The Rebel Faction

Note: This thread is set after the events in Across the Stars: Scorpion Rising (Khomm)



”Ten paces, to the bench” The voice in his ear said.

He walked exactly ten paces and stopped at a bench on the side of the road in Trade City, one of the main cities on the planet.

“Under the bench, do it carefully” The same voice said.

The four-fingered Arkanian casually sat down on the bench and let his arm hang off the side of the armrest. He took a look around, he was in the bustling center of the city, the place where all of the important deals went down. There were Arkanians, Humans, Rodians, Yaka, and all sorts of species milling about, drifting from place to place, looking at all of the deals at the many vendors. Nobody paid attention to the Arkanian sitting on the bench, apparently waiting for the hoverbus to come around to take him to another part of the city.

He reached under the bench and felt around quickly. His probing fingers quickly located a small satchel there. Keeping his arm draped over the armrest and his hand under the bench, he removed the satchel and slipped it into a secret compartment in the sleeve of his robes. He remained the quiet tourist until the hoverbus came swooping in and he boarded quickly.

“You are on your own now” The voice said and then went silent. He ignored the voice and worked his way into the bus.

Choosing a seat at the back, he kept up the charade until the bus stopped at a dark portion of the city. He exited the bus and quickly melded into the darkness. He chose a complex road of alleys, back roads, and darkened buildings to lose any pursuers. After half an our of walking he stood in a dark alley behind two old beat-up buildings. He looked around and then headed for a piece of discarded durasteel on the ground at the base of the building to his left. He removed the durasteel and reveled a hidden passage.

He slipped in and fell into some sort of foul-smelling water. He turned to his right and headed thirty paces until veering sharply through a side passage. He continued this pattern until he came into a well-lit underground room. There were four other beings, all Arkanian.

“I have the package” He said.

One of the Arkanians stepped forward and took the package.

“Good. They came through for us” The tall Arkanian said.

“What are we going to use it for?” The Arkanian who had carried the package asked.

“The Black Hand is on the move. They want revenge, we want our planet back. Mutual gain. We are going to destroy the headquarters building. These are a sample of the explosives that Black Hand has been providing us for four months. We finally have enough for a move against the Federation”



Arkania. The world was the birthplace of the legendary Jedi Master Arca Jeth. The site of the most extensive biotics and bioenhancement centers in the galaxy. It was also the place where the Arkanian diamonds could be found.

It was also the hiding place of the elusive Federation Council.

Griff turned from a holo of the planet to another man sitting quietly at the table.

“Captain Jones, you have agreed to cooperate. Now I want all of Project Scorpion’s information on Federation defenses”

“Yes sir” Jones stood and walked to the 3D holo of the Arkania system. “Sir my operatives report that the Federation Remnant has three major shipyards, one orbiting Arkania, and the other two orbiting the moon Dreba. All three shipyards are heavily defended by Golan battle stations, and a defensive fleet”

“What is the composition of the defense fleet?” Griff’s main battle coordinator, Admiral Ciril Keyan, asked.

“Our information on that is spotty, but we do know that they have Star Destroyers and several support ships. The amount of those are currently unknown” Jones said.

“What is the best avenue of attack?” Griff asked.

“To assault the moon Dreba, and destroy the shipyards there. From there we can use it as a place to launch an assault of Arkania itself. If Dreba falls, the defense fleet will retreat to Arkania, thus cornering them.” Jones reported.

“Tell me about the Federation Remnant” Griff asked.

“It is lead, of course, by the Federation Council. There has been a power struggle within the council so they have no central leader, yet. It is only a matter of time before they pick a council member to take control. The Project has been trying for months to get someone on the Council. But it is not an easy task.” Jones replied.

“Why?” Griff asked.

“Because each Council member comes from a different planet within the Remnant. The Council has taken over several Mid Rim worlds. So there are six current Council members. It is likely that if you take control of Arkania, the surviving Council members will escape to one of these worlds. Intelligence from Arkania is very spotty, and we only get one transmission a month from my main agent. And the information contained within the transmission is only on pertinent issues. There are rumors of other fleets hiding at the other Federation Remnant worlds, but they cannot be confirmed. So if any council members escape, they will go to another planet and rally their forces against you. And let me warn you all: while you have been busy with Black Hand and building up your forces. The Remnant have been busy with theirs. Do not underestimate their abilities” Jones said.

“Noted. Tell me about the Arkanians” Griff pressed.

“Slaves. They have been under close observation by the Council ever since the council set up shop on Arkania. They are not allowed any freedoms, and this includes being anywhere near a weapon, ship, or commander.”

“The Federation Remnant has learned from the Empire’s mistakes” Griff murmured.

“Yes. But however, the Arkanians are very adaptive. It seems that the Arkanians have formed a rebellion to fight the Federation” Jones said, looking directly at Griff.

“We are in contact with these rebels?” Griff asked.

“Yes. The Project has been supplying them with weapons, particularly exploseives, for months. When we make our move, so will they” Jones said.

“Good. We are taking the Defiant and the rest of the fleet. Admiral Keyan, prepare the forces. We will convene here tommorow to discuss attack strategy” Griff said.

“Dismissed”

“What do you suggest, Admiral Keyan?” Griff asked his battle coordinator for the mission.

“Attack Dreba and use it as a staging point for a starfighter attack on Arkania itself” Keyan said.

“Starfighter attack?” Admiral Krakken asked, surprised.

“Yes. I do not see the wisdom in sacrificing our capital ships” Keyan replied evenly.

“But what about the Remnant’s capital ships?” Krakken shot back.

A new voice interjected itself into the conversation, “I suggest a starfighter assault on Arkania while the fleet destroys Dreba’s defenses” Vice Admiral Vorn said.

Griff looked around the table at his core of fleet leaders, who helped him command Black Hand’s navy. First there was Admiral Keyan, a man of about thirty with brown hair and a striking face. He was also a very old friend of Griff who had convinced his entire fleet group to defect to Griff’s newly formed hidden faction. He had stayed by Griff’s side ever since. Griff trusted him more than any other at the table.

Then you had Admiral Krakken, a large man, with a clean shaven face and a perfect uniform that he kept with every medal and ribbon he possessed. The man was competent but was better suited to governing a planet or city than actual fleet battles.

Then you had Vice Admiral Vorn, commander of the Starfighter Corps. He was also a trusted friend of Griff, despite his age. He was in his late twenties and had graduated top of his class at the Federation Naval Academy.

“I agree, Admiral Vorn. The fleet will enter the system with all Birds of Prey’s cloaked. The Defiant and her escorts will engage Dreba’s defenses from the front whil the Birds of Prey decloak and attack from the rear. After victory over Dreba’s defenses, Admiral Vorn will launch his starfighter assault. Agreed?”

“Agreed” All three Admiral’s said.

“We depart in six days. Prepare all of your ships and men for the operation. I want everything in perfect shape when we engage our old enemies. Dismissed”


“Admiral” Captain Hemner, commander of the Black Hand Star Destroyer Defiant said to Joren Logan. Logan smiled as the captain addressed him. He had retired four years earlier but with his reputation and past earned him the honorary title of ‘Admiral’ even though he had given it up.

“Ten seconds till reversion from hyperspace” The Defiant’s captain reported.

Logan dutifully strapped himself into a his seat next to Hemner’s. A few seconds later, without so much as a shudder, the Star Destroyer dropped back into realspace.

Logan stared out of the forward viewport at the Flower Nebula. There were many bright colors from the gasses contained within the nebula. The area had been dutifully logged by Old Republic explorers then almost immediately forgotten. The nebula had no resources, or any other thing that would prove valuable to the modern galaxy. But to Black Hand, it was the perfect place to hide. One thing the Old Republic never knew, was that there was a planet hidden inside the nebula. Nobody knew about it, nobody cared. The Flower Nebula was far enough away from anywhere that it was of absolutely no importance.

But nevertheless, there were precautions to be taken.

“Transmit clearance code” A harsh voice suddenly said through the bridge speakers.
Logan looked through the various viewports to look at the ship who was transmitting, but could not see anything.

“Do it” Hemner said to the Encrypt officer, who busily punched in a difficult series of numbers and letters.

There was a tense silence throughout the bridge, but Logan could not understand why.

“Code accepted. Head to these coordinates, you have twenty seconds” The same voice said.

“Move it!” Hemner shouted down into the crewpits, “Get to those coordinates now”

“Already in progress sir” The officer supervising the helmsmen.

Logan had not been briefed on any of this, after all the people he was with could handle all of the small details.

The Star Destroyer lumbered to the exact coordinates which took them on a course that skimmed the nebula. They came so close to the nebula, Logan could have stuck his hand out the window and grabbed at the gasses if he had wanted to.

“Change of coordinates, twenty-five seconds” The voice said.

The helm officer altered the course again which took them even closer to the nebula. Slowly but steadily they descended into the gaseous maze. When they were completely within the gas and invulnerable to outside sensor scans, the ship that carried the person guiding them appeared.

Logan grinned when he saw the ship, a Bird of Prey.

“Defiant, this is Wraith Eight welcome to CN-1653. Follow us, please.” The same voice who had guided them said.

“Acknowledged, Eight” Hemner said, finally sitting in his chair, next to Logan.

“You performed admirably, Captain” Logan told the man.

“Thank you Admiral, I am honored to serve with you” Hemner said, smiling at Logan.

An hour later Admiral Griff stood next to the ageing Admiral Logan, and the young Admiral Keyan on the bridge of the Defiant.

“Admiral Griff, Silencer, Wraith, and Rampage Squadrons reports ready for battle” Keyan said, not looking up from his console.

“Good. Prepare for microjump into the Arkanian system” He keyed on the fleet-wide communications, “All ships, battle stations, microjump in ten seconds”

Alarm klaxons began going off on the bridge and Captain Hemner began shouting orders to both crewpits. Logan stood in the port crewpit monitoring the ship’s status while Keyan sat at his console in the starboard crewpit staring intently at a holomap of the Arkanian system.

“Now” Griff said to Keyan, who ordered all ships to begin microjump into Arkanian space.

And unceremoniously, fifteen seconds later, the entire Black Hand fleet exited hyperspace over the planet Arkania. The Federation Remnant had spotted them at the rendezvous earlier and had been forewarned, Griff saw immediately. Their fleet was already deploying in a standard picket line. Their fleet consisted of three Imperial-class Star Destroyers, three Loronar Strike Cruisers and one old Dreadnaught. They were all escorted by waves of starfighters and support ships. Black Hands forces consisted of thirty six Birds of Prey, one Imperial-class Star Destroyer, four Victory-class Star Destroyers, four Interdictors, two Lancer-class frigates, and one Aegis-class Star Cruiser.

“Admiral Logan, please transmit the signal to the Arkanian Underground rebels on the planet that they may begin their uprising. Keyan, deploy the Interdictors in a picket line behind the fleet. Wraith Squadron will accompany the Defiant in the main attack on Dreba. Silencer and Rampage squadrons, along with the Victorys, Zenith, Explorer, Shadow and Deception will form the main thrust and engage the enemy fleet” Griff ordered.

The Defiant, escorted by twelve uncloaked Birds of Prey swung to port and headed to the small moon of Dreba. It was little more than a floating roak orbited by huge orbital shipyard facilities. The shipyard defenses consisted of two orbital Golan Battle stations and one Imperial-class Star Destroyer. Keyan was busy coordinating the main thrust so Griff put on a set of headphones so he could talk directly to his ships.

“Alright. Wraiths Eight, Five, and Four, engage the starboard Golan Battle Station. Seven, Six, and Nine will engage the port station. One, Three and Two will engage the Star Destroyer with Defiant. I want Ten, Eleven and Twelve to strafe the shipyards. You have your orders” Griff said, feeling an excitement surge through him.

The enemy Star Destroyer lumbered forward firing with its turbolasers and ion cannons at the mass of Birds of Prey. All but three swooped by to their other targets while the three remaining formed up on the Defiant with one on either side and one above. Griff could see the underside of the Bird when he looked up through the forward viewport.

“Fire” Hemner ordered the Tactical officer, who was in charge of all the gunners on board. The Defiant fired a salvo of laserfire, while the three escorting Birds of Prey swooped in and made a run on the enemy Star Destroyer. The enemy, focusing on the Defiant, reacted sluggishly to the maneuverable Birds, who swooped by with all weapons blazing. The Defiant fired again and again, this time will all weapons, concussion missiles, proton torpedoes, ion cannons, and turbolasers. The enemy ignored the shots and attempted to dive down and under the Defiant to use the other ship as a cover from the Birds of Prey.

“Launch fighters” Hemner ordered and a minute later seventy-two Tie Defenders dropped out of the Defiant’s launch bay, witch happened to be on the underside of the vessel. The enemy Star Destroyer was caught completely unawares as every fighter in the Defiant’s launch bay descended upon it like an avenging wind. At that moment, all three attacking Birds of Prey made a simultaneous attack run on the enemy. The Star Destroyer succumbed to the withering barrage. The underside of the ship erupted in an explosion and the ship began breaking up in other places.

Griff ignored the destroyed ship and focused on the overall attack. The port Golan was listing as various explosions erupted from it, and the Birds of Prey Griff had sent to destroy it had joined in the attack on the starboard Golan. A section of the battle station went dark as small gouts of flame began to erupt from several different fissures in the battle station’s armor. The three Birds of Prey Griff had sent to the shipyards were busily strafing the huge yards, and chasing away the few defensive guns and fighters it had.

The battle against the enemy fleet in orbit around Arkania was also going well for Black Hand. All of the enemy Star Destroyers were either destroyed or disabled. And the remains of the fleet were heading fast for open space, fleeing the battle like cowards.

“Things are wrapping up nicely. Admiral Logan, begin landing your troops.”

Logan grinned. “As ordered”

As Logan entered the turbolift Griff turned to him and called out, “Or is it General Logan now?”

His question was answered with a smile from Logan as the doors closed.