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


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...Vinda-Corp HQ...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



*...The small figure of an unassuming, slender young woman, picked her way through the busy offices, clutching a data-pad, virtually unnoticed by all and sundry.
Vinda-Corp's HQ was still a hive of activity, even if the man himself was not around....

...business as usual....*


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..too many people here....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


*...(Yana thought to herself), as she manouvered her way in and out of the corridors, her small legs having to work double-speed to weave her way around the huge building...
..as she walked she felt a slight vibration in her pocket...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> not now!?...dammit!...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*..Sighing to herself, the woman quickened her pace, until she reached an office door. as she walked in , Yana glanced quickly down the corridor to check she had not been seen.

Typing in a passcode , Yana Locked the office-door behind her, then swiftly checked she was alone...
reaching into her pocket, Yana pulled out a tiny comms-link, and activated it...*


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...what took you so long?...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ..I had to find somewhere quiet..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...status?....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ....condition green...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ....is he there?...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ....negative...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ....excellent!...you have access?...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ....affirmative...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...then you know what to do?...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ....yes...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...we will contact you at 0500 hrs ...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ....affirmative...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...don't fail us...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ....I won't...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


*..With a low-pitched beep the comm-link de-activated, Yana paused for a moment, as if contemplating on what had just transpired...then quickly made her way out of the office....*

The creatures lumbered closer.

Leia felt danger. In her peripheral vision she saw Tyscio draw his saber. She felt his surprise, she shared it. But something made her hold back, made her watch, wait....

Then suddenly, inexplicably, some new presence appeared in the Force that she could not target or feel out. It was searching, looking for something...

A subtle change in the feel told her that the 'thing' had found it's target.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What 'thing?' The Yuzzhan Vong don't have the Force!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

A look up at the approaching creatures changed her mind.

The creatures were looking in her direction now. Then they leapt forward, bounding in surprisingly huge strides.... directly at her and Tyscio.

Now her hand swiped down and unclipped her saber from her belt. She was willing to bet anything that these were the Force sentients, and at the moment she didn't care to question why or how. First came survival.

"We have to get out of here" She shouted at Tyscio, found he was shouting the same thing at her.

She hurtled herself out of the trench, no longer willing to compromise the others' safety there if another one of those invisible walls went flying in her direction.

When she came out of her roll she found Tyscio was beside her. Leia's green saber flashed brightly as she ignited it, she had no idea what Tyscio was doing, she was focused on other things.

The Yuzzhan Vong were not throwing thud bugs anymore.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> We're out in the open, why don't they cut us down?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

The creatures stopped, still a considerable distance away.

"Wha....?" Leia started. Then the lead creature appeared to burp. A huge blob of some spit, Leia guessed, came hurtling towards Leia and Tyscio. They dove out of the way, and the blob splatted the ground. Leia sat up and cast a quick glance at where she had been standing moments ago.

The dirt was sizzling. The spit stuff was eating away at it.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Might be a good idea not to get hit with any of that....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Leia stood up, the next creature was preparing to do a burp thing. Leia looked sidelong at Tyscio.

"Plan?"

The next creature burped, and the next blob flew at them, forcing them to seperate again.

"Guess not"

Leia took off at a flat out run towards the creatures, dodging spit blobs as they suddenly started to come in greater numbers. As those around her were learning with both difficulty and amusement, Leia was more prone to act first, think later, despite her Jedi ways.

Well, it hadn't killed her yet, had it?

A distinctive drone, just compelling the spine to curl, tattered the grounded corridors of New Republic Central Command, situated within the inner-catacombs of Corellia. Officers navigated amongst themselves, strings of ensigns attentively followed, and even more, gawky droids stumbled in the baffling confusion of it all. Overall, nothing mandating that shrieking alarm should have been a surprise… times had changed, evidently. Subsequent to hours of conference, however, it would all become clear.



“Leia…playing legionnaire and anticipating reinforcement, is she now? Unfortunately my hands are tied…send an auxiliary convoy…now.”

...Outmarches....

Miles grinned happily, relieved that Vinda understood him.

"Thanks for understanding, Mr. Vinda."

He made his way out if the command area, stopping suddenly to turn and look at Vinda.

"Good luck," He said softly, a hint of worry in his eyes.[/i]

He then made his way to locate security.

Better to be safe than sorry....

He was going back to Bonadan, back to Vinda Corp but he was leaving behind everything else. It seemed no matter where he went on this mission, he would always leave something or someone behind, he hoped not permanently. Uncertainty filled his mind, and it would be that way until the mission at hand was over.

As Miles boarded his armed escort all he could think of was what was to come. Where would everyone that he knew, be in less than twenty-four hours? Would he ever see any of them again?

Mr. Vinda's words rang in his ears as the escort set into hyberspace, on it's way to Bonadan.

"...best leave now, we don't know what other surprises we are going to find...."

Don't suppose you mean the good kind of surprises, Mr. V? No, I don't think you do....

Miles looked out his viewport, the uncertainty he felt never leaving him.

Time Lapse...

Quite a few hours later Miles found himself and his escort heading into one of many of Bonadan's docking bay area's, clueless as to the happenings of Vinda Corp.

Seth...

(The sound came, a familar voice but disjointed and hallow.)

Seth...

(The voice repeated, this time getting Seth's full attention. He knew who it was, but not what it wanted.)

8

4

7

3

5

9

1

7

0

(Came the voice, slowly, accurately, and nothing.)

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ..aboard the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Blaze of Glory<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->..<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->




The rather petite blond haired Caprician woman nearly ran into the Engineer's Mate on her way to the source of the growing commotion.

"How are we doing?" she inquired quickly, noting for the first time the grime inherent with machinery mechanics that had found it's way onto her otherwise soft hands and cheeks.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I am going to have a bloody time washing this out of my hair!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->,

she smirked to herself as she inclined an ear to her engineering companion.

"Most of the external structural damage has been isolated and

surrounding areas secured." the man nearly breathless got out.

He stopped, resting for a minute, and turned to Scipio, "Internal systems are another matter."

"Weapons? Shields?" She didn't want to think about not having the grim necessities of warefare..especially in hostile territory.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> When did the Caprician System become "hostile territory"?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The man sighed and Scipio instantly realized that the man hadn't slept in quite a while.

"Weapons are a mess. We are keeping shields up around critical areas but it's getting next to impossible to funnel power to them."

"Engines giving you trouble?"

"The engine core is fine. We can generate an enormous amount of energy manually, however, distributing the power to the needed systems.. that's the trick. With the internal damage we've taken, most systems are unreliable. The Command and Control functions for power distribution are found on the bridge. And with internal security down, with damage to many decks, the emergency automation center closed off the bridge to prevent enemy access. Which, incidentally, prevents us from getting to it as well."

Scipio grunted. "You Imps are a paranoid bunch."

The Engineer threw out a tired smile, "We're alive aren't we?"

"Point." the Caprician Ambassador conceded.

"Some of your people are helping us cut through to the bridge but it's going to take time."

"Wouldn't the bridge personnel guess what needs to be done?"

"It's possible," the Imperial man agreed, "but unlikely. If they are as smashed as we are, they may need to locate secondary control systems and reroute...and who thinks of how to do that but Engineers?"


Scipio let the matter drop as they came to a group of soldiers standing ready with weapons raised.

"Something's alive in there."

"..penetrated the perimeter.."

"..Damn, this guy is good!"

Scipio listened to the soldier's and suddenly the engineer stepped back as a lever came out of a wall panel and was pulled down.

The door in front of them came open manually and soldiers poured into the dark hall.

"Halt!" several shouted an an intruder, several shining their portable lights at the figure.

Scipio stepped through, her curiosity getting the better of her and she suddenly gave a yell of both joy and surprise, "Achinta!"

Heedless of the soldiers with guns, she moved in front of them and threw her arms around Mr. Vinda's right hand man. Achinta glanced down noting that her action smeared engine grime over his clothing.

"Um.. we take it you know this man, Ms. Arien?" a soldier asked dryly and suddenly the massive vessel lurched forward.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> We are under way!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"We're moving!!" someone voiced Scipio's thoughts.

The Engineer stood in the doorway and marvelled, "The.. they rerouted the power.." he said in near disbelief.


"We are moving away!"

Cheering suddenly went up throughout the halls that carried across the entire deck and the information was passed.

Scipio laughed and hugged Achinta a bit harder. Releasing him finally, she turned to a nearby soldier, "Got to hand it to him. Old Cronie still has a few more tricks up his sleeve."

And the chant reverberated throughout the deck.. "Cronus.. Cronus.. Cronus.."

The mighty Super Star Destroyer pulled away from Minos vicinity flanked by what was left of the Caprician support ships.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Payback time..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> .. The Past....<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Tallien watched as the two humans screamed in agony, their sacrifice delightful to hear.

"Tell me Xanadal, have your heard such glorious outcries?" the Yuuzhan Vong asked the Caprician captive.

"Why do you do this?" the Caprician suddenly, tiring of their game boldly asked. He half expected a backhanded hit by his captor but the Yuuzhan Vong Master Shaper simply laughed.


"Caprician, I know you toy with me. You cannot possibly believe that you pitiful infidels will stand to our conquest of this galaxy?"

"My people stood to your onslaught, Vong." Xanadal answered coldly but Tallien looked at the Caprician in undisguised amusement.

He slid a bladed finger across his tatooed cheek and contemplated a moment.

"You know, infidel, that your world still stands because we left. Our decision...not yours."

The Master Shaper seemed to come to a decision and he suddenly grasped the captive and forced him to look at the two screaming humans.

"These are Jeedai! Their herectical magic still eludes our science but rest assured, Yun-Yuuzhan gives to his children all knowledge at his appointed times. You want to know why they embrace pain, infidel?"

The Yuuzhan Vong stared at Xanadal closely and answered, "Because of you."

"Me?"

"Your world. Your people. You see, I learned from one captured that your world hides something dangerous to us."

"And you were afraid we'd use it?"

Tallien laughed again. "Not quite, my Caprician friend. It's an ability that seems to be part of your genetics...but your people don't seem to be aware of it. This is advantageous and Yun-Yuuzhan had seen fit to delivery you into our hands."

"Then why did you leave?"

"During the last battle, your people fought as bravely as any Yuuzhan Vong. You met us on the plane of decision. From small chit to old woman."

"..I don't see.."

"It was in those hours of desperation, of frantic fighting... that the ability began to manifest itself. We incurred heavy losses battling your people's invisible, if primitive, barriers. That is why our warriors did not carry the day." Then as an afterthought, "Though they were stripped of their honored positions for their failure."

He moved so Xanadal could see two large creatures move over and lay on the Jedi captives.

"They will dig into the Jeedai's skin. They will shape their minds to our will and we WILL have their magic. The God's always show us the way Caprician."

Tallien smiled. "The Jeedai powers cannot be directly used against us. This we know. They are blind to us. However, the genetic abilities of your Capricians have no such liability."

"The Jedi are powerful, Vong. Do not discount them. There are people with force abilities upon my world too."

The Master Shaper struck his hand out and sliced Xanadal's lip. "Have a care you to address infidel."

"And in this, the force will work for us. For you see, the force abilities found in your people seems to weaken their latent genetic ability. What if... "

Tallien started to pace.

"What if we could bring out this genetic ability of yours and use it to our advantage? Use your own ability to destroy your people?"

"The Jedi will stop you." Xanadal replied with confidence he did not feel at the moment, seeing the two struggle.

"Which is where these two come in." the Master Shaper pointed to the struggling Jedi under the vice-like grip of the creatures as they seemed to dig into their skin.

"They will aid in locating any Jedi nearby...direct our troops to weed them out. With both abilities under our control.. .there will be nothing that we cannot accomplish."

"And now I grow tired of you infidel. Take him away!"

The Caprician lowered his head at the implications and was led away.

"Truly a magnificent plan. Surely the Warmaster would approve." the Yuuzhan Vong murmured to himself.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




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



The four foot creature screamed once more and the snow parted again against an invisible wall.


"Guess we will have to do this the hardway.." Tyscio was saying as he pulled out his lightsaber.


His mind was still realing from the vision Leia seemed to conjure up when she touched him.


The Chazrach and their Yuuzhan Vong warrior masters halted their line and simply shouted a chant. Colonist, militia and soldier alike looked around in confusion but used the time wisely to reinforce their position.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What are they waiting for?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Suddenly, the line seemed to lumber forward and as Tyscio was making his way to the four foot creature something snapped into his awareness.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> strange... searching...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


And he noticed two figures step in front of the alien line and move forward as if looking for something. The tiny four foot creature was continuing to throw invisible walls but it seemed as if it was practicing... <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> or playing?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Suddenly the two new creatures put themselves in between the smaller one.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Force sentients?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> he felt Leia's mind ask.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Protecting the younger one?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> Tyscio's mind responded to the sight.


And suddenly, the two creatures turned to their direction and shouted something incomprehensible.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Almost as if they were looking for <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> us<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->?.. Feeling for <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> us<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


They were suddenly moving very quickly towards them and Tyscio turned to Leia.. "We have to get out of here.." (as she was beginning to say the same thing).


The Yuuzhan Vong line of soldiers turned to face them but continued to remain in their position as Leia and Tyscio dove for the trench.


And then the approaching creatures stopped.


The wails of the smaller one, now somewhere behind the two force sensitive creatures, were being drowned out by the wind brushing past Tyscio's ear.


As he was trying to locate the small creature (seeing that no more invisible walls were being flung) he neglected to see the blob of goop that shot out from one of the force sentient's mouth.


The snow sizzled upon impact and as Tyscio turned to recognize this new threat, he heard the chant suddenly change once more.


Suddenly the two creatures were projecting more of the "stuff" (as Tyscio would later describe it) at he and Leia forcing them to separate.


Leia was saying something about a 'plan' but he didn't catch it.


He ignited his lightsaber and turned as Leia took off <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> towards<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> the creatures.


The chanting grew to a frenzy but the warriors did not move.. as if they were referees in some morbid game of death.


"Why do you have to get stuck with the crazy ones?" he murmured to himself and suddenly he realized, as the Jedi Master must have, that the two force sentient creatures were not throwing the invisible walls. It was only been that smaller creature that they were seeming to protect.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> It's important somehow to their plans...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He turned to Mathias, "Track us with the snipers...Focus on the small one!" and he was off behind Leia.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Get behind these two and take out the small one....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> his mind focused.


And suddenly, instead of projectiles of acidy glop, Tyscio soon found himself dodging thin razor that sizzled too on contact with the snow.


He tried to focus on the two creatures ...


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> If they can feel the force.. can they communicate through it?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> The Outmarches<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



*..Standing with his hands behind his back, Vinda stood in front of the viewscreen, when he was slowly overwhelmed, by a disturbance in the force...
Drawing him...calling him....

Closing his eyes, Vinda sensed a presence he had not felt for some time.....

..but it was unmistakeble...*


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


..Vinda reached out, It was stronger in the force than before...
The voice was indeed familiar, but it was distant...

...very distant...

...almost dreamlike....

The furrow on his brow, grew larger as he listened..
It seemed to be a message of some kind....only it was unclear, only numbers...he concentrated, trying to make sense of it...*


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...Co-ordinates?...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


*Then it stopped...almost fading..the force presence with it.
Vinda memorised the numbers, and was promptly brought out of his thoughts by an explosion of another Vong Criuser..
and the many cheers of the bridge crew around him that followed....

Still contemplating what had just ocurred, Vinda gestured for an Ensign, who stepped up quickly.
Noting down the numbers on a datapad, Vinda, gave it to the young aide.....*

"...find me the significance of these numbers, try anything and everything, check records, cross-reference all files....if they check out as Co-Ordinates, I want to know where and what they lead to....<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> everything<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->..."


*The aide acknowledged, and scurried away, asking no questions, but looking somewhat confused nonetheless....

Turning round to a somewhat relieved looking Omar, Vinda nodded...a higher air of profesionalism seemed to generate from his voice, indicating he meant business...*

"status?..."

*Omar glancing down at his console read as instructed...*

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "...the damage to the shields are negligable, minimal structural damage, two Nova cruisers, are in need of about 74 hours repair work. We lost two squadrons of fighters, and a Battle Dragon...."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*Vinda, raised an eyebrow, looking slightly concerned, and Omar continued explaining*

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "...the Vong criuser, when it exploded it took out the ship...."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*Vinda's face, looked quite grave....*

"..How many were on that vessel Captain?.."

*Omar looked down at his console , as he quickly estimated, his voice becoming quiet as he did so...*

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "..It was a full complement sir...almost 500 men..."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*Vinda, sighing heavily, made his way back to the command chair, he contemplated for a moment, then spoke to Omar...*

"...make a note, see to it the crew are awarded post-humously, and issue full benefits to the next of kin....those men had families to support..."

*His voice trailed off slightly, as he considered the consequences, then chewing on his Cigarra, turned to face Omar, his eyes deadly serious...*

"...right Captain, lets get this situation under control...
..I want those remaining ships, out of action!
I do not wish for them to slip past, nor do I wish to face them again in the future...<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> understand?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->..."

*Omar acknowledged...and efficently relayed the orders to the fleet...


The remaining fighters were launched, followed by the firesprays, all pressing forward, slow but powerful, they were covered by the Starvipers, fast and manovourable,
and the armada swathed forward through the ranks of remaining Vong fighters....*

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

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...aboard The Blaze Of Glory....<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




*Achinta stood there dumbfounded just as surprised to see Scipio as she was to see him...
He could only state the obvious...*

"...Scipio...."


*A little taken aback at her reaction to seeing him, Achinta was by no means any less pleased to see her.
As he spoke, his voice had a touch of relief about it, and could just about be heard above the cheering...*


"...what are you doing here?..."


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...Cronus?...Adalric Cronus?...The Imperial syndicate is involved!?...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


*Achinta's face once more took a look of concern..*

"..what is the status of your people Scipio?, have you heard from Mr Vinda?, and since when did the Capricians have help from the Empire?..."


*As he spoke Achinta glanced over to what looked like an officer...
His eyes focused onto Scipio's, and his expression seemed to relax slightly...*


" I am pleased to see you safe and well, Scipio..."

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


Leia was now only a few arms lengths' from the creatures she was charging at. Only one continued to track and attack her, the other large creature and the smaller one seemed focused intently on Tyscio for some reason.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Get behind these two and take out the small one.... <!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> she picked up from him. What was so special about the smaller one? She tried to steal a quick glance at it, but failed.

About that time she noticed the razor things flying at Tyscio, but she couldn't act upon the sight as she was forced to dodge another clumsily thrown spit blob. Now that she was in so close, the creature didn't have a chance of hitting her with a blob, it couldn't aim and spit it out fast enough to keep up with her movement.

A black, scaly, and clawed front leg came swinging at her, and so she dove right under the creature. The creature was smarter than she had thought it would be... it dropped it's full weight right onto her, pinning her saber arm down and crushing the air out of her lungs. It did not make a move to rise, either. It knew it had her.

In the moment of frantic thought as Leia's mind raged unsuccessfully to find a way out of this fix, Leia found nothing else to do physically but open up all of her senses. Almost by accident, she picked up something odd in the Force. A presence, yet not a true one, not as she would expect from a living creature of any kind that wasn't from the Vong's world...

A strong desire, like a yearning... She still felt no life presence, but that burning desire was very noticeable. In fact, it was smothering her. It came from above...

She sensed that she wasn't the target, but had a vague feeling that she didn't need to be the target, she would do for now.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Could that lizard thing possibly be the source of that feeling....?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

That dejected thought(she figured she was done for) was interrupted as unexpectedly the creature stood up, freeing her. She lifted her head up to look around.

And found herself nose to snout with the other large creature. Under it and between it's legs she saw Tyscio and the dark image of the smaller... creature thing. For a fleeting moment she wondered what he was doing and what with, but the beast staring down at her snarled venemously, attracting her attention once again.

Uh oh....

Instead of attacking her outright, the creature suddenly issued a loud screech at her, and an invisible wall slammed into her face. But it wasn't like the wall that had killed the sniper(she couldn't recall his name at that exact moment), it was somehow different.

Dazed and off balance by the odd stun attack, Leia swayed back in forth in place despite being on her hands and knees. And somehow despite her dazedness she found room for a humorous but sarcastic comment, though it was to herself, and rather weak.

"Someone needs a breath mint"

Something else was in the foremost part of her mind, however. The hard, cold object still grasped tightly in her right hand. She raised it, pointing it at the lizard creature's mouth(it was open, the creature was drooling) and holding as close to the acidy drool covered mouth as she dared, she ignited her lightsaber....