The Rebel Faction

{Takeover of unknown asteroid field – Codenamed “Sanctuary Base”}






Deep Space



The Bird of Prey moved silently through the emptiness of space.

Like a predator.

The Onyxian sun, merely a distant ball of orange glinted in the desolate darkness. What light it gave off this far away glinted off the Bird’s wings, which were emblazoned with the symbol of the Galactic Coalition.

Logan squinted as he looked out into the empty void, trying to keep the light out of his eyes. His cabin was positioned directly over the starboard wing, and his view port was not dimmed very well.


He tried to block out the three different voices coming from behind him. His direct superior, Jan Dondana, was trying to settle a heated argument between a Cren, and an Azgaurd.

Drawa, the Cren, sat back in his chair, “Those funds are needed to create more schools for the children of Farquak! Half the youth populace cannot even read and you Azgaurds want to steal it from us!”

Creole, the Azgaurd, made a hissing noise, “And three cities on Azgaurd rely solely on airdropped water supplies. That money is needed to create dams on the rivers to divert the flow to those poor thirsty citizens.” He said quietly.

Drawa snorted, “Unimportant –“

“Gentlemen…” Dondana interjected.

But Creole shook his head, “I will not sit here and argue with the Cren while those people have to ration their water.”

Drawa glared, “Azgaurds!” He said venomously, “You control everything! Including the entire Coalition. The Cren Alliance has just overthrown our Imperial oppressors and I will not trade one dictator ten thousand lightyears away, for ten thousand dictators one lightyear away!”

But Creole remained calm, not rising to the Cren’s challenge, “Your matters are important. But ours our necessary.”

“Necessary! How dare-“

“Enough. Both of you.” Logan quietly.

Both aliens took notice of Logan’s annoyed tone of voice, looking up at him as he turned from the view port. He stared at the both of them balefully. He hated politicians. Almost as much as he hated being around them.

But he could not help but privately agree with Drawa’s assessment that the Azgaurds were in complete control of the Coalition government, although he would never admit it to anyone else.

“Save it for the summit, will you?” He said simply, not hiding his annoyance.

The Bird of Prey Tomed had been in hyperspace three days now. It had left Azgaurd with Logan, Creole, and Dondana, en route to Farquak – the new allies and members of the Coalition – and had picked up Drawa. Now they were dropping Logan off at Onyx, before heading to Bimmisaari for an economic summit where Drawa and Creole were set to attend.

The Coalition, still building its economy up, was holding the summit to decide where the remainder of the public works budget should go. Most of the money had already been used on other things, and they were allocating the rest of it out. The Cren wanted to establish new learning centers, while the Azgaurds needed it for a variety of public works projects, including the dams.

Creole was about to say something, but stopped, as did Drawa.

“The Coalition is still an infant government, and is still trying to build up its economy and military. We must all have patience with it, as it is still trying to establish its identity. Soon enough, the budget will expand.” Logan said.

Unless the Azgaurds take it first Logan finished the sentence silently.

He was not xenophobic in any sense. But he did harbor an intense distrust for the Azgaurdian race. Ever since Regrad had, without notifying anyone in advance, moved the Coalition capital from Mon Calamari, to Azgaurd, Logan had been suspicious.

He did not trust Regrad in the least, or any of the Azgaurds for that matter.

It looked to him as if they were solidifying their power.

Which is what Palpatine did when he was elected Supreme Chancellor. Logan thought bitterly.

He was a young man when that had happened, barely out of his teens.

It just looked too much like the Azgaurds were making sure no one could oppose them…


At least to him.






Onyx – six hours later




“I am not a politician.” Joren Logan said.

He looked out at the twelve people gathered at the conference table. He was in new Stonia, the new capital of the Onyxian Commonwealth.

A few days earlier, Regrad had granted Logan a consulship over the Onyxian region. Which meant it was a separate government that was run by a council made up of residents of current Onyxian Commonwealth planets. Notable councilors included Iemus, a Cragmoloid chieftain from Ankus, Strota, a human representing Generis, Golgna, a human from Onyx, Shree, a shape shifting Shi’ido from Sh’shuun, and others.

Seven councilors represented actual words. The five remaining members of the council were all from Onyx and served as “temporary council members”. As more planets joined the Commonwealth, they would send representatives to the Council, which would fill the positions of the temps.

Now Logan faced the entire council, “I am not a politician.” He repeated, “I am a soldier and my place is on the battlefield.

He was tired of beating around the bush when it came to these people. For once he just wanted to be blunt.

“I am the leader of the Commonwealth, but I am appointing someone more suited to the…rigors of politicking than myself.” He said, stepping aside.

From behind him, stepped a human man in perhaps his fifties with gray hair.

“This is Dean Doran, the former New Alliance ambassador to the Empire. He served with me back in…” He smiled at Doran, “…the good ‘ol days. He will be taking my place as the head of this council and will confer with me on all decisions.”


No one spoke, all of them apparently agreeing with this unusual twist. Logan nodded satisfactorily as the meeting got under way. Doran stepped up and slid right into his role as the head, pulling a datapad from his bag and immediately taking charge of the meeting.

Logan folded his arms and sat back slightly.



Good

The Star Destroyer Sentinel reverted to real space right behind the old Bird of Prey.

Standing by the main view port, Logan folded his arms and regarded Xander Griff's vessel. The ship was obviously a prototype, probably the first ever built. The Sovereignty Ghost-class Birds of Prey were excellent fast-attack vessels, but the first versions of them had serious design flaws.

As Farfalen showed so devastatingly at the battle of Kessel, they had only a very basic shields, and weak armor. When Sovereignty engineers designed the vessel, the apparently put all focus on the engines and weapons, reasoning the vessel would not need power-consumers such as heavy shields due to the speed of the ship.

After the Coaliton absorbed the remnants of the Sovereignty, Griff apparently snatched up the old vessel as he went underground, and hiding in some dark hole in the galaxy.

And now it could be leading Logan and his flagship into a trap.

Commander Foster, Logan's second in command, stepped up behind the Captain quietly, "Captain... do you think he is going to betray us?"

Logan shook his head, "Somehow I doubt it. The Black Hand is well equipped, but this is a fully-armed mark two Star Destroyer. I don't think they have the resources yet to take us on." he said quietly.

Normally, that would have been enough for Foster, but the younger man did not move away, "Nevertheless sir, I think it would be wise to call for reinforcements." Foster said, shifting his feet.

Logan turned to regard Foster, "No. That will scare him off."

"But-"

Logan cut him off with a wave of his hand, "Xander Griff is an honorable man that much I know. He did declare war on the Empire, and urge the Coalition to do the same, but he did it because he believed, as I do, that the Empire is evil, and is a threat to the entire galaxy." He said, causing Foster to stiffen slightly.

Apparently, Foster did not have the same veiws, "Permission to speak freely sir."

"Granted."

"I think it is a mistake to turst that man. He plunged the Galaxy into war just to satisfy a hungar for conquest... and now I think he is still trying to feed it. By leading us out into the Unknown Regions, he could ambush us, and destroy our ship without any one finding out for quite a while." Foster stopped, as an idea suddenly seem to come to him as he began pacing the bridge around Logan, "Or perhaps his objective is to ambush us and then board, intending on capturing the Sentinel."

Logan smiled, "I understand your concerns. And I assure you, if Griff tries anything underhanded, he will be destroyed."

Foster seemed satisfied – for now at least.

Logan continued, “Get a targeting solution on his ship with the fore turbolasers, and order the fighter crews on standby. Have tractor beams standing ready to take hold of the Bird of Prey.” He ordered.

Foster spun on his heel and headed off to his command console to give out the orders. Logan turned back to his view of space, and the Bird of Prey as the old warship angled itself for a new hyperspace jump. The navigational crew in the port crewpit reported, “Receiving new jump coordinates…”

The Bird of Prey abruptly disappeared into hyperspace again, followed closely by the lumbering Star Destroyer.






Six hours later




The two ships again reverted to real space, but this time not to redirect themselves back into hyperspace. This time as the Bird of Prey, upon exiting hyperspace, angled toward a huge asteroid field. The sensor crew began reporting on the field almost immediately, “Size of the field is three times the size of the Alderaan field, and twice that of field near Hoth…I’m seeing three hundred individual asteroids larger than one thousand meters and thousands of smaller ones…”

The officer continued to list measurements, but Logan was most fascinated by the scale of the field. It was monstrous, taking up the entire view port, and almost blotting out the stars.

“Receiving a transmission from the Bird.” Foster reported to Logan.

“Put him on.” Logan replied, still gazing out the view port.

“Welcome to Sanctuary.” The voice of Xander Griff boomed over the bridge speakers.



***


“There is a base in there?” Logan asked as he took a seat at his desk in his private office.

Griff, without his guards, took a seat across from the Captain. Mahk watched from a comfortable distance near the door.

“Yes, but it is completely abandoned. It used to be a Sovereignty research base, but was abandoned when Bakura fell to the Black Dragons and the war ended. We have only recently been refurbishing it.” Griff replied, pouring himself a glass of Corellian brandy that Logan had provided.

“Where is it located?’ Logan asked, trying to conceal his curiosity.

“On one of the bigger asteroids deep within the field. It is almost completely inaccessible, and only specially modified ships can make it in or out. We call them RoidJumpers.” Griff replied, downing the brandy and pouring another glass.

“And the base is intact?”

“Completely. We just finished major repairs.” Griff replied.

Logan sat back, steeping his fingers together as he stared at the other man. Something just didn’t seem right to Logan. Right when Logan dearly needed a good base for his new elite force, and a good person to train them, Griff comes waltzing into Coalition space with both.

“What to you want in return?” Logan asked, looking directly at Griff.

Griff grinned, “Ah that.”

Griff pointed out the view port toward the Bird of Prey, which was maintaining a healthy distance from the larger Star Destroyer, “That is one piece of shit.” He said pointing.

“So you want a ship.” Logan said.

“Not any ship. I want a fully outfitted Bird of Prey, brand new with all the new upgrades.” Griff said, “And in return you get the base, and the Praetorian Guard.”

There was a new twist.

“Your personal guard?” Logan asked.

“You need trainers for your new force. They will fit the bill nicely. They are the finest soldiers in all of the former Sovereignty and in the Black Hand. They will do an excellent job of helping to create your force.” Griff replied, setting down his glass after downing it, “As long as you provide them their standard salaries, and understand that they are Black Hand agents under contract by the Galactic Coalition.”

Logan nodded. Seemed like a good deal.

“I will make this deal, “Logan said, “But I will not give you a Bird of Prey. Instead, I will modify your existing prototype with all the new Bird upgrades. The whole process takes about a month I believe.”

A cloud passed over Griff’s face, “Logan-“ He began to protest but Logan cut him off, “We do not have any spare Birds of Prey lying around, but we do have an abundance in resources and parts for them. You can either accept that deal, which will only mean you will have to wait a month instead of a week to get your Bird, or I can arrest you now, seize your ship, and try you all for espionage.”

Griff stared at Logan for a moment, before his angry demeanor disappeared as abruptly as it came.

“Agreed.” Griff said.

Logan smiled, “Now, how many RoidJumpers do you have?”

The torrent of rain stormed down. It was raining across Onyx's northern hemisphere. Most of the planet's inhabitants, the citizens of New Stonia, the one and only true city on Onyx, and the outlying, smaller settlements had already taken shelter in their homes. The same could be said of the Onyxian tribes, who had probably evacuated their tent camps in the great forests of Onyx and moved to the safety of the mountains.

But not here.

In a small, plain field in the middle of nowhere, no one was fleeing for shelter.


"You are not men!" Darius Koban, of the Praetorian Guard, shouted at the top of his lungs at the hundred or so recruits standing at perfect attention, despite the storm.

"YOU ARE NOT SOLDIERS. YOU ARE NOTHING UNTIL I SAY OTHERWISE!"

He held a wooden sword in his left hand as he marched down the ranks of Coalition recruits, who were hoping to join the new, elite force Logan was paying them to create.

An aide provided to him by the Coalition handed him a personal loudspeaker, which he took, "You are all just a speck of worthless intelligence! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!?

"YES SIR!" In unison.

"I am going to turn you into the most dangerous men in the galaxy. You will do what i say, when I say, and listen carefully to everything as I will not repeat myself." He said, walking slowly down the ranks. The recruits, for their part, did a very good job of keeping their eyes straight ahead, and their bodies still.

"YES SIR!"



***


Logan watched in silence as the five members of Griff's Praetorian Guard each took twenty soldiers under their command and began a difficult exercise regimen. Within mere minutes, the recruits’ faces were streaming with not just rain, but heavy beads of sweat as well.

Logan folded his arms, watching in stony silence as Mahk stood next to him, along with Dean Doran, and the members of the High Council, who were watching from the dry air car hovering twenty meters away. Doran seemed not to be bothered by the rain, not even using an umbrella or a rain coat. Logan liked that about him, it made the man seem more "real". He had made a good choice in choosing the head of the High Council.



An hour passed, and Logan still stood in the exact same spot, as did Mahk and Doran. Another hour passed and the aircar carrying the High Council turned and sped away toward New Stonia.

Still, Logan stood.

Soon only he and Mahk were left, soaked to the bone, alone in the rain, watching the distant figures practice hand-to-hand fighting techniques. Mahk made a noise, and Logan turned and appraised the diminutive Noghri.

"A thought?" He asked his bodyguard.

"They are good." He grunted, nodding his head toward the Praetorian Guardians who were conducting the training.

Logan made a face, "Think so?"

"However, it remains to be seen if they will turn those green recruits into effective warriors."

Logan frowned at Mahk, "They are hardly green. They are all veterans of multiple battles, and are all ranked the highest on status charts..."

Mahk waved him off, which Logan knew was highly unusual for a Noghri, "Nonsense. Enemies do not look at status charts."

"Then what do they look at?"

"They look into your eyes. My enemies know I am a warrior before they even fight me." Mahk said, turning his small, dark gaze onto Logan. Logan knew exactly what he meant.


"You think you could do better?" Logan asked.

"I know I could." Mahk said with certainty.

"The Praetorian Guard will do just fine." A voice spoke up from behind Logan. Neither Logan nor Mahk turned to greet the newcomer both had heard the small stealthy shuttle land a few minutes before.

"They seem to be doing fine." Logan said with a shrug.

Xander Griff brought the hood of his robe more tightly around him, "As promised."

Logan didn't bother to ask why Griff was there, he already knew that a beat up Bird of Prey had received clearance to enter the shipyards hours ago. Griff probably just had gotten things cleared with the technicians assigned to upgrade the ship.


"What are you going to call them?" Griff asked, gesturing to the recruits.

Logan hadn't thought about that. He had been so preoccupied with getting recruits for the elite force that he hadn't thought of a name.

"Perhaps you should let them name themselves?" Mahk suggested.

Griff looked down at the Noghri and shrugged, "Sounds like a good idea."

Logan nodded, "Very well then."

It had been four hours since the training had started, and Logan's bones were starting to ache from exposure to the elements and from standing in the exact same place for hours. But he ignored the pain, pushing thoughts of leaving out of his mind. He wanted to see the training of his force first hand.

The three simply stood in the storm, watching the recruits and their trainers as they began a ten kilometer run. Logan watched as they came toward them, not moving. Griff folded his arms across his chest, giving the recruits a baleful, if uninterested stare as they ran closer.

"Where do you plan to go next, Logan?" Griff asked, as if to make conversation.

"Seppia." Logan replied, naming a planet in the nearby Seppian Centrality, just inside the borders of the Unknown Regions, and just outside the Onyxian Province borders.

"Ah. Making peace with the neighbors are we?" Griff asked genially.

Logan laughed a humorless laugh, "Something like that."

"The Seppians have been at war with Trogodor Minor for centuries..." Griff remarked.

Logan grimaced. Griff was well informed. The Seppian-Trogodor conflict had raged in a little, backwater corner of the Unknown Regions for about two hundred years. Not many people knew - or cared - about it. Recently, a battle between the two warring nations had taken place in Onyxian Commonwealth territory, and Logan was going to a summit with the two factions to discuss a peace treaty. Logan was scheduled to go in about two weeks, after he got his elite force off the ground, as well as organizing the Onyxian Defense Force.

Regrad was providing him full shipyard facilities at Onyx, Valacar, and Ilum, but other than that, the Coalition had provided very little in the way of a current defense force. Just a dozen or so warships. Logan's task was to get the shipyards fully operational and producing - not a task he envied.

Logan wondered just how much Griff knew about it all.

Griff grinned, slapped Logan on the back, and left. After a few minutes, his shuttle took off and headed for space.

Leaving Logan alone with Mahk.

"I don't like him very much." Mahk remarked to no one in particular.

"Me neither."