Taken from Across the Stars: Sovereign Unity
"Joren Logan, there are times when a call has rang out in the galaxy for courageous people to fight against the chaos. Sometimes those calls are silenced by fools, sometimes by trajedy.
I know you have lost everything and nothing I can offer you will ever replace what you have lost.
But I sound the call out to you Logan.
The Empire can lose Logan. We live with that fact every single day when we fight the chaos that would rip us asunder. It is a reality and the day we stop believing it, we will fall."
Kaine extended his hand, "Help me restore Order to anarchy. Help me wipe the board clean of fools!
And perhaps, just perhaps, we might leave this life with some measure of meaning.”
Bakura – Sovereignty Headquarters - Six Days Prior to Imperial Incursion
The two Black Hand agents stopped just inside the darkened room. Across the room was a full length window, with the moonlight filtering through the transparisteel. In front of the window, holding a mug in one hand was a figure dressed in a simple black and red tunic.
“Come in gentlemen.” The figure said.
The two agents walked up cautiously, “Mr. President.” One of them said. He handed President Griff a datapad. The other handed him a data card. Griff took both and inserted the card into the pad.
After a moment Griff looked up and glanced out the window thoughtfully. One of the agents thought he heard the President mutter, “So that is where you went…hiding on that little rock still?”
President Griff turned to the two agents, “Bring him to me.”
Onyx – Unknown Regions/Residence of Joren Logan
Sleep was difficult for a man to get most of the time. Sometimes it was having too much to eat, or maybe being sick, but for an old man and retired soldier, it was more difficult to sleep than usual. Joren Logan was a former leader of the New Alliance, former Admiral in the New Republic, Jutraalian, Sovereignty, and Imperial navies. He had survived countless battles, negotiated truces between sworn enemies, faced off with some of the best military commanders in the Galaxy… but he still had trouble sleeping.
“Admiral.”
He looked up as a young woman stepped into the room. She had perfect flowing blonde hair and wondrous figure, but he knew she was merely a droid. It had been provided to him by his bodyguard, a Noghri by the name of Mahk. The synthdroid was designed to take care of him, or so Mahk had said. Joren merely found it annoying.
“Yes Cassidy. I am awake.” He said with a groan, standing up at the foot of his bed.
“Oh, but you shouldn’t stand. Here, lay down. I brought you a cup of tea.” The droid intoned in a human voice.
“I hate tea. I want Corellian or Almanian brandy.” He protested.
Cassidy ignored him, her caretaker programs automatically kicking in, “But you know that alcohol is not good for a man of your age.” She said as he grimaced. He took the cup of tea and downed it dutifully.
“Yes, thank you Cassidy. I will have much better luck at getting to sleep now.” He said, hoping she’d go away. To his delight, she did, closing the door, and returning the room to it’s customary darkness.
“I am so tired of this. I hate just…relaxing.” He said into the air, hoping someone, somewhere could hear him.
Later…
“Oh…hello!” The synthdroid Cassidy said as she opened the front door of Admiral Logan’s home.
The three figures standing on the other side of the door observed her for three seconds until they struck.
*
Logan awoke to a scream. His first thought was Cassidy had fallen or something. But then his old battle instincts kicked in and he realized that something was very wrong. He sat up in his bed and focused on the door way, where he thought he saw a very tall figure standing.
“Who is there?” He asked, groping around for the blaster that he always kept near him. He realized with horror that it was missing, Cassidy had probably found it and removed it.
“Joren Logan.” A deep voice intoned.
“Yes.” Joren responded, finally able to make out a silhouette in the doorway, “Who are you?”
“Black Hand.” The other said.
Logan finally understood. He had kept up with recent events. He knew full well that the Sovereignty and the Empire were at war. He had served the Empire for a short time before decided to give retirement another try. He realized now that Griff must have decided that Logan was a ‘loose end’ that must be tied up.
“You are here to kill me then.” Logan said with certainty, realizing he was about to die.
The other did not answer. Logan felt a hand sliding across his throat from his left as another – vastly oversized for any human – hand grabbed him from the right. The last thing he saw was Cassidy’s smoking durasteel body laying in pieces outside of his room and Mahk’s limp form lying near it…
Bird Of Prey – Khomm System – Three Hours Prior to Imperial Incursion
They say that before you die, your life flashes before you. Then immediately following that, you go down a long white tunnel, and from there, you go to your final resting place. The first thing Joren Logan saw as he awoke as a very bright light.
“What…?” He asked into the glare.
“No. You are not dead yet.” A voice said. It was not the same as the night before.
“Where am I?” Logan asked.
“A Bird of Prey.” The other voice answered.
Joren nodded, understanding, “I assume you are my interrogator, then.” He said, the light finally dimming and he able to see around him. He was in a pristine white room, and the other voice was a man dressed in the atypical red and black Black Hand uniform. His rank was a Captain. He could not be twenty five years old.
The Captain nodded, “Why do you assume that?”
“You obviously want to get information out of me. Probably because of my Imperial ties, and the fact that I am here, with you instead of dead.”
The Captain nodded, “Easily figured. But I must say, your record is impressive, Admiral.”
“It is just Joren, now.”
“Ah.”
“Let’s get on with it.” He said flatly, staring at the Captain who was glancing over a nondescript file – Logan’s file – presumably.
“As you wish. You know of the recent events, no? I mean, you do get some sort of Holonet feed out on that rock?”
“Oh yes. And you know, Onyx is nicer than it looks. In fact, I named a mountain range to the east…”
“Shut up.” The captain said. Logan smiled.
“As you wish.” The former Admiral deadpanned.
“Have you had any contact with any Imperial forces during your stay on Onyx?” The Captain asked.
“Oh yes. Simon Kaine and I are good friends. As a matter of fact he was out there a week or so ago, we ate Kowokian Monkey Lizards along with tea.” Logan said, amused with the young, inexperienced captain.
“Funny. Your file doesn’t do you justice.” The Captain said.
“Oh, please. Could we get this done soon? I have things I have to do.” Logan said.
“Listen to me, old man. You do when I say, how I say, and what I say at all times. Understand?”
Logan merely laughed, “You know. I have lead armies into battle, I have matched wits with some of the finest military minds in history, but here I am, sitting here with Captain Squirt, who has an ego bigger than the Hoth asteroid belt. Why don’t you just shut the hell up and get me the real guy in charge.” Logan said.
The Captain backed out of the room.
Bird Of Prey – Khomm System - Three Hours Later
"Admiral Logan, welcome to the bridge."
Joren Logan nodded as he stepped on to the bridge of the Bird of Prey. It's layout had changed dramatically, but he had known that an upgrade to the ship was inevitable. The captain of the vessel was Captian Braxton, formerly of the ISD
Restoration - the ship that had ferried him to his meeting with Kaine and the
Galactus.
"Captain Braxton, been while." Logan responded, looking around. He had been escorted by two armed guards to the bridge at his request. He had demanded that he were allowed to speak with the Captain.
"Please, let us go to the conference room" Braxton said. Logan nodded and followed the other to a small, four person conference table in a small room to the rear of the bridge.
After they were both seated Braxton's smile faded, "I do apologize about the treatment you have recieved. It was not in my power to prevent it."
Logan nodded, "Understandable. It was not that bad."
"Indeed. I suppose you would like to know why you are here..."
"Yes. But I already have a few good ideas."
"I'm sure. The order for your... capture came directly from the President. With this war going on, we cannot afford to have a former Imperial commander on the sidelines."
"I see."
"So, this Bird of Prey, the
Tomed was placed under my temporary command and tasked with the job of going to Onyx and bringing you to a safe Sovereignty world."
"Ah. And what world is that?"
"Khomm."
"The cloning world...?"
Braxton shrugged, "Those were my orders..."
Before Logan could respond, the comm chimed, "Captain Braxton, there is a priority message coming in for you. It is a tactical update." Someone said via the comm.
"Understood. I am on my way." He looked up at Logan, "Admiral,... if you would accompany me."
"Of course."
The two both headed back out to the bridge, where Braxton took a seat at the console in front of the command chair. He read the scrolling text quietly, murmuring, "Thats odd..."
Logan's eyebrows both raised, "Something the matter?"
"Yes. A Strike Class Cruiser has been spotted, heading for Khomm. It appears to be heavy damage, and the captain reports it has been the victim of piracy..."
Logan frowned, "Piracy? A Strike Cruiser?"
"Yeah..."
"That is odd." Logan replied.
"I know. The thing is rather heavily armed, it is designed to fight off other ships." Braxton said, trailing off.
"The New Alliance, as well as the New Republic made extensive use of them. They aren't a cargo craft and they are supposed for Capital-to-Capital ship battles." Logan said.
"I know. And as far as I know, there aren't many of them in existance. I beleive the Sovereignty only has two." Braxton said.
"Deny the cruiser access to any ORS institution, and expel them from ORS space." Logan said, realizing something.
Braxton looked up with a confused look, "What? What if they really are damaged as a result of a confrontation with pirates..."
Logan sighed, "What pirate group operates within ORS space?"
"There are none. President Griff introduced laws to crack down on that..."
Logan nodded again, "And who operates anywhere near ORS space?"
"A few groups." Braxton said.
"Any large enough to cause damage to a Strike Cruiser?" Logan continued.
"No..."
"And why would it come this deep inside ORS space? There are more neutral and Imperial worlds closer." Logan said.
"Yeah..."
Braxton seemed indeciseive. He knew that if he refused the Cruiser, he could be written up, but if he allowed the Cruiser, he could have a more serious problem on his hands. Finally, he stood, vacating the command chair.
"Admiral Logan, I would appreciate you taking command of the
Tomed." He said. Logan nodded once and looked to the communication officer.
"Get in touch with Border Patrol. Tell them to expel the Strike Cruiser from ORS space." Logan ordered, feeling his old command senses coming back to him.
"Yes sir." The young officer said, getting to work.
"Captain Braxton, what other ships are nearby? And what vessels are allocated to the border patrol?"
"Border Patrol has a few Interdictors, as well as two destroyers... and there is a Bird of Prey Squadron stationed near Khomm itself."
"Sir...Border Patrol acknowledges. They are en-route now." The communications officer said.
"Good. Get me in contact with the rest of the fleet. Put them on alert." Logan replied.
Braxton frowned, "Isn't this a bit much for just a Strike Cruiser?"
"No. There are Imperial forces in-system." Logan said.
"What!?"
"Yes. It is an interesting tactic, but I would not put it past them. Order Khomm Planetary Defense to raise the shield and to prepare defenses."
"Done."
The Strike Cruiser was denied access any further into ORS space. Interdictor Cruisers, stationed within the system powered up their gravity wells and two Bakura-class Destroyers moved to intercept the Strike Cruiser, with twelve Birds moving to back up the Bakuras.
Manifest
2 Bakura - Class Destroyers
4 Interdictor - Class Cruisers
12 Birds of Prey
1 Planetary Defense Shield (Khomm)
