The Rebel Faction

The Crown Imperial was called the ship of dreams. It was, it really was. On her hull rested the memories of nearly every head of state across the galaxy. No government could claim her, she was a neutral platform where all soldiers, diplomats, and ordinary persons could come to relax and forget about the terrors that lurk behind ever pulsar. Hidden in the shadows are danger and fear, the true demons of the night: on the Crown Imperial they held no favor. Her luxury and elegance from stem to stern gave a lopsided battle and the darkness limped back into the Abyss. As true as her namesake, she embodied stately grace for every passanger who could afford a stateroom, modest accomodations for those of the middle classes, and the most exquisite steerage berths on any ship amongst the stars.


The White Nova Line held a prestigious record for impressive ships and the Crown Imperial made the rest of her fleet-mates appear as scowls. Drifting lazily above Eriadu on her fourth trip of the year, she was surrounded by tenders, cruisers, and various personal craft, the latter of which contained busy eyes, drinking in every detail of her fine lines and almost feminine beauty. She was large than an Imperial- and Victory-class Star Destroyer combined, space for over thirty thousand souls atop a crew a tenth of that within her bulkheads. The Crown Imperial was second to none and accordingly the waiting list for a ticket was quite extensive and held on it some of the most prominent names in the cosmos.


" Magnificent vessel," Rear Admiral-Baron Telan Desaria remarked to no one in particular as he too greedily gazed on the massive passenger liner. His shuttle made a long loop along the port-side around the bow to the landing-bay on the starboard-aft quarter, giving him an excellent view of the sparkling pool below the bridge and the stylish plasma-release funnel with its maneuvering fin. Even I can be impressed.


" Your Excellency," interrupted a voice from behind. Desaria turned to greet it. Malek, his bodyguard, was looking quite upset. " I beg you to reconsider. Please allow me to accompany you - you are not safe here!"


" Lieutenant, I will be fine. I will remain armed at all times; I have the transponder just in case. This is a vacation. You will remain aboard the Prometheus and shadow the ship. Try to relax. Your dedication is noted, but is not required this trip."


" Admiral, we are docking," called the voice from the cockpit. The Rear Admiral smiled and headed aft.


This voyage hasto cheer him up. By the Gods I pray for success, now more than in any battle.


When the shuttle landed inside the glowing shield of the launch bay, the ramp departed and Desaria anxiously awaited another ship's approach: that carrying his mate.

The bag flew threw the air to roughly land atop the increasingly large pile in Steda's arms. Moving his body around abit, he did his best to distribute the weight before he was sent sprawling to the floor on his back. This was getting to be a servere nuisance.

"Uhm Sir, I really wouldn't mind if you told me to take a vacation on Mon Calamari or something. I've always found the water planet to be a luxury. I mean really Sir...." Steda grunted as yet another heavy bag was launched into his arms." Mon Cal can be fun."

"Commander, you are far too long over-due for a vacation. You're taking one whether you want it or not. That's an order." Throwing his gaze around the room that General Tempho himself had paid for, the senior military man locked his eyes on the door. "Now get out of my room and into yours before I'm forced to hit you. This ship is easily large enough for us to not see each other until the end of the journey. That is also an order. If I see any sight of you I might have to break military command. You're a good man Steda, you deserve a break. Take it, you don't know when the next one will be."

A hint of dissapointment showed in Steda's eyes as he made his way to the door. How on Naboo could he be here when the New Republic needed what men it could get. It seemed so unfair that he should get a holiday while other men got death. He didn't want to die but he wanted, at least, to be there fighting with his brothers. Fighting the Empire.

As he weaved his way through streams of passengers aboard the luxurious ship the thoughts seemed to endlessly pour within his mind. His entire body seemed to be in two parts whenever he thought of his career in the military. It felt so right to be fighting for peace but it felt so wrong with the lack of other things for him. He wanted to know love. To look into anothers eyes and see an eternity of endless passion and a mixture of feelings so strong that they could not be broken.

It seemed a horrible shame that even in a military as kind as the New Republic, love was still something that military personnel should not mix with work. Steda had no life outside the military, therefore he had no oppertunity to find love.

It came with a slight shock that he bumped into a large Quarren. So lost in his thoughts had he been that he had not even noticed his arrival at the deck of his room. Muttering his apoligies to the disgruntled alien he unlocked his door. Entering his room that was both luscious yet small at the same time. He decided a walk to the promonade deck would make for a good excuse to explore his surroundings. With a heavy heart he set off.

Observation Deck

Steda watched in a state of mixed feelings as The Crown Imperial moved away from the cluster of surrounding ships and began the start of its long journey. As he gazed off into the serenity of space a man briskly approached him from behind. With his eyes traveling over the distant correlations of stars and his mind did it's best to work out which constellations he'd been to he gave no thought to the man getting closer. As soon as the mysterious man was within striking distance he spun on his heel and drew into a form of military combats, preparing to defend himself. It was only when he noticed the look of shock upon the mans features and the White Nova Line uniform that he wore that Steda allowed his posture to relax.

"Forgive the intruding sir, I'm here at the Captain's request." The man raised his chest in pride." You are cordially invited to dine with the Captain and a select few at tonights dinner. The dress is formal and you are expected at Six. Though of course if you do not wish to attend that is entirely your choice however this is a rare opportunity."

Steda mixed the thought around in his head. Though he despised sitting around with dignitaries talking about how the galaxy should be run it seemed like a chance that might not repeat itself any time too soon. After all it was very rare that a common Commander in the New Republics forces was asked to eat with men of higher rank than himself. Staring at the crewman he asked the first question that came to his mind.

"Why would the Captain wish to dine with me?"

"Why, I do believe that the recommendation was made by one General Tempho."

Typical Tempho style. It seemed sometimes that the General had made it his personal mission to force Steda into engaging in areas that weren't military related. With a sigh Steda decided that perhaps the man was right. His life seemed to be one military campaign after another.

"You may tell your Captain that I shall be there."

"Very good Sir. Have a pleasant evening."

As the crewman walked off, no doubt in search of others who would be asked to join the Captain that night, Steda threw one last look at the stars he loved. Deep within himself he made a vow. One day, maybe not for a long time, but one day I shall visit many of you. Joining the mainstream of traffic that were headed down the corridors, Steda set off for his room to get changed.

* * * *

Dining Hall

The Captains table was, to say the least, beyond extravagant. Designed to seat twelve it was not the largest table in the dining hall but it was easily the most expensive. It was in a state of slight awe that Steda seated himself with the nine others. Each of the people sat around him seemed completely at ease, yet Steda himself was so overwhelmed by the sheer luxury at which he would be dining that he found himself feeling extremely out of place. It was clear from the way his company acted that they were no strangers to dining with important people. He was focusing so much on his thoughts that he failed to even take true note of the fact that he was siting next to two Imperials.

From the grand wooden doors that opened one of the corridors into hall, the Captain strode forward, dressed in his full uniform. He briskly walked over to his table and nodded at each of his guests who rose in greeting to him. Seating himself at the head of the table, the others followed suit, he cleared his throat.

"As you may have noticed we await only the arrival of our last two guests. I am more than pleased to inform you that tonight we shall be dining with none other than Rear Admiral Desaria and his partner ."

Like Steda, everyone at the table knew the name of the Admiral. His exploits were spoken of so often on the holo-net that his name, on some planets, had become house-hold used. Though the stories you heard of the man varied greatly from planet to planet. As did his reputation.

"And alas, here is the man himself." The Captain rose from his seat and gazed over at two doors opposite to where he had entered. First to emerge from the grand corridor came a well dressed man that, had one not already seen his image on the holo-net, was easily recognizable as a Rear Admiral simply from the way in which he held himself. Behind him, seemingly attempting to hide in his lovers shadow, came a stunningly beautiful man.

Far inside Steda's body his stomach was churning as it hastily jumped around. His heart seemed to be pumping so loudly that it blocked all sound from his ears and he felt as if he'd just been plunged deep into space. As Desaria and Markus arrived at the table the Rear Admiral offered a tight smile to all gathered before launching straight into a conversation with the Captain. Mirroring that of his lover, Markus did the same. When his eyes fell upon Steda, Steda could of sworn the smile became slightly warmer. His cheeks suddenly flushed red and he was forced to look away. Had someone just turned the heating up eight notches?

As the night edged further and further on, as the men drank more and more Endorian port, as the food was ordered and served Steda constantly found his eyes drawing back to Markus. Several times he conversed with a Mon Calamari on his right side yet throughout the conversation he would find himself only half paying attention to the Mon Cal. No matter how hard he tried Steda could not shake his thoughts away from the young man opposite him. Whether Markus was laughing at a joke that had just been told or listening intently to someone talk about a fascinating piece of art that had just been discovered he never once lost the warmth that filled his eyes or the smile on his face. Only once did Steda notice that smile falter, when Desaria chose what meal his lover would have that night.

Feeling full from the wonderful food that had graced his plate that evening, Steda rose alongside and announced that he would retire for the evening. Realizing that he might have no further opportunities to see the angel that had sat across from him Steda decided for once in his life, to act on the moment. While Desaria was speaking to a waiter that had came to take the dirty dessert plates away Steda lent down beside Markus and whispered in his ear.

"I don't know about you but I find this stuff incredibly boring. I have it on good advice that there's a party down on E-deck tonight. If you feel like meeting for a drink there I'll be arriving at about Ten." Raising himself back up Steda turned, thanked his host for a great night and departed with a great deal of others.

Strange, Steda thought as he tilted his head forward then moved it backward again. He'd been standing in the same spot for nearly eleven minutes, his gaze affixed to the pattern on the wall before him. When he moved forward the pattern became a series of diamonds but when he moved backward it became a group of squares. Hs mind was a nervous wreck as he waited in hope that the man he had only briefly met before would meet him. Every now and then he would throw a look to the watch around his wrist. Ten o clock had come and gone, then five past ten then ten past ten. It was twenty minutes after the time he had suggested to Markus that they meet when he finally gave up and decided to leave. He had just began to walk away when he heard the voice.

"You're a brave man, mister - guess that comes with the uniform. I'm Mark."


He turned to look at the speaker. The sight that met his eyes was such a luxury to him that he suddenly found his voice was missing.

"Did I say something wrong?" Markus said, a slightly worried look perched on his face.

"Uhm, yes...I..uhm....I. Sorry, my thoughts were somewhere else. So, you made it then? I didn't think you would. You seemed nice and all but.... I mean your nice, I wasn't trying to say your not I... I just thought. Do you mind if we start again?" Steda's brain seemed to have gone into overload. The words that entered his head became jumbled and mixed. Why did Markus have this strange effect on him?

"Go for it." Replied Markus, a knowing smile upon his face.

"You're loving this aren't you?" Questioned Steda as he bared a grin at the gorgeous guy.

"Just a little," Markus teased, "so, this party then, where is it?"

"Just down here. Follow me." Steda turned and walked down the corridor with a new bounce in his step. He couldn't help but keep thinking about the way Markus was acting. Did he know that Steda liked him? Could he tell somehow? What of his Imperial lover? He didn't even notice that he'd walked five doors past the room of the party.

"Are you sure this is the right way?"Markus queried. "It's just the room back there had alot of music coming from it and was fairly crowded."

"Oh...uhm, yeah. That would be the room." Steda turned a face red from embarrassment on Markus. "Shall we?"

Together they returned to the room a few doors back and entered. If noise could be attributed to how fun a party could be then the room they had entered would be in the top ten. With loud music from planets such as Corellia and Coruscant blaring out, with loud people screaming out as they enjoyed themselves and drunken species rambling around the room the noise pressed heavily against their ear drums.

Steda turned to see a small smirk playing on Markus' lips. "Well, it could be fun."

Leading Markus to a table Steda sat down and ordererd them both drinks. They'd been sat there for near on thirty minutes, making casual conversation, when Markus uttered the dreaded words.

"So are you going to ask me o dance then?"

"Uhm,...well...Do you want to?"

"Sure Mr confident."

Pulling on Steda's arm Markus led him to the middle of the room where species from every planet imaginable where dancing. As they weaved their way through the others a fast and powerful tune began to issue from the large speakers on the walls. Unsure as to where his sudden confidence was cming from Steda winked at Markus and immediatley launched into a highly embarrasing and easily laughable dance routine. Though he could barely keep inline with the music and was constantly stepping on Markus' feet, Steda could help but warm greatly at the sight of the smile that played on Markus' lips.

Acting on impulse, the New Republic Commander gently lent forwards and pressed his lips against those of the artist he had already come to adoure. Though the kiss lasted no more than seconds a warm feeling spread from the tips of Steda's fingers to the ends of his toes. It seemed to last forever, when suddenelly he felt Markus go stiff and push him away.

"I'm sorry," Steda quickly said, backing away, "I don't know what came over me"

Bringing his gaze up from the floor which he had hurried to look at, Steda expected to find a look of hurt or anger upon Markus' face. Instead, all he saw was a mix of shock and horror. It was almost as if he had walked in on a pair of mating Hutts. Markus' eyes were fixed intently on a man who had just entered the room of the party. A man who was easily recognisable as an Imperial bodyguard.

"Markus, please, tell me what's wrong!", Steda's question held just a hint of fear. So far Markus had seemed nothing but bubbly and fun, what was so bad about seeing an Imperial here that it had caused him to become almost paralyzed, "Do you know that Imperial? Markus!!"

Markus suddenly seemed to flick back into reality, the shouting of his name bringing him out of his trance.

"We have to leave! Now!!! Please Commander, we have to go now!"

"Commander!! Oh come on Markus, you can call me Steda, I wont bite"

"Fine, Steda, please we have to leave!"

"Why," Behind Steda lots of commotion seemed to be building up. It appeared that Imperial was now shouldering his way through the crowd, knocking aside anyone in his way. Heading Directly for where Steda and Markus had momentarily been kissing just a minute before.

"Ok, I think I might just be able to live with that decision, in fact the probability of living probably rises with it. RUN!!" The last part was nothing more than an all out shout, which for obvious reasons was picked up by most of the occupants in the room, all of which seemed to assume the shout had been directed toward them. For a couple of minutes everyone in the near vicinity seemed to remain motionless, the only sound came from the band and those nearby, the next second, everyone was running, pushing and shoving their way toward the doors.

Running through a crowded area is hard enough, running through a crowded area where everyones trying their hardest to head in the same direction as yourself is far beyond that. One second Markus' hand was was being gripped tightly by Steda's hand, the next he was being pushed right back to Telan's bodyguard, and Steda was no where to be seen. There was no disputing that Malek was used to commotion like that surrounding him. He seemed to be sweeping through the crowd faster than anyone else and within Markus found himself within Malek's grasp.

"Let me go you scumbag, let me GO!!" Shouted Markus, furious at Malek. He tried his hardest to grab, kick and punch at Malek, but it was all to no avail. Every direction his flailing limbs moved in, was the one that Malek had just moved from.

"I'm taking you back to Baron Desaria, you can tell him all about what you were doing here tonight, and then maybe he'll see sense and get rid of you!"

"Try it idiot" Shouted a voice.

Turning around, Markus still firmly in his grip, Malek scanned the crowd for the person who had dared disagree with him. Before he knew it Steda's fist was flying toward his face, suddenly knocking him backward into the still rushing crowd and causing him to lose his hold on Markus. Grabbing Markus' hand, Steda all but dragged him to the exit.

"Which way do we go now Steda?"

"Deck Four, route thirty eight. There's a well hidden little cargo bay there, right near the hyper drive. I don't think guests are exactly allowed down there, but then again we've probably broke enough rules so far that one more can't hurt."