slidewalk with him. He didn't want to learn their real names or to become friendly with them-- his promise didn't extend that far. He wanted them to be furniture.

The only time he acknowledged their presence was when one of them silently signaled an alarm. Then he would let the others guide him to whatever sheltered spot they chose, and would wait there until the MK I satisfied itself that there was no threat. It happened often enough that it no longer startled him, but infrequently enough that it was only a minor annoyance.

Still, Alex never expected it to happen while he was walking along the royal corridor, just outside the walls of the governor's chamber.

One moment he was striding briskly past a holo statuary, robes flowing, his mind sorting through what he knew about the Tethians. Then, in an eyeblink, one of the MK I's sharply raised its hand and another pushed Alex sideways into one of the niches where the pillar between it and the next offered cover.

Then, just as suddenly, it was over. "Clear," the MK I said in its emotionless voice, moving aside to allow Alex to emerge from the niche. Frowning crossly, the priest hurried after the Daemun super-soldier and demanded to know what had prompted the alarm.

"I detected a new energy field at the entrance to the Governor's Hall," the MK I said, pointing its cybernetic hand. "It became active as we approached."

Still frowning, Cross strode a few dozen steps farther down the corridor, then stopped short when the double doors opened before him.

Governor Yar emerged from the shadow of a pillar to Alex's left and showed a toothy, self-satisfied smile. "Ah, Priest Alex Cross of the Black Dragon Empire."

He gestured him and his guards inside. "Welcome to Teth..."

Undisclosed time, undisclosed location, undisclosed purpose.

Ferguson Mumphs went over the papers again. "You're sure about this?"

The Wing-Commander nodded vigorously "We've got the reports. I'd heard something about renewed interest in Fwillsving and Teth, although I'm not sure why or who. Anyways, we have a lot of agents stationed that way since its' right near the BDE/GC boarder and there's been tension there anyways.

"I've checked my sources, and they confirm - the Black Dragon Empire must've somehow found out about our interest beforehand and is already heading that way."

"You're sure its' not just a coincidence, or a social call?" asked Ferguson as he left the room. The Wing-Commander kept pace.

"No sir, they've definetly marshalled at least something in the way of military vessels to accompany them. They don't seem to make much effort to hide their movements, I don't think they even have a real Intelligence Agency."

"You better be right about this."

"I'm positive sir."

"No, I want you to be right."

Ferguson picked up his Comm-unit and carefully adjusted the frequency. "Put me through to Regrad's office."

There was a pause. "This is Ferguson. We've recieved news, its' about Teth and Fwillsving... Its' code Yellow... No, I don't know how they found out... It's definetly not a leak, sir, I know my-... Yes, I'll look into it. But what do we do now?... Should I call?... So we're not going to... All right, I'll have two teams ready."

He put the Comm down. "This is going to get worse before it gets better."

________________________________________________________________

Present, Place: Teth, Purpose: Emergancy delegation deployed.

It was a little later then the Black-Dragon group. Despite having gone directly to Regrad, and Regrad having pulled together the operation quickly and without rest, the Black Dragon Empire had simply had too much of a head-start.

Coming out of hyperspace near Teth, the Coalition fleet - carefully outfitted and marked as a diplomatic escort - appeared.

It was barely a moment before the Coalition force opened hailing frequencies as urgently as possible to both the Black Dragon force and the Teths.

"Is this thing on?" asked Yolem, commander of the force. "Good. Greeting Black Dragons and Tethians. I have been requested to appear here at the behest of the Coalition Government. We are here to send our own diplomatic delegation - one we were planning to send, and due to recent developments have decided to send sooner. Our forces here are merely to provide a counterbalance of equal protection to our diplomats - whatever it is that Teth has that has worried the Black Dragons to bring so many vessels we would probably need to be wary of as well."

The Coalition forces quickly prepared to deploy their own delegation.

________________________________________________________________

The force that appeared near Fwillsving was less diplomatic. As was its' commander.

"This is Regrad, current commander of the Coalition Expeditionary Force. We have recieved reports of large ship-movements in this area and as such I have ordered a deployment of vessels to ensure no foul play. We request negotiations to take place immeadietly."

Regrad sat back in his chair and turned to Ferguson. "Think it'll work?"

Ferguson shrugged. "It better."

The Past – Chalacta




“Regent Logan!”

Darin Cassius smiled broadly as the middle-aged uniformed man, who happened to lead a powerful government based on Almania, walked down the ramp of the shuttle, flanked by six blue and white-clad soldiers.

Logan nodded politely, returning the smile, “Ambassador Cassius. It’s very nice to finally meet you in person.”

Cassius retained his smile, shaking hands with the New Alliance regent, “It is an honor, sir. Is there anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable?”

“All I require is a bed and a desk.” Logan said diplomatically as the two began walking toward an open-roofed speeder bearing the symbol of the Chalactan government.

“Of course, Regent. The speeder will take you to the embassy.” Cassius said as both men climbed into the back of the vehicle. The New Alliance ceremonial guard climbed into their own speeders, flanking the one carrying the regent.

“Will the Triumvirate be meeting today?” Logan asked the speeder pulled away from the landing platform and headed into Chalacta’s main city, Taloor.

“Yes. They are anxious to meet you, as well as discuss the alliance between the New Alliance and Chalactan Commonwealth.” Cassius said as the speeder and it’s escorts turned onto the main road of Taloor.

“Good. We have spent six months with these negotiations.” Logan said, “I hope to get it over with and move on. We have other matters we need to focus on.”

“I completely understand.” Cassius. Ever the diplomat, said, “We also wish to finish with the accord as soon as possible.”

Logan did not look at him, instead admiring the architecture of the city, “Good.”


The speeder made its way through a crowded marketplace, forcing it and the escorts to slow down to avoid hitting shoppers.

“Is it always this busy?” Logan asked.

“Yes. This is one of the few running markets we have in Taloor. With the war with Sneeve, our economy has suffered greatly.” Cassius replied sadly.

Logan didn’t reply, looking about the marketplace.


The scream was their only warning.






***





The marketplace was swarming with native Chalactans. Logan tried to recall if he had ever met one before the New Alliance entered into negotiations with the Chalactan Commonwealth. He realized that he hadn’t, and that these people were mostly alien to him. They were human, but they acted different. They were perhaps the most religious human civilization Logan had ever encountered.

Religion dominated their government, all the way to the top leaders, the shadowy group of two men and one woman called the “Triumvirate”.

Logan didn’t even know their names, as the Chalactans considered them too blessed and sacred to be spoken. He found it highly annoying, but he could do nothing but accept it.

He glanced about the area. Logan noticed that a lot of them wore nothing but rags, while a select few were dressed in richly colored clothing. He knew that the Chalactan social structure was steeped in a class system, like many thousands of other worlds. It was sad, and the New Alliance regent’s heart went out to the many millions of poor Chalactans.

Chalacta was devastated a year before, when the Chalactan Commonwealth, consisting of Chalacta and a few nearby colonies, went to war with nearby Sneeve.

It all started when the Chalactan Commonwealth attempted to colonize a world called Delaya which was located near Sneeve. The Sneevel Monarchy took offense and sent their own colonization force to Delaya, but armed with a military escort.

The Sneevel drove the Chalactans, who actually settled Delaya first, off the world, sparking a war.

A great battle took place over Delaya, but the Chalactans were defeated by the superior Sneevel forces, who then took their warships to Chalacta. When the New Alliance heard about the battle over Delaya, and the Chalactan’s plight, they began supplying the Chalactan Commonwealth with planetary defenses, weapons, and money. With that aid, the Chalactans were able to defeat the Sneeve warships.

With both sides devastated and the war at a standstill, the new Alliance offered to be a mediator and form a truce.

The Treaty of Almania (named after the TNA planet the treaty was signed on) brought both sides into an uneasy peace. But each side still distrusted each other, and a tense feeling had settled over the region.

Logan now looked out, in sadness as the victims of the war tried to pick themselves back up, and move on with their lives.


“Yes. This is one of the few running markets we have in Taloor. With the war with Sneeve, our economy has suffered greatly.”

Logan was about to reply when a blasterbolt sliced through the air, killing the Chalactan driver instantly. The speeder swerved wildly, crashing into an antiques booth.

Logan looked around, dazed but alert. The New Alliance and Chalactan escorts piled out of their speeders, forming a tight perimeter around the crashed vehicle. Logan looked over at Cassius, who had a bloody gash across his temple.

“Are you alright?” Logan asked, ripping a piece of his sleeve off, placing it over the ambassador’s wound, stopping the blood.

Cassius groaned, “I… I think so….”

A knock on the other side of the vehicle made Logan turn his head to see what was going on. As he did so, another blaster bolt slammed into the headrest where his head had been. Logan crouched as the guards aimed their weapons at a spot on the roof of a building a few hundred yards away. At once, twelve ceremonial blasters fired, striking something Logan could not see. After a moment, one of the guards took the place of the dead driver, speeding the vehicle away.



***


“Such a cowardly and ghastly attack. Regent Logan, please accept the deepest apologies of the Chalactan Commonwealth.”

Logan leaned against the podium slightly as he looked in the direction of the three seated members of the Chalactan Commonwealth Triumvirate, “Thank you for your kind words.” He said neutrally.

His aides, along with Captain Neychev onboard Logan’s orbiting flagship Keerow, had wanted him to return to the safety of the vessel and continue negotiations via Holonet. Logan had declined, “I do not want these assassins to think I am some sort of coward. We will stay until we are finished here.”


“Now let us get down to business.” The only woman in the Triumvirate, whom Logan had nicknamed “Maria”, said.

“As we have stated before, the New Alliance is willing to offer you economic aid, as well as military aid, in exchange for an alliance the Chalactan Commonwealth.” Logan said.

He had stated this hundreds of times before in the months of negotiations with the Triumvirate. They took an excruciatingly long time to make decisions, instead deferring to their religion before making them.

Logan had always believed that an effective government kept religion and government separate, as one could disrupt or corrupt the other.

He knew that is why the Chalactans were so devastated by the war. Their commanders were not allowed to make any decisions without consulting with the priests. The Sneevel knew this, and had exploited it.

“What does an “alliance” entail?” Maria asked.

Logan held back a sigh. They were going over the same issues that they had gone over weeks ago, “Free trade between our member worlds, and yours. Military support, as well as technology exchange, among other things.”

Maria sat back in her throne-like chair, conversing privately with the two Chalactan male Triumvirate members flanking her.

“We need time to refer to High Priest Damon.” Maria said.

Logan wanted to shout, yell, and slam his fists on the podium. But for the sake of preserving ties to a prospective ally, he held back. Instead he nodded, “Of course.”

Present - Onyx





"...High Lord Damon has assured the galactic community that no Sneevel were harmed in the recent agricultural projects."

Logan watched with interest as the holonews report continued, "Opponents of the projects contend that the so-called Operation Food Source is really a biowar on the Sneevel, and is allegedly killing hundreds of thousands of Sneeve's population. High lord Damon's office insists that Food Source is a huge effort to reduce ecological damage to Sneeve, which was incured by the Chalactan Military during the final battle of Sneeve."


Logan stroked his face as the news reports changed to a new topic, "Now, our Coalition correspondent, Drak Theo, reports on new developments."

"Thank you, Raine. I am on Azguard right now, where a high level meeting of the House of Representatives is taking place on the Chalactan-Sneeve conflict. Days ago, the Sneevel petitioned the Coalition for membership, and at the same time declaring Sneeve an independent and sovereign planet. The House is meeting on whether or not to admit the Sneevel.

"The leader of the Chalactan Commonwealth, High Lord Damon, contends that Sneeve is a member of the Chalactan Commonwealth and that under it's constitution, Sneeve cannot renounce membership. General Botosh, leader of the Sneevel Remnant, which governs what is left of Sneeve's population, insists that membership in the commonwealth was enforced on Sneeve, and not actually accepted..."


The holonews eventually dropped the story and moved on, leaving Logan deep in thought. The last time he had been on Chalacta, the triumvirate had informed him that it was rejecting the New Alliance pact, and had decided to remain independent.

Logan always suspected Damon was behind that.

A mysterious figure, and leader of the Chalactan faith, all Chalactans, including the Triumvirate, looked to him for guidance. This more or less gave him control of the entire planet. All major decisions went through him first, as was their custom.

But after Logan and the New Alliance had left, Damon abolished the Triumvirate and declared himself the head of the Chalactan Commonwealth. He then launched a heavy assault on Sneevel forces and forced them back to Sneeve. Chalactan forces then laid waste to the planet, obliterating entire cities and murdering thousands of innocents.

No one protested, and the galaxy sat back and watched the atrocities that had been committed per Damon’s orders. Logan had felt some guilt over it, and regretted his decision not to challenge Damon when the High Lord had first ordered him off Chalacta.




Those were perilous times . Logan thought.




Hell. Every day was perilous.



Some days he regretted his own retirement. Every day was spent in idle rest, not doing anything. Occasionally he would go out to the Great Forest and speak with the Onyxians, who were now thriving due to the trade agreement with the Coalition and citizens of New Stonia. Already the Onyxians had moved out of their primitive tents and were busy building prefabricated buildings, drastically growing their camps into villages. Logan would speak with them, and listen to their complaints, and then bring it to the attention of the Coalition garrison or the New Stonia governor.

It was an easy life.

Logan sighed. It was a restless life.

He remembered the old days, when each day brought something new. Some new world discovered, new civilization encountered. A new battle won or lost. New ships, old ships, new bases, new births.

When he had left his brief service to the Empire, and returned to his beloved Onyx, he had wanted those days to be over with. He had wanted to live out the rest of his life in peace, not in war.



Why did he feel restless, then?


Those thoughts were on his mind as he drifted off to a deep sleep.



***






“Sad… so sad…”

He was floating…weightless in space…

He opened his eyes… and saw a faint blue light in the distance…

He swam toward it as the blue light changed its shape… into that of a person…

It was a woman.


“Keira?” Logan asked, as the shock of seeing his long dead wife gave way to curiousness.

He was no longer floating. This time he was waist deep in some sort of brownish liquid, surrounded by flames. He began walking toward the ghostly apparition, but the liquid impeded his progress, forcing him to move slowly.

His wife inclined her head, and smiled, “Sorrow… so much pain and sorrow…” Her voice barely above a whisper. The crackling of the flames forced him to lean in to hear her words.

She smiled again. A smile lacking mirth.

The flames began to shimmer, and then they took shape. Each lick of the flames transformed itself into…


Faces.


In the flames, Logan could see hundreds of faces.


Thousands.


Hundreds of thousands.


He looked back to Keira.


“These are the ones who you have sent to their doom!” She shouted at him.

Logan continued on through the liquid, although he had no desire to do so. He tried to stop, to stand still, but his legs did not respond to his commands. Instead they continued their slow progress.

In the flames he could see familiar faces. He recognized soldiers in Rogue Empire uniforms. He recognized those in Sovereignty uniforms.

Imperial stormtroopers stared back at him. Their cold, bone white helmets stared at him.

The old soldier continued on, moving through toward the floating, glowing apparition, who stared at him mirthlessly, “Who are you?” She asked.

He made no response. He wanted to say something, but his body was not his own.

“WHO ARE YOU?!”

Muscles strained to speak, but he could not say a word.


“YOU WILL BE KILLED BY YOUR OWN SONS!”


And still he walked.







Chalacta



“Senator…”

Senator Brand looked up from the mountain of datapads on his desk. After identifying the speaker, he stood, “High Lord Damon. What a surprise.”

Clad in black and red robes of the Chalactan Enlightenment religion, Damon glared at Senator Brand, “Indeed. I have come to check on your progress dealing with the Coalition infidels. Along with this Sneevel Remnant.” He said, spitting the last word out contemptuously.

A tall man of just less than two meters, Damon had close-cropped black hair, and the facial adornments of an Enlightened one. He had risen from a mere priest to the leader of the faith in just two short years. After solidifying his power, he had ruthlessly disbanded the Triumvirate and had his enemies destroyed.

Except for Senator Brand.

“We have sent several transmissions to the Coalition, querying them on their deliberations…” Brand started to say when Damon cut him off.

“Nonsense. I am sure they will send one of their warfleets here to enforce their will on us. As they have to many others.” Damon said, as he began pacing the room.

Brand sighed to himself. He had been quietly opposing Damon on almost every issue that had come up. When Damon has seized absolute power, the Chalactan Senate had become more of a discussion group with extremely limited power. Where they used to control the entire Commonwealth, they now had subsided to a more advisory role to Damon.

Brand was the leader of the opposition to Damon. He was also a leading member of a quite resistance of Chalactan fighters determined to reclaim their world and government. Other notable members of the resistance included the former members of the Triumvirate. The resistance spread out over several dozen Chalactan cities and quietly waited for the time to strike against Damon and his religious fanatics.

Damon continued on and on about the Coalition “cowards” trying to steal Sneeve away from him. Brand tuned him out, as he had done a thousand times. In fact, no such transmissions had been made to Azguard, and Brand secretly hoped the Coalition was voting to move against Damon and accept Sneeve’s membership application.

While Damon was readying his forces for an all out “holy war” on the Coalition, the Chalactan resistance could make their move. Damon would be distracted and his forces would be busily preparing their warships.

As Damon’s economic policies affected the Chalactans negatively, the resistance had grown astronomically. They had troops onboard warships and in the shipyards, as well as on Sneeve. Brand had actually just finished negotiating with the Sneevel Remnant (survivors of Damon’s atrocities and orbital bombardment). The Chalactan Resistance and the Sneevel Remnant had just become secret allies in the coming battle against Damon. It was Brands’s task, when the time came, to coordinate the uprisings on both planets.

All Brand needed was for the Coalition to come to the Sneevel’s aid…

Damon finished his rants and left the office, threatening retribution on Brand if he failed in the negotiations with the Coalition.


We’ll see. Brand thought.