The Rebel Faction

Lash smiled and took a drink of the Brandi. he had watched Rob take a drink and eat the fruit. He knew the man only did it out of necessity and respect yet he felt the man was hiding something.

"Forgive me, I have many names. To my crew I am Commander or sometimes Admiral. To my friends I am know as Lash, To the Chiss Ascendancy I am known as Excommunicated or plain Exhaled. To the people of the Elysian Sector I am known as Savior. I was born Stela'shlit'ornfra then after my time at Rhigar I was forever know as Stela'shlit'nuruodo. As I know consider us friends as well as equals you may call me Admiral Lash."

Lash took another drink and bit into one of the succulent fruit sitting on the edge of the table. He enjoyed the flavor but he was not fond of the consistency. He nodded to the chiss servant and the man turned and walked back out the way he came in.

"May I invite you to dine with me and a few of my commanders this evening mister Stellar? I assure you we will have food and drink there which will be to your liking."

Hours later Lash sits at the head of the dinning table. The night had gone well,he and his commanders spoke to rob and dined on brazed horein meat and a mixed assortment of vegetables and fruits. His commanders stood and left the room leaving Lash once again to speak with Rob Stellar alone.

"How did you enjoy the dinner mister Stellar?"

Lash to a drink of the water he had been nursing all dinner long. He was watching the man and his Officers interact. The peoples of the known regions interested Lash. They had strange ways and even stranger peoples. So many races living together. Here in the Unknown regions races warred over the differences in their ways and looks and even the way the spoke. In the known regions men and women of every race worked together and lived together in peace. The Chiss were no stranger to other races and they had friends among these peoples. But none were allowed to live among them in the colonies. Even the Imperial's who came with Thrawn were limited to Thrawn's fortress in most cases. Very few allowed to visit any of the colonies and even less were allowed to stay for any amount of time. Here is a man with a countless number of peoples devoted to him and his company. He sat the glass on the table and looked from the small portion of Canta cake he had been eating to Rob.

"Mister Stellar, What is it you intend to find out here in the unknown regions?"

Lash listened to the mans story. His testimony of dying and his ideas at life from death. The story was intriguing but was in itself unimportant. One mans search for life was of no concern and certainly did not warrant his being in the Tirest system. He knew the man before him was in pain. Rob was hiding the pain as he told his story but in his eyes Lash could see the battle Rob was fighting just to keep from showing the pain he felt. As Rob finished lash took a moment to think and drink. Here was a man looking to save himself. Struggling to create life from nothingness in an attempt to provide salvation for himself. This was no concern to Lash, but the thought of a living inhabitable Tirest system was.

"First let me say you have my condolences on your condition. To know one is dying and not having the ability to fight is a torturous existence. I can sympathize with your plight. Though it is of no interest to me personally. You see the system you have been looking at is of great importance to me. TO me and all of my people actually."

Lash paused again and thought about the Tirest system before his mistake. A system of life with three inhabitable worlds and life in the millions.

"If you will indulge me Mister Stellar, I will tell you why we acted as we did when we found you in the Tirest system. You see, This place is sacred to the people I protect. Over two hundred million people of varying races died here twelve years ago. This place is like a shrine to both the Chiss and non Chiss who live in the Elysian sector. In many of my peoples eyes you have trespassed and committed sacrilege against our peoples. Many of my people petition as we speak for you and your peoples deaths. These are the more fanatical of my people yet they are still my people. I and the majority of the people of the Elysian Sector are not as Draconian as these and see your people as explorers who simply ended up in the wrong system."