The Rebel Faction

The Yuuzhan Vong fascinated the Sith Lord Poreon. He had had his fair share of encounters with the extra-galactic aliens, and he was one of the few who could actually say and prove he bested a warrior in battle. Although it happened ages ago (before the TGC-SWF split), Poreon still had the warrior’s amphistaff hung across his mantle inside one of his mansions on Bothawui.

The amphistaff had belonged to a Division Commander of the domain Hul. Poreon had encountered the warriors when they had sprung a surprise attack on the AEGSA headquarters on Dantooine. In tight and confined corridors of the AEGSA building, the Yuuzhan Vong strike team wreaked havoc on many men. Vividly, Poreon can still remember images of the serpent head of an amphistaff or the devilish darts of a thud bud tear through comrades.

It was then that a warrior confronted Poreon. The two were evenly matched, considering the Force could not assist Poreon at all. However in the end, Poreon defeated the warrior and stole his amphistaff. What a disgrace to the domain Hul.

Time and time again, Poreon analyzed holo-tape of the Dantooine encounter and other Yuuzhan Vong attacks such as their march across the worlds of Nal Hutta and Nar Shadda. Every time, he was amazed at the finesse and raw power the Yuuzhan Vong displayed as the trounced over so-called “infidels.”

Every little weapon the Yuuzhan Vong used was a living creature, some more sentient then others. Coral skippers, world ships, amphistaffs, thud bugs, voxyn… They all sent shivers down the Sith Lord’s spine.

“Initiate simulator sequence 5299,” Poreon said to an empty room. He was inside Xa Fel’s training simulator rooms, and he had just activated an one-on-one session with a Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster.

Some amazing technical equipment created an image of the Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster who was standing an arms length away from Poreon. The Yuuzhan Vong looked beautifully ugly. Tattoos, mutilations, battle scars and other so-called “decorations of honor” littered the alien. However, he looked faintly human.

This simulator had been assembled from various technical analysis’s of Yuuzhan Vong combat. It would mimic everything a Yuuzhan Vong could and would do in a battle.

Something flickered in Poreon’s subconscious. For the training simulator, he had put the Force aside; and deep within his subconscious, his danger sense flared. Immediately, Poreon opened himself to the Force and felt his surroundings. Everything seemed in place. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Except… over there, near the entrance of the simulator room.

One of Poreon’s aides had entered the chambers. The simulator immediately shut off when the new person entered. Poreon snapped off his lightsaber and turned to see which aide it was.

Wiping away sweat, Poreon recognized the person; but he didn’t remember having the man on his staff. Tentatively, for Poreon did not allow intruders in on his training sessions, Poreon reignited his lightsaber, ready to defend himself if this was an attack.

He looked like Aaron Astrin and felt like Aaron Astrin. No, no, Poreon shook that idea away. Astrin had disappeared years ago when he attempted to search past the Kathol region and into Yuuzhan Vong territory. There was only one other explanation.

“Pyrael,” Poreon began, “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.” It was Pyrael, the insane Sith Knight who mostly kept to himself. Up until now, Poreon had never met the knight in person. He had just contacted Pyrael through the Force, back when he (Poreon) was still in spirit-state.

“Cut out the formalities,” Pyrael replied. Pyrael had no respect for elders or authority. He viewed himself as superior. If he wasn’t superior yet, he would be soon. Or so that was what the rumors were.

“I thought you were still hanging around with the Praetorite?” Intelligence had kept a loose track of Pyrael.

“I was, but they didn’t realize just who I am.”

“Who exactly are you?” Poreon deactivated his lightsaber again.

Grinning, Pyrael took a step towards the Lord, “Name’s Pyrael. They say I’m the better of the twins…”

“You reek of Aaron Astrin, the man who planned my death.”

“You could say he was like a father to me,” Pyrael said mysteriously. “But enough of me. My buddies over at the Praetorite have notified me that they are mobilizing. El Mastero de Mar quiere a hablar con tu.”

The strange tongue baffled Poreon for a minute, but then he identified it as a “New Galaxy” dialect some of the Yuuzhan Vong had adopted.

“So?”