The Rebel Faction

Mathias vacated the room just as quickly as he had entered it, and Leia almost wished that the news that had accompanied his short visit would also have left with his departure.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I don't need this...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

And yet, deep down she had already made her decision.

Her attention turned back to Hespante, who had leveled a heavy scrutinizing gaze upon her. She knew what he was thinking. But at the moment, she intended to see if she could sit up.

Leia realized that she wouldn't be able to use her arms to simply lever herself into a sitting position, as she normally would have done. So she opted to attempt a sit-up. But her entire torso protested as she attemted to lift herself using only her abdominal muscles, and she winced and grunted in pain. That wasn't going to work.

Well, if she couldn't even sit up on her own, she was going to have a hard time convincing certain people of certain intents of hers. She would just have to try something else...

Using minimal movement of her feet, she managed to work the blanket down to her waist, so that she wouldn't get tangled in it. She moved her right arm up to lay on the pillow above her head, and then awkwardly rolled onto her right side, using her legs for leverage. The hardest part of her task accomplished, Leia propped herself up on her right elbow and took an audible breath. In a sudden burst of energy she pushed off of her elbow, moved her legs so that they hung off of the bed... and came into a sitting position on the bedside on Hespante's side, albight a little breathless.

She shot a challenging look at Hespante.

"Give my space on that ship to this girl and that boy... if they already have a place elsewhere, I'm sure there are plenty more just like them that can fill the empty space. I'm staying here. I saw the beginning of this ordeal, I may as well stay to see the end."

She lifted an eyebrow. Hespante's reaction was sure to be interesting... to him it would probably appear that she was irrationally sentencing herself to death, or perhaps even a worse fate.

"If my lightsaber was recovered from the Yuzzhan Vong ship, I would like it brought to me along with whatever sort of clothes you have around here that will fit over all of this... stuff wrapped around me, and a good blaster would be nice as well."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> You'll see...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Roonadan<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Unknown Governmental Facility<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "What do you want from me, Mr. Aramaya?..." <!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Kalatan remained still, listening to Miles's response, and slowly but surely, a wry smile appeared upon his face. Nodding slowly as he replied, as if agreeing to himself, a hoarse chuckle escaped his lips...

"...Ah, yes, the direct approach..."

The leather groaned and creaked , as Kalatan leaned back into his chair. A slight hint of admiration seemed to radiate from his face, as he noted Miles's calm exterior...

"...you obviously inherited your father's insight...I can see why Vinda values you highly..."

His face seemed to grow serious quite suddenly...

"...<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> You<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, Miles, (may I call you Miles?), its you I want... that and to see justice is served..."

He laid his palms flat onto the grand desk in front of him...

"...I want to help, in fact I think we can help each other.."

The Exo's eyes locked themselves onto the Vinda-Corp diplomat...

"..its well known, that you and Mr Vinda are close, and that he regards you very highly. Trusts you implicitly, one could say. Its also a well known fact that in the advent of his .....

(Kalatan paused for a moment, either trying to find the correct word , or to relish the moment, it wasn't clear which..)

...Death....

...You would be the candidate most likely to succeed him, since there are few others he would trust more..."

His eyes seemed to burn with an intensity , that appeared to eminate stronger with every passing word.

"...but he did not count on the truth ever being discovered, and especially not by you..."

Kalatan leaned forward , his eyes narrowing as he spoke...

"...I am offering you your chance to avenge your parents death Miles, to honour them by righting an injustice that had been perpertrated upon them. This is your chance to make things right...you owe it to them, and to yourself...

...work for me Miles, work with me, and stand beside me, we can both ensure this never happens again....

...<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> take over Vinda-Corp, and implode it from the inside!<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

Your parents were the best operatives I have ever had the pleasure to work with, and they were good people, they only wanted to ensure the safety of the citizens of this galaxy...

..this pointless conflict has already caused too much pain and suffering, together we can end it now...."

Kalatan , hung his head , and his voice dropped to barely a whisper...

"...your parents were not the only ones to die in that explosion Miles. My wife was on that shuttle too. kidnapped by Vinda, and held hostage against her will, I sent your parents to help me find her...Never would I have thought Vinda would have stooped to such madness..."

As he finished, Kalatan steadied himself , and sunk back into his chair...

"...you see I have my own reasons to hate this murderer...but now is the time Miles!..."

(His voice took on a sinister tone)

"... I have it on very good authority , that Mr Vinda , shall not be returning from Capricia...at least, not breathing anyway"

As he spoke , he noted the subtle change in expression from Miles...

"... I have just brokered a deal, to ensure Vinda shall not step foot in this sector again...

With you in control over Vinda-Corp we can arrange a hostile take-over, and Vinda-Corp and its assets shall be absorbed into the CSA, and then liquidated, along with Vinda's legacy of deceit. Its perfect, no-one would suspect a thing, and your judgement would be trusted."

The Exo took a moment for Miles to digest all he had said, before continuing...

"....I wanted to meet you face to face, and this is the only way I could do it, without anyone else knowing, without arousing suspicion. I have been a very patient man, waiting for the exact , decisive, right moment...

..and that moment is now, Miles...seize it!"

After finishing , Kalatan clasped his hands together, and with an expectant look upon his face , awaited the diplomats response...

Roonadan

Unknown Governmental Facility

Miles gaze fell away from Aramaya to look onto the lavish room once more, a slight smirk inching its way onto Miles' lips, he thought.

To a man that has everything, but still wants more...

The smirk quickly washed away as Miles returned his gaze to Aramaya, he'd already known. Most would have thought Miles crazy, but he knew what Kalatan would offer, even before it was offered.

Then again, maybe he wasn't offering...

Oh, I'll seize it, just not by your terms, Mr. Aramaya.

Though Miles had felt as if his very being had been ripped apart from him within a matter of minutes, he did not plan to have his wit ripped from him as well.

If there was any reading between the lines to be done, Miles had already done it, long before Aramaya had expected him to.

The young diplomat allowed silence to ensue as he gave much careful thought to Aramaya's so called offer. In reality, he really wasn't giving any thought to what was placed before him, he was just merely letting time pass, but he let Aramaya believe otherwise.

"Very well, Mr. Aramaya, then allow me to have you wait no more. Your offer....

...has been denied."

Miles was aware that the choice he made, could possibly, cost him his life. He was more than willing to fight for his life, rather than to see the fate of Vinda Corp fall into the hands of Kalatan Aramaya...

Capricia


The ashes of the Highlands rose higher than any city before it as the Yuuzhan Vong advance destroyed the Caprician stronghold.


As Tslah Vhess watched as the prisoners were stuck into the ground, held into place by creatures of various sorts, he felt a rush of pride.

Already the slips of skin from his shoulder and back were being sliced to receive the augmentation due him for the victory over this pathetic world.

//The metal monstrosities are now within range, War Coordinator// came a harsh voice of an underling.

Tslah walked through a hall, the carapace protecting his feet clicking against the yorik corral his vessel was comprised of.


He touched the wall to his right and the gelatenous membrane turned transparent enough for him to view the burning of Thessonia and the black cloud issuing forth from the mountains behind.


//The infidels have turned to their machines for hope when their mountains fail. Truly a most foolish faith these animals possess.// A member of the religious caste, replacing Tallien, had approached the silent War Coordinator, clearly making his opinion known to any close enough to hear.

Religious Caste is arrogant and impudent. I would be within my rights to ask and receive this one's life..


Tslah was so close to issuing the command when a villip creature protruding from the membrane came alive.


//We have found the infidel leader and what is left of their warriors.

We have found their machine creator and have detected movement above us. Their vessels still live.// came the monotone report of one of the warrior.


Tslah turned to the warrior's image on the villip and thought a moment.

//There are three cities in space [shipyards] that these Kap reesians are attempting to protect. Remove them. All vessels will be used in this task.

I shall join the warriors and Chazrach in the final breaking of these people.//


The image bowed. //As you command, Coordinator//





Jak'Tol



The news of the Highlands fall fell full force onto Leantre's soldiers as they tried to create a defensive parimeter around the construction yard.

Already, what was left of the mechanized armored divisions were getting organized and the AT AT units shook the ground as they were posted to lay down devestating cover fire on all the flatlands surrounding the yard.

Purposefully, Leantre Clan had built the yard underground to avoid orbital bombardment but they had never counted on an assault as the one coming.


Even so... the defenders numbers were dwindling... for the Leveller's death toll was growing higher and higher..




Herridian... where are you? the old Clannus Prime mourned as he glanced at a dark purple sky.


"Today is Rememberance Day." he whispered to himself as he thought back to the site of Crater Memorial filled with the bodies of the dead. He knew similar is what would befall the Highlands and perhaps themselves as well..

"Life is bitter irony. How did we ever come to rely on ourselves?"




Underwater Facility


"There are no transports that can reach us.." someone said.


Mathias growled, amusing Hespante, "Then how the frell are we to get out of this place? The rail and tunnel were brought down to seal us off from any invaders!"


"Watch and learn.." a tech shouted back causing some to laugh in nervousness.

The medical staff were running like crazy to secure what they could but the reason seemed to elude the soldiers.

Until several techs chatting quickly over the comm system yelled in unison "DETACH!", did Hespante finally realize what was happening.


The entire facility seemed to shake, bringing people and equipment to the floor. As soon as bearings were taken, though, it was clear that the entire structure was moving upward...

as if floating to the surface..


"Keep pressurization shields at maximum and divert all unecessary power to the seals. I do not want us dying on our way to fresh air.." a system engineer yelled out to groups of technicians moving here and there.




Coming from the Coastal Regions...



"Jak'Tol is not far.." Tyscio Korban said to the motley band of survivors following him. They were mostly soldiers from the rail and a few civilians that were well enough to travel.

Every kilometer or so, several would drop to the ground not being able to continue..but Tyscio continued to drive the people hard.

They were going across a stretch of land that had fallen to the invaders and the longer they lingered the greater the chance that they would be found, cut off and finished.


His head still throbbed as he remembered images of a force eminating from his mind. A force that slammed against the oncoming hordes that he was sure would finish him.

When his sight returned, he had been standing in the center of a crater formed out of the fallen bodies of Yuuzhan Vong and Chazrach alike.

The other Capricians had stared at him with a mixture of awe, gratitude and relief. Slowly, one and all seemed to pick Korban as their natural leader and soon his troop began to grow.


He still continued to take in the scattered remains of small military units and divisions that they came across in their dash to the last stand of Capricia.

Some area marked on a map as Jak'Tol Province.


For all Tyscio knew, it was an invader trap but it was their best option presently.

Leia?


His mind still hurt but it was slowly lessening.


He was on the verge of understanding what was happening to him when his force sensitivities began to slowly return.

That confused him. For in that moment, as he was being attacked, it was not the "force" that enabled him to halt their advance, but something else...


Something that felt more... "him". Something that seemed to drive his force awareness and perceptions away.


But why?


Too many questions and not enough time for answers. With each group of people joining their trek, information was coming in on the invaders-turned-occupiers will bent on the slaughter of every Caprician.


None of the cities seemed to be faring well.


And is that any surprise Tyscio!? Especially since this enemy is bent on your destruction, not your domination!


He wondered if anything would be left by the time he and his got to Jak'tol.

"It's a pretty place, Sir." said one civilian. "Green pastures for miles... very flat.. but very green."

Tyscio glanced at his blood and grime encrusted gloves and armor. Beat up as he was, with each passing minute his heart longed to cast it's eyes on a vision of beauty. Something to make him appreciate what they were dying for... what they were protecting...


What we are going to lose... he thought with dispondence.

Mytus VII

Star's End - Inside the facility



* * * *
"...you know how uncomfortable these suits are for me , right?, they don't fit me!..."

As Tumtun moaned at his colleague, Jarell cast a frown in back in his direction...

"...is it my fault you're huge, and have four arms?..."

Tumtun stopped what he was doing and stared towards Jarell highly indignant...

"...well I certainly didn't have much choice in the matter!, its not fair, all these are standard issues for humans, do they give ONE thought about those of us who aren't!..."

As he talked he waved the small Enviro-suit in Jarell's face, and continued his rant, his nose obviously put out of joint...

"...its frellin racist, thats what it is , we're second class!, they don't for one second think about our concerns, yet we are all expected to learn basic!..."

Jarell suddenly regretted his statement...

"...I tell ya!, that Anti-human league had the right idea...got half a mind to join 'em..."

As Tumtun continued his rant... Jarell simply muttered under his breath

"...if you had half a mind that is...."

Pausing mid-rant, Tumtun threw Jarell a sharp glance...

"..what did you say?..."

Jarell responded quickly

"..I said; thats unkind that is!..."

Looking unconvinced, Tumtun's eye's narrowed...and he changed the subject

"...Its probably just the transformers again, why do you need me out there anyway, doesn't take two of us?...what about the repair droids?"

Jarell, nodded , sighing slightly...Although he hated to admit it, Tumtun had a point, in all likelyhood it was the transformers, it was always the transformers, in fact it had become like a daily ritual. He could do it with his eyes closed. Truth of the matter was, he hated going outside alone, he hated going outside period, he was used to hot sunnny beaches, and blue skies, not empty black space...

..and no damned gravity!...

He hated floating about, he was paranoid he would float away...in fact you could say he'd grown quite attached to it ...

"..The repair droids! , you broke the last one, remember!…”

He stared at Tumtun for a moment,who was still struggling with his suit, then sighed loudly, before giving in…

"fine I'll do it myself...Just make sure the door doesn't jam again..."

Tumtun smiled, suddenly, throwing away his unused suit away into the corner ...

"..if anything happens, just shout..."

As he finished fixing his helmet on Jarell nodded, his retort sounded muffled through the comms...

"..don't worry , if anything happens, I'll do more than shout..."

As Jarell walked up to the large air-sealed door , he glanced back to Tumtun waiting for him to operate it, and as it slowly creaked and moaned open, the hiss of escaping air seemed to burst out from all around him...

He gripped tightly onto his toolbox as he stepped gingerly outside, continuing their conversation in his head...



...I'll probably bloody scream...





From behind a rock, barely metres away, Kaneda watched silently as what appeared to be an Espo , emerged from inside the complex and rather clumsily made his way to the Communications array…

…Hook, line and sinker…

Waiting until the guard had moved far enough away, Kaneda moved as quickly and as silently as he could towards the door the guard had just appeared from..

Glancing down at the door lock, he smiled to himself as he pressed for it to open…

With a loud hiss and a rush of air, the door slid aside slowly, and Kaneda stepped in..

Grating loudly as it closed behind him , Kaneda glanced around the small airtight room he found himself in, and took a step back to steady himself as he felt the familiar pull of gravity once more. As the climate-control alarm sounded , Kaneda slowly removed his helmet, and was about to remove the rest of the suit, when he heard a voice come through the comms unit from the next door in front of him.

"…back already!…what did you forget!?…."

Kaneda’s eyes narrowed in response...

...and as the door began to slide open...


…he reached for his blaster…