The Rebel Faction

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Aboard the Religious Command Ship.. Capricia.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



Skyler slipped through the opening made by the Jedi Master, landing on his feet and nearly collapsing on the floor. It had been a while since he walked and he took several wobbly tentative steps before being sure of his footing.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I must look like a fledgling Yelk to her..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


However, Leia's words brought home the sense of urgency that he'd need to move out of the chamber. He was about to turn to follow the Jedi's lead when, suddenly, a sweaty arm drapped over his shoulder and Leia nearly collapsed herself.

He was amazed at what she'd been able to endure and was a little scared that she had effectively placed him in charge.

Throughout his imprisonment, thoughts of him failing Gomorran and Zier when asked to escort Leia (a famous Jedi) and the estranged Tyscio Korban burned plenty within him. The fact that he had been taken prisoner and held within the bowels of their capital warship never crossed his mind as a suitable excuse.

Only the fact that he had failed, and so, like any teenage male of his age, he yearned with the desire to set right the scales in his mind.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> She's .. heavy..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, was the conclusion he came to immediately upon trying to exit the room.


The thought that he was weakened or near starvation never crossed his mind as he began to focus on getting out of the ship.

As he took those few steps forward, Leia followed almost unconsciously.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> This may not be hard after all...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


His bare feet slapped against the cold, hard floor as they stepped out into an empty corridor and suddenly he was filled with dread.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Where do I go? Just how do we get out?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


As he and the Jedi in tow walked down into the corridor, the floor began to slope downward causing Skyler to nearly stumble, but hold on he did.

He bit his lip in frustration and not being able to simply run, but doggedly held on to Leia.


He was, in fact, still wondering where in the huge ship to actually go that he didn't recognize he wasn't alone until he heard a sharp snarl.

Brushing his hair away from his eyes, he saw a Yuuzhan Vong and several other weird looking creatures staring menacingly at them.


Fear kept the teenager from opening his mouth as the moisture vacated, his tongue feeling like sandpaper as he tried to lick his chapped lips in nervousness.

Seeing that the Caprician boy was mute and frozen in place, the Yuuzhan Vong started to come toward him making him give out a "yelp" in response, stepping back, and dropping Leia.


Skyler saw that his tattered shirt was stained with the woman's bloody wrists and it triggered something inside of him.


Something that said, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "No.. I will not run and hide."<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


She was helpless and he knew he stood no chance against this alien but something couldn't, something <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> wouldn't<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> allow him to simply abandon her... helpless.


His eyes got angry and his footing became steadier.


The Vong noticed this as well and slowly drew out a staff whispering something to Skyler in his alien language.


The creature's tattoos as well as his mutilated face flushed red as he started to approach the Caprician boy.


"N...noooo.." whispered Leia, but Skyler paid her scant attention.


He'd not listened much to adults before... <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> so why start now?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


As the creature swung back to impale the infidel with his staff, the mighty vessel lurched to one side as if someone violently grabbed hold of it with both hands and shook.


Everyone lost their footing as explosions began to rip through the corridors.



"Attack!" Skyler yelled to no one in particular, probably from shock.


A large chunk of yorik corral was ripped from a nearby wall exposing the corridor to the outside elements and the Yuuzhan Vong, among other things, was sucked out.


Skyler had fallen and was being pulled across the floor.


He tried to grip something, anything in vain and had given himself up to simply screaming out of fear when a hand shot out and grabbed his.


Leia, using what little strength she had left, pulled him, catapulting both of them into an ajoining room as the vessel began to spin out of control.


"Some...someone's attacking.." Skyler babbled.


Before Leia could even think, the ship seemed to turn over throwing them against the living ship's walls.



***


The Religious Command Ship, having inverted it's position due to the Vinda Corporation's surprising attack, fell from the sky in a most spectacular display.


The <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Nostromo<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> exploded under the weight of the Vong warship; fire, smoke and debris reaching up and over the Yuuzhan Vong Command Ship.


Walls exploded outwards and the ship began to secrete a thick liquid, perhaps a defense against the damage it was taking...

The hull of the alien ship crushed all those on the surface and buried the Caprician torture victims under a mountain of Yorik Coral.


Dust, sand and debris were scattered miles high and wide...



****


Mathias ducked as escape pods shot by overhead.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Low! Too Low..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, he thought.


..and as if in answer, a small explosion kicked up debris as the pod hit the ground at a fantastic rate of speed.


"Not all pods are situated where you want them.." he murmured.


"Especially if the ship has crashed onto a planet's surface.." a person near Mathias finished, letting the gruff leader know that he'd spoken out loud.


"Forward!" Let's see what we can find!" he shouted.


The small contingent of Caprician soldiers grabbed on as a procurred transport moved swiftly over the barren ground.


"The bloody thing is still intact!" a soldier cried in surprise.


Mathias swore under his breath as the smoke and dust finally began to settle revealing a Vong mothership resting against the Caprician ground.


Fires were everywhere and aliens milled around as if in shock or it's equivalent in their culture. A Chazrach was even seen walking blankly around with a large piece of metal lodged in his front lobe.


Many were missing limbs but Mathias and crew paid them no mind as they moved into one of many openings in the ship to find Caprician or Vinda survivors and/or victims.


Breaking through the inner walls and membranes was difficult but with an extremely injured ship, not impossible.


The Caprician weapons held any warriors unlucky enough to stumble upon them at bay.


"Sir!" someone shouted drawing Mathias' attention to an inner room.


"We better make it quick. We got hostiles, lots of them, coming down from the higher levels of the ship.."


"We leave" Mathias ordered, "after we confirm status of prisoners!"


"Sir! Look!" the first man again appealed and Mathias growled in irritation but soon choked it back.


For in the room was Leia, unconscious.. bloody... and ..



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> alive.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


A tear came to his eye...


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Girl's got more lives than sense..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> he thought affectionately.


He kneeled down to pick her up gently when he noticed one arm of hers broken (the left) and the other holding on to a smaller hand, buried under some yorik mass.


Quick action by the soldiers revealed a young Caprician teenager, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> a mere boy<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> attached to the hand Leia grasped.


The boy's breathing was erratic and he seemed to be looking up at nothing.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Blindness..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"Sir. We can't carry him." a soldier said, making a quick and careful examination. "His back is broken. It's amazing they both aren't dead."


"Get something flat and straight! Quickly!" he snapped.


Mathias positioned men around their rescue efforts to provide cover in case the masses from above ran into them and assigned others to check more rooms for surviving prisoners.


A stretcher was made and the boy cried out when they gently tried to move him.


So loud was his cry, that Mathias saw some soldiers bite their tongues in sorrow, holding back a tear or two.


"We've got a problem.. don't we?" he said, resigned.


"We can move the boy a little, but not far.... not under these conditions."


"I will not abandon him soldier."


"Yes sir. May I ask what we intend to do then?"


Skyler was mumbling something about his father, the shock of his injury and experience taking full hold of his faculties.


"I don't know.." he whispered bitterly.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> We aren't even supposed to be here..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



It was then that a soldier came running in. "We've got to move! And I mean, yesterday!"


The tone of the soldier jarred a decision out of Mathias.


"Move him onto the stretcher, and we take him with us. What happens, happens."


"I need straps.. NOW! and braces! Lots of them!" the soldier acting as their temporary medical officer shouted.


Skyler's screams were heard in the darkness as the soldiers moved as softly and quickly as they could out and away from the fallen Vong ship.


One of the men assigned to check other rooms came up to Mathias. "They are all dead sir. No prisoners survived."


"Do I want to see it soldier?"

The officer's face turned to Mathias, the dust and grime hiding none of the man's surprise. "Why? They were bloody turned into paste. The beating this ship took and the torture they most certainly underwent got the best of them."


"That ship must have housed several hundred prisoners, Soldier."


"Yes, sir." the man responded flatly.


Mathias nodded numbly. "Very well. Let's get the hell out of here."



Leia was still out and perhaps would be for a while. Mathias was thankful for small favors as he carried her, one arm braced and bandaged as best they could.



Her wrists had stopped bleeding.


The soldiers from Providence moved toward the remains of Antioch.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Capricia.. Sealine City..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->





<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="gray">.....beat....

Korban stood a little straighter on this day as his right of passage was granted to the great Clan of Tyscio. Tyscio Zier, leader of the Clan,...


..Tyscio Zier? No.. It wasn't him... he's Gomorran Kay's friend..

No..


It was ...


His mind hurt.


Aurelian!!


Tyscio Aurelian, Korban's older brother, stood in front of him, and his eyes glanced at the clan leader's famed, short-cropped white hair.</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->


Memories mixed with current experiences...


<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="gray">His older brother responded with an amused look of his own as he handed Korban a dark and light blue uniform.


"Welcome to the clan...Tyscio.." he had told the young Korban, a slight grin coming to his features.


...Aurelian, the oldest of the brothers turned to Viescian, the 2nd brother, and someone else faced Korban ...his teacher....


Hespante?

The aging man asked him a question.


"...who are you?"


The absence of mental barriers allowed Tyscio to pluck the answer out quickly. He stood a bit taller.


"I am Mikhail of Noble House Korban, Tyscio Clan, thirds son of Stettin IV, Ruler of Brindheir and heir to the Commonwealth Union of Worlds."</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->



Another whole world of memories opened up to Tyscio as images of a lifetime long forgotten ... long repressed suddenly found the light of rediscovery.



<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="gray">......beat......


Tyscio Korban was running through a forest when a shadow jumped out from his right.


*


The force users, the harbingers of the Nephys, has won. General Bane's transformation from Commonwealth General to Nephys Warlord had been complete.

The Union was falling... hell, it had fallen.


Utopia rendered to ash.


The Royal Family, Korban's father, Stettin IV, his mother, his brothers... all had been executed by rebelling factions.


Brindheir, the Throne World of the Commonwealth had isolated itself from the Union.


Only those forces loyal to Korban and his Royal Retainer Hespante stayed with Stettin's third son to continue the fight against the further spread of the Nephys.


It was a futile attempt for the Nephys... the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> force<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> was in the galaxy to stay.


It was a hard and bitter truth to face for something so small.


For something that had claimed his fiance.


Brandt


And now he hunted her along with Bane...


*


Tyscio's attacker charged.


His fiance had ignited her lightsaber and immediately gone on the offensive as Tyscio parried but was throw off balance.


Ferendi continued her swings and thrusts, but Tyscio, knowing what to expect, readily steadied himself. His was a weapon of the Union... strong enough to grapple with a lightsaber but lightsabers, as the Union soldiers was finding out was considerably ingenious weapon.


She was relentless...



Brandt? Why?



In an exerted effort, he knocked the saber from her hand and threw her to the ground. In a reflex, he started to swing his sword down but upon looking at her..the saber wavered...


I will not kill you...


..and in that hesitation, Bane had captured him.


Deep within Bane's fortress, he had injected Tyscio with the Nephys...as suitable revenge against Commonwealth Noble who had fought the Spreading.


Tyscio's own genetic abilities were overpowered as midichlorians took hold of his cells.


The Commonwealth General's laugh could be heard in the distance.



But Brandt had resisted Bane's influence. When it counted. She had contacted his Royal Retainer, Hespante, and organized my escape.


Our armies met near Almania...


We destroyed each other..


General Bane was killed, Brandt mortally wounded....


She was dying and asked me to perform the ceremony.


I killed her.


I was dying..


Hespante played one last gamble...


My father's Preserver Project was based on a small planet near the Rim...



What was it?


Almania...</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->



<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="gray">....beat...beat...




Almania... My awakening..



The sad eyes of Iriana accepting a fate that the Sith Master had chosen for her....

Tyscio looked down at his hands and saw them bloody...


A blade instantly flashed in his hands and with a quick motion, his wrists were slashed...


....water started to come from his veins, washing away the blood and he suddenly felt as if a great weight were lifted.


"Who am I now?"</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->



Faint voices in the background.

"damn.. is he Jedi? Don't know if that was brave or just plain stupid!"

"Saved our bacon, Major."

"Get those bacta patches on him.. that goo burns."



<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="gray">....beat... beat...



....a great weight was lifting...and suddenly, he opened his eyes to a bright light.

Several people were staring down at him he saw as a head blocked the sun.

The Caprician wind felt cool.

Slowly his senses were engaged..

His ears began to hear the sounds of machinery and people.</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I am..


alive!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


His mind began to register the hurt his body felt as he lay there... too tired to really move....


"I take it I am not dead yet?"


A young Seargent, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> too young<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, grinned. "We can always throw you back into whatever that thing used for blood..." he offered helpfully, throwing a thumb back.

Tyscio chuckled and was helped up by the soldiers. He felt a bit dizzy but as he looked around he saw that the Capricians had defeated all the invaders.


"I missed the fight." he said which drew some laughter out of the tired soldiers.


"You gave us a fighting chance, Sir." one said.


"That was one hell of an act!" another interjected.


"Who are you?" Tyscio asked, of a man wearing Major colors.


"Major Gomorran Trest, Jak'tol Amoured Division Four."


"Jak'tol? That's quite a ways from here."


"Yes, Sir. Our machines were sent here for typical repairs and maintenance."


"Sounds like you were in the right place at the right time for these people." Korban said, giving the soldiers the well deserved compliment.


"Sir, we've got close to 5,000 civilians here, and pieces of the city's defense units, but the enemy capital ships took out all the major military installations."

"Are those Capital ships here now?" Tyscio sharply asked, glancing at the sky.


"No, Sir. They moved off after unloading their warriors. There seems to be some excitement happening on the Antioch Front."


"How far is that?"


"Quite a ways as well sir."


"Was Sealine City the largest defense position on the area?"


"Yes, Sir."


"Then we best evacuate this region quickly."


"That's just it sir. Transports are in very short supply...and finding fuel for them will be tough."


Tyscio thought a minute, as he ran his hand over the bacta patches on him. "What about the Magnetic Rails?"


The soldiers who had begun to whisper about their next move stopped and stared at Tyscio. The Major grinned in admiration. "Damn. Right under our noses! That's not a half bad idea."


"Seargent! Check the Rail stations. See what we can scrounge up."


The rather young Seargent stole a glance at Tyscio and murmured. "Knew you were alive for some reason."


Tyscio gave him his best "scoundrel" smile and started playing with his saber, flickering it on and off to make sure it was still functional.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Well, Korban, looks like we are a bit out of time ..and place aren't we?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


As he moved to look at the people and items that would need to be transported by some means, his mind mulled over what he was remembering.


A different time.

A different war.

A different enemy.

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

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Blaze of Glory<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "Tell me, In your travels for Mr. Vinda, have you come across many women?"<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



*Achinta had been studying with great interest the two Giant planets, assessing the situation...
As Scipio spoke he turned to face her and noticed with curiousity the effects from the two planets ,as their light accentuated Scipio's features , making her appear to glow ...

..despite the obvious signs of tiredness one could read in her face, she looked...

..he searched for the appropriate word...

...then as Scipio finished, his mind focused onto her question. He Paused for a moment, calculating all the beings he had met...*

"...approximately, six hundred and twelve females...fifty three I was unsure off..."

*He smirked a little at his last comment...*

"...it can be hard to tell with some species..."

*he glanced back at the two planets, then tilted his head slightly to face her again...*

"...do you feel we will find Providence untouched?...I hope we do not find they have met the same fate as those on Minos..."

*he shifted his gaze back to the sight of the two planets outside...*



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...beautiful...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Capricia, Natabb City Front... <!--EZCODE BOLD END-->






Twenty Yuuzhan Vong capital ships responded immediately when the villip choir on Tallien's Religious Command ship suddenly (and abruptly) stopped communicating.


Capital ships took up positions around the fallen craft, their villip signals going back and forth frantically, attempting to find order among the chaos that bombarded their organic senses.


//The infidels did what??// Tslah Vhess snarled out.


//They have brought down the Master Shaper's command ship, master// the soldier fearlessly informed.


The brutal honestly displayed by his warrior impressed Tslah on one level while, on another, his anger barely held in check as that same honest reverberated against what he knew to be faith.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What are the gods telling us?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


//Leave no infidel alive in the region. No man, no woman.. no chit.. no.. jeedai//


//It shall be accomplished, lord//



The Yuuzhan Vong brutal strike against the cities had been going well, those infidel habitats being cleansed of their filth methodically.


//Is the Master Shaper dead?//


//His vessel is injured greatly, lord. Communicating with it is proving.. difficult//


//Have our corral fighters destroy any abomination that fled the metal abberation that pulled the Master Shaper's vessel from the sky.//


//Their distance was not far. Many, in fact, were destroyed by the hovering fighters.//


//Vinda, maker of abominations, shall know pain.// Tslah vowed, this affrontery a mockery of his actions just as much as Tallien's.


//He will go to his death screaming for life, clawing like a wild animal for one more moment of breath//


The War Coordinator walked over to a wall that seemed to change into topographical maps of the planet.


//Instruct all warriors to meet us here// he pointed to the living map that the Capricians knew to be the Highlands.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Focus on the task at hand. Do not underestimate the cleverness of the creatures you hunt.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

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

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Kyoto Station<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




*As the doors to the Command room onboard the station slid apart to reveal Commander Isstal and his colonel, Richter stood to greet him...*

"...Mr Isstal, its a pleasure to finally meet you, Vinda-Corp is in your debt, your annhilation of the CSA fleet was masterful..."

*..As he talked they all took their seats, Richter smiled wryly, his eyes focued on Isstals...*

"...I heard of the message that Mr Vinda sent you, to be honest with you, we always knew this day would come, it was just a matter of...<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> when<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->...."

*He paused for a minute as he glanced down at a data-pad he was holding....*

"...which was why we developed this plan of action, in the event of such a situation occurring..."

*He slid the data-pad towards Isstal, and as he studied it closely, Richter continued talking...*

"....The CSA, showed their hand, and failed, now....it is time for us to show ours...what you have in front of you is the guidelines for a military campaign to retaliate against the CSA. We are not going to sit and await for any further action to be committed against us...we need to strike back, and strike back....<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> hard<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->..."

*he took a moment to gauge Isstal's reaction, then continued..*

"...With the military incursions committed by the Rogue Jedi Order , and the destruction of their major attack fleet, the time is right...we shall start by hitting them where it hurts the most...

...their pockets..."