Judicator Shran Badaar strode across the bridge of the Coalition Cruiser Eclipsing Liberty, inspecting the work done by his cybernetic servants. They were efficient creatures, but as his vessel moved faster then light towards a potentially catastrophic mistake, he could not afford them to be merely efficient. With this little time, they would need to be extremely expedient indeed.
Fortunatly, they were.
"Nexus command structure modified. Parsing new commands."
Shran crossed his taloned hands behind his back.
"Excellent."
The nexus clicked and hummed out a sound Shran recognized as an acknowledgment.
"New commands integrated into system. New executable files are processing."
Shran would have been gleeful, is he wasn't such a somber man by his nature. As it was, he was merely satisfied.
"Output readings?"
The tek'a'tara took a moment to check the ships internal systems, and then the nexus beside him.
"Nominal."
"Gradience?"
The tek'a'tara answered him with no emotion whatsoever, and with no hesitation either.
"As programmed."
Shran nodded. For the second time, he sat down in the vessel's captain's chair.
"Charge our weapons."
***
On the bridge of the Sep'Ta'd'Aark, the situation was much less hurried but not lacking for intensity. Everyone was watching sensors, and waiting... engines were ready, and weapons were loaded. The vessels waited... their crews waited... and the Cree'Ar High Elder waited.
"Look!"
Zeratul pointed at the visage. A useless gesture; the only outranking Cree'Ar on the vessel was already observing it intently, and the remnants were priests, who would not understand what they were observing. Kal Shora did.
"They know."
Zeratul turned.
"We must abort! If they leave...!"
"Patience, Zeratul. If someone is to flinch today, it will not be us. Not with such an important mission."
Zeratul turned. When he did, he almost immediately turned again.
"They stopped!"
Kal Shora gestured his displeasure, which Zeratul did not react to.
"Yes, Zeratul, in your haste to flee, the Imperial vessel ceased its turn almost as soon as it began it."
Zeratul turned to the visage once more. He scrutinized the image carefully.
"But you said they know? Then why leave if they know that there is an opportunity?"
Kal Shora made clear his displeasure again, disappointed in Zeratul. Once again Zeratul did not reply, although his back being turned may have been the cause.
"Zeratul, have you been to Lin?"
Zeratul turned, his face a perfect picture of confusion.
"Lin? No… I hadn't left Arigaun until I was sent to Tatooine."
"But you know of the place?"
Zeratul looked even more uncertain, if that was possible.
"Yes... Elder... everyone knows of Lin. It is part of our infant history instruction."
"Then you remember the war?"
"Elder..."
"Remember, Zeratul, I never speak for my own benefit. I benefit far more from contemplation then explanation."
Zeratul accepted this. His face settled into a neutral state.
“Yes, Elder. I remember vividly instructions regarding the war with the Parrow Lin.”
“Then you remember the Lin walls.”
Zeratul’s face livened up.
“Yes… the Parrow Lin made a wall, a tall wall, around each of their cities. Every few hundred steps was a gateway, and through the gateway sat 6 Parrow Lin soldiers, always watching, and always waiting, for the enemies forces to walk through the gateway.”
“Do you remember our first engagements?”
“Of course. The Cree’Ar landed on the planets and sent the tek’a’tara inside the city, single file.”
“And when they crossed the gateway…”
“They were slaughtered.”
“Yes. They were slaughtered.”
Zeratul’s eyes flashed as he rationalized the metaphor.
“But Elder, the Cree’Ar did eventually make it into the city.”
Kal Shora gestured with his hands, in agreement and mildly impressed.
“Do you remember how?”
Zeratul struggled to remember…
“We used HTC…”
“Which failed, if you may remember. The walls had been specifically designed to withstand concussive impact.”
“We attempted to use plasma disruptors, both from the surface and orbit…”
“Which also failed. The unique ceramic mixture used for aesthetic purposes proved resistant to the corrosive abilities of the acid. What was the plan which did not fail?”
Zeratul struggled to remember, and once again his eyes flashed as he settled on the solution.
“The Cree’Ar ordered two Skey’g’Aar to climb over the wall, walk around the soldiers, and capture the leaders of the city.”
“And when the Parrow Lin became aware of this, the soldiers left their position at the gateway, and the tek’a’tara inside the city numbered in the hundreds within seconds. The ensuing battle was, much like the other one in which the Parrow Lin had the numerical and positional advantage, a slaughter.”
Zeratul’s eyes darkened.
“Those two Skey’g’Aar were ruthlessly murdered.”
Kal Shora waited for Zeratul to continue, but he did not.
“And?”
Zeratul’s eyes flashed, not with contemplation, but with anger.
“And? What do you mean and? They were sent in on a suicide mission!”
“And they performed admirably. They were successful in their mission. Their deaths… casualties of war.”
Zeratul looked on the verge of breakdown.
“You are all too casual about Skey’g’Aar casualties.”
Kal Shora stood.
“Are you implying something, Zeratul?”
Zeratul stepped back, bowing his head in a gesture of respect.
“Never, Elder.”
“Then answer me this: ordering a boarding party to a Lin ship, do you go yourself, or send tek’a’tara?”
Confusion returned to Zeratul’s face.
“Tek’a’tara, of course.”
“Why?”
“Because I might die.”
“Because you might die.”
“But Elder! They had the option of sending tek’a’tara!”
“Did they, Zeratul? Did they have that option?”
Zeratul considered. Kal Shora did not wait.
“Listen, Zeratul. What do you hear?”
Zeratul looked around.
“Nothing. Just the normal…”
And his eyes flashed again.
“Yes. Tek’a’tara make fine soldiers, but horrible assassins. They lumber. They grunt. They beep when their battery needs recharging. They communicate everything vocally, even though they do not have to.”
“But why send Skey’g’Aar?”
“Because, Zeratul, of people like you.”
Zeratul’s face was once again invaded by his complete uncertainty.
“People like me?”
“Zeratul, if I asked you to find Bastion, kill Simon Kaine, Daemon Hyfe, Theren Gevel, Telan Desaria, and Bhindi Drayson, would you do it?”
“Of course. But…”
“Exactly.”
“Exactly what, Elder? I don’t comprehend your meaning.”
“Even if you knew you might die, you would go on that mission? Because I asked you to?”
Zeratul was taken aback. It was obvious, in retrospect.
“Yes, now you see. The Cree’Ar had just witnessed hundreds of their warriors slaughtered. Had you asked them, none of them would have gone. But the ability and the dedication of the Skey’g’Aar made them the obvious candidate for such a dangerous and extremely difficult mission.
The choice was made out of respect, and fear.
Not out of prejudice.”
Zeratul accepted this, and gestured his thanks to Kal Shora for the patient explaination.
Kal Shora was amazed. He didn’t know it was still possible, but sometimes he even impressed himself.
***
The cybernetic nexus had been employed for years amongst the Cree’Ar. But never quite like this.
Many who see the impressive nexus assume it was a Cree’Ar invention. That is not so. The Cree’Ar liberated the technology in a war against an oppressive empire known as the Thylor Opiette. The nexus was primarily used, then, and now, as a communicative relay network, intercepting, decrypting, re-encoding, and transmitting data.
The network spanned the Cree’Ar galaxy… from the homeland to Se'T'ap'a'r'odar, to Rel'a'ralik'a'aar, to the fleet at Vladet, even to the assault ships even know covertly observing the activity above Coruscant. Every world had a nexus. But along the way, the network had… dead zones, zones where no two relays were in the system. The solution, then, was the shoot a signal through a c-velocity conduit in intervals. This method was not perfect, of course, but it did allow for the often times isolated vessels of the invading force in the galaxy to remain in contact with their home bases.
Despite this, no vessel in the Dominion had contact with the homeland. They had sent messages, but due to the distance, these messages were outdated and very short in nature. In other galaxies, the Cree’Ar had built what they called tetraspheres… planet-sized relays for their transmissions and gravitic manipulations. Once the first tetrasphere arrived in the Corusca galaxy, c-velocity communication would be unnecessary… as all Cree’Ar vessels would be routed through the tetrasphere, and subsequent relays delivered in the future.
For now, though, the nexus network was limited in its implementation. Used primarily for inter-system communication and control of the tek’a’tara aboard Cree’Ar vessels, some of the tertiary uses of the nexus had been explored and implemented, including particle acceleration, agitation, creation, transformation, and teleportation. Features that were normally performed on supplementary basis in the homeland were routine amongst invading vessels to a point; once a foothold was established, the priesthood domesticated a world and sanctified it suitable for Cree’Ar to sleep on. Then, all food would be grown, and not synthesized. Metals would be purified and not transformed. Materials would be transported, and not teleported. But now was not such a time.
Now was a time for innovation.
The nexus aboard the Eclipsing Liberty, and others aboard the Coalition vessels, were being used for their primary function… communication. And though the nexii on the Cree’Ar vessels were being used for the same function, the variance on that basic function was quite different. The Cree’Ar vessels were communicating what was referred to as blanket whispers… it was the Cree’Ar method of jamming. Instead of trying to cut the transmission or run electronic interference in it’s path, the Cree’Ar merely threw a blanket on the transmitters and receivers, consisting of their own communications across the nexus network. They ranged from the minutia of commands such as “install module 7” to tactical fleet arrangements and organizational hierarchy. By using targeted blanket jamming, the Cree’Ar could selectively disrupt communications, allowing their own vessels to communicate amongst each other, and to lift the jamming to accept terms of surrender from command vessels.
The nexus on each coalition vessel was performing a slightly different function. When Shran Badaar proposed attacking the New Order with Coalition vessels, it was instantly considered that the New Order sensor suites would detect the lack of Coalition personnel on board each vessel. Fortunately, Shran had a solution. He had discovered amongst the Coalition vessels medical suites. Standard to all medical suites were biohazardous waste containers, meant to keep potentially tainted genetic material, such as blood and other fluidic discharges, normally extracted in needles, from coming in contact with other, uninfected patients in an attempt to prevent epidemics. In that waste, left behind as garbage, was the essence of the Coalition.
It’s people.
Although the Dominion had captured several humans, the Coalition was a large group composed of many unique and differing races. It was decided to study, replicate, and then attempt to exterminate the people of the Coalition based on activating, stimulating, and then eradicating their ribonucleic acid. The creation of infectious agents had begun almost immediately when Badaar brought the Coalition fleet back to the occupied worlds. But Shran and Kal Shora both reached the same conclusion almost immediately.
What if they could broadcast the Coalition?
So, over several weeks, one nexus was modified to replace each tek’a’tara signature with one belonging to a Coalition species. At first, the project was unsuccessful. The nexus was not designed to simulate life signs. So instead of creating life signs, they created life… they created a vapor that entered the bloodstream of a tek’a’tara and altered its genetic makeup. The effect served to simulate the illusion of a living, breathing Rodian, or Haspatian, or Farquakian… the only life form not catalogued were the mysterious Azguard, as too few samples existed to make a gradient to simulate acceptable genetic drift. The project was still unsuccessful, however.
It was irreversible. And fatal.
The tek’a’tara conversion process had muted the genetic individuality of the subjects. This made their natural, biological structure extremely prone to biological infection, were it not for their advanced technological filtering and cardiovascular substitute system. When this system was muted, the body was converted in extremely short order. Depending on the first strand swallowed through the air, the tek’a’tara would take on one of a dozen species, with a differing specific genetic makeup to simulate the genetic diversity among one species of the Coalition. The problem was that once the change was made, the natural DNA was not strong enough to fight the process. After an hour, the new RNA had completely converted the body and began to consume the body’s protein structure, as the host body had no midichlorans as the cells were maintained by artificial energy, provided by the cybernetic systems. So the aggressive RNA consumed the body, like a virus… turning the biological component of the tek’a’tara to a melted puddle of genetic residue. The only way to prevent the process was to reengage the technological immune system, which attempted to stop the process. It was a losing battle, however, and could only achieve a stalemate, during which the technology fought the genetics, and the tek’a’tara was in complete moratorium. Frozen, and unable to move.
The useable time for the modified tek’a’tara was little under 150 Coruscant minutes. More then enough time for a simple ruse. By the time the Imperials had a chance to investigate any debris, and even if they could discern the truth, the battle would have ended.
And the war would have begun.
***
“You think they have an alternate means of escape?”
Kal Shora shook his head.
“There is nothing to indicate that. It is a possibility, but an unlikely one… did they not follow one of the Black Dragon’s vessels? No, my metaphor was merely to show the hole in the wall… they are not so stupid as to walk through it.”
Zeratul nodded. He understood. He turned back to the visage.
“They have the advantage, here. Here, they know they have backup, and they know we have jammed communications. Here, they know the system defenses, and the vessels ready to reinforce them.”
Zeratul turned.
“Unfortunately, they do not know… that we know.”
Kal Shora bowed his head.
He was learning.
***
“Eptar'a'kar'a, High Judicator. It is always a pleasure to speak with you.”
“And you, Judicator Badaar. How proceeds our operation?”
“The conversion process has begun on every vessel. The fighters are loaded and the vessels have weapons charged.”
Kal Shora was pleased.
“Excellent, Judicator. If this mission succeeds, you will be the most honored among my Judicaste.”
Badaar heard the unspoken words and almost cringed.
Assuming you survive.
“Have you prepared your boarding parties?”
Badaar bowed.
“Of course, High Judicator. They are the most experienced of the Kal Shora’s Armortera. They will serve Borleas to the best of their ability.”
“Remind them of their objective. The Vessel IDF-DCC-1448, Valhalla, is the exposed command of the newly arrived reinforcements. Several moments ago, a communication was analyzed indicating that Admiral Bhindi Drayson is still on board. Your vessels are in formation?”
“Of course.”
“Good. The earlier terrorist attack served to expose the planetary defense grid… weapons, and possibly shields, but that is not so much our concern. You are positive of your formation?”
Shran bowed.
“Yes, High Judicator. Calamars to the left of me, Calamars to the right. Tholatins above, and below. The rest drop front, angle out, splay. The Eclipsing Liberty shall be shadowed at all times from the surface.”
“And the Imperial forces in system?”
“With the Valhalla and her support between. An impossible shot.”
“The Valhalla and support… wait.”
Shran waited. He knew he couldn’t wait long, but he waited.
“She has turned. Not a complete turn, but it looks like they are lining up their forces.”
“They know that I am coming.”
“No, Judicator. They know that someone is coming.”
Badaar nodded.
“What of her support, then?”
“They’ll be in a position to revert. It is doubtful they will have time, if you execute flawlessly.”
“There is one issue of concern.”
“Reinforcements behind.”
“Reinforcements behind. Surely, as they have detected the hole in gravity, that is where reinforcements shall arrive?”
“Ah, Judicator, you forget we are also jamming their communications.”
Shran considered.
“We should consider the possibility. By chance, that may be the direction of them in any case.”
“If they are indeed waiting. Have half your support drop front, and slow the others to drop behind. Can you eliminate a shot?”
Badaar once again considered the tactic in his head.
“Not entirely, High Judicator. But it will not be a clean shot.”
Kal Shora nodded.
“15 seconds, Judicator. Se'T'ap'a'r'odar.”
“Tar'r'ara'dool, Kal Shora.”
The High Judicator’s face faded from the visage, and the starline that replaced it continued to whiz past his head. He nodded, and he watched 5 of his MC-90s and 5 Cruisers drop from formation. Say what one would about the ungodliness of the tek’a’tara, they were efficient. Shortly after the formation broke, the starlines began to ease into nothingness, and slowly, the Valhalla grew as his vessel closed on it. It stopped, filling his screen entirely.
“Pend'ar'a. Dan’zant, Mor’a’dool.”
He turned to the Armortera.
“Remember well, take the woman alive. Any losses incurred shall be considered negligible, on either side, if she is captured.”
The Armortera turned then, and charged away.
And Shran Badaar crossed his taloned hands again, eager to begin another intergalactic war.
***
OOC: Manifest of forces entering system and engaging:
1 Home One-class Command Cruiser
*24 MC-10 Starfighters
3 Imperial Star Destroyers Mark II
3 Tholatin-class Star Destroyers
1 Defender-class Star Destroyer
15 MC-90 Star Cruisers
2 Assault Frigates
2 Interdictor Cruisers
5 Nebulon-B2 Frigates
