Chapter 4: The Tides of War
[On board the SS Defiant]
"Target acquired. Commencing attack run" reported the tactical officer. Arcilte watched on the main viewer as the SS Sumer sustained hit after hit from the Defiant’s pulse lasers and elegantly dodged the return fire. They must have hit something critical he thought as fire erupted from the belly of the enemy ship. "Tactical, get our next target from the SSD Icemane" he ordered.
[On board the SSD Sherbertia]
A voice came urgently over the comm. system from the HC Vulcan’s Hammer "Sir, We've sustained critical damage… another couple of hits and we are doomed". "Hold out for a little longer. We are diverting forces to help" replied Admiral Sherbert. "Comm., get Exar's battle group to deal with it". The comm. officer worked away furiously at his station coordinating the fleet according to the Admiral’s wishes. Sherbert looked on thoughtfully, now he knew hope when before there was none. The MWC’s fleet was being crushed with few losses to the Republic. Thank the Force for KEmperor's return.
[Zoom out to the fleets battling. All that could be seen were fighters darting deftly in between ships, capital ships hurling unbelievable amounts of energy at each other, and a few ships - mainly MWC - in their death throes. Then zoom in on the DC Killing Time]
"Helm, Plot an intercept course for the HC Vulcan’s Hammer. Apparently she is having some trouble. Commander, order the rest of our battle group to follow once they've destroyed their primary targets" ordered Exar Kuun. He watched on the main viewer as the ship slowly turned and the HC Vulcan’s Hammer came into view. There the solitary Jedi ship floated in space as the rest of its battle group had been destroyed. The ship was surrounded by four MWC destoyers throwing everything they had at it. “Can we establish communications with the HC Vulcan’s Hammer?” asked Exar Kuun doubtfully. After a few tense moments the image of M.B.M came onto the main viewer. From the looks of things on the monitor, the HC Vulcan’s Hammer had sustained critical damage. “I have come to render assistance. We will try to keep the enemy occupied while you get main systems back online." said Exar Kuun. “Understood” responded the tired voice of M.B.M and the communication abruptly ended. “Tactical, I want a full scan of those ships.” commanded Exar Kuun. “Sir, of the four ships the MWC Belerophon is the most heavily damaged." announced the tactical officer. "Very well. Lock all weapons on that ship and fire at will" he replied.
[Zoom out to see Exar’s battle group engage the MWC from the side and the MWC Belerophon going down under a sustained assault]
[In an assault pod leaving the SS Halut for the surface]
"I can't tell you what the MWC are doing on Wardell IV but what I can tell you is that it threatens every single person in the Metaverse. We must stop them here and now or face a universe ripped asunder. Think of your friends, family, home... all of this is threatened." Icho Tolot announced to the assembled troops in a low quiet tone. Now his voice slowly rose to a crescendo "We are the Knights of the Republic and we will be victorious because there is no other choice! THE DAY WILL BE OURS. THE FORCE IS WITH US!" He heard the troops shouting, almost as if they were in a fever. Icho knew every single one of them would give their lives for the Republic.
[On board the SS Skywalker, Jedi Master Yoda addresses the other members of the Jedi Council]
There on the holo-projector in front of Master Yoda were the forms of Admiral Sherbert, Arcilte, Exar Kuun and Numbtenor21. "Needed on the surface we are. Without us, no victory will there be" he informed them. "Can you discern why Master Yoda?" enquired Numbtenor21. "No. Clouded the future is, impossible to determine but needed we are. Won is the battle here but on the surface it is not. There we must go or face defeat." replied Yoda. “I understand Master Yoda. I did not mean to question your decision.” came the quick reply by Numbtenor21. Yoda waved his hand as a sign to say not to worry and then he spoke once more. “Council members give command of your ships to your first officers for we go to join Icho Tolot upon the surface.” With a slight bow from each of the members, the holo-projector winked out.
[On the surface of the planet Wardell IV, Darth Kryo is scouting an underground settlement]
Kryo could hear the shouts of soldiers trying to track him down behind him. The Force could keep him hidden for a while, but not forever. On he flew into the darkness--he needed no light, for the Force was his ally. He sensed running water nearby; "This is not right," he thought, "Wardell IV is a desert planet, with almost no water except at the poles." As he went on, he allowed the force to guide him. It was bringing him closer to the water, until he emerged from the tunnel into a valley. The valley was at least a couple of hundred metres long and teeming with life. A waterfall was not far away and fed water to the valley. Kryo's eyes gleamed; "The hunted becomes the hunter," he thought.
A few seconds later, MWC troops charged from the cavern's entrance, then stopped, stunned by the intense light of Wardell's sun beating down upon them. Kryo saw them from afar--they were equipped with thermal goggles and flamethrowers; they must have seen him on his way to the surface in order to be so prepared.
"Sir, the thermal trace lead towards the river" a goggled young officer called to his lieutenant. The lieutenant quickly gave the order to follow the trace of cold air--he had seen the Frozen One in action years before, while he yet sided with the MWC. He knew that the imminent encounter would mean the death of one side or the other, and the odds were not in his favor. His party set off, soon reaching a pool at the base of the waterfall. "Where is this damned Jedi," mumbled the lieutenant nervously. The soldiers were starteld by a deep, booming voice. "You dare to hunt me? You have used the Force to alter the workings of this planet. Now YOU who have abused its power shall feel its revenge." The lieutenant could make out a faint blue glow behind the waterfall, and knew that it was to late. Still, he began to give the order: "Fi--". But by then it was too late.
Kryo felt the force well up inside him as he floated forward into the water's flow. As the waterfall froze around him, he took it, shaped it, moulded it, then gave a cry of sheer anger at the peversion he had witnessed as he let go with all the power he could summon. Foot-long icicles punched out of the frozen flow and went streaming towards the MWC troops, who were cut to ribbons in a matter of seconds. Then he saw a shadow emerge from the trees, about six feet tall and dresed in black. "Impressive... most impressive..." the newcomer announced. Kryo recognised him immediately. There was only one person it could be. "How did you know I would come to the surface?" he replied.
[Meanwhile not too far away, the Jedi ground forces were assaulting the MWC's main base. The entire might of the Jedi Council had arrived]
The Jedi troops are locked in furious hand to hand combat with the MWC troopers. Here and there you can see the glow of a light saber. The Jedi are slightly outnumbered but their superior skill is beginning to show.
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Chapter 5: Balance of the Force
[Scene starts in a paradisiacal valley on Wardell IV. Here Kryo faces a yet unknown Sith]
"I knew you would come the second you sensed my presence. You had to return. Is it not the way of the Sith, the student returns to confront his master?" the cowled figure intoned. Kryo looked around himself. To the naked eye, the valley was a paradise. It was an oasis in the midst of a desert, but the Force showed him what it truly was… an aberration, artificial. Life was being drained from elsewhere as the Force distorted and warped out of recognition. "That is the way. Now I am the Master and you shall witness the power of the Dark Side. Your mad scheme ends here and now, Darth Plephart!" Kryo tapped into the Force. He could feel it and use it, but it was somehow different; the valley was distorting it. He pulled the energy of the Force into himself, knowing Plephart would be doing the same. In an instance, Kryo let go with pure anger, rage, and frustration. Ice shards formed in the air around him and hurtled towards Plephart. Plephart’s hood dropped and beneath the cowl laid an aged face, ravaged prematurely by the Dark Side of the Force. His hands extended and batted the ice shards away without a thought. He began to speak as fiery armor swept up around him. "You should never have left me, Kryo. We are the future… not you and your precious council!" Plephart raised his hand, palm forward, and issued a gout of flame towards Kryo. The flames engulfed and passed though his ethereal form and for the first time in centuries, Kryo felt pain.
[In the endless desert of Wardell, the Jedi troops engage the MWC]
MBM's troopship crashed into the ground and within seconds, he and his troops were out of the wreck, which was already smoking and starting to flame. "FORM UP!" MBM yelled to his detachment. He could hear the fierce sounds of battle. Hundreds of thousands would die this day and it was his job to make sure that Midwesterners made up the bulk of that number. As he gained his bearings, MBM spoke again. "Alright, the battle is just over the next couple of dunes! FOR THE REPUBLIC!" With that, he and his troops set off running. We die for nothing if we do not win the day, he thought in a moment of insight. Then in an instant, they were over the top of the ridge and the battle was upon them. As laser fire streamed towards them, MBM yelled "HIT THE DECK!"
[Meanwhile, at Jedi Command Post Alpha.]
Master Yoda watched the battle reports come in. "No progress do we make, commander," he observed. "Master, the enemy has the majority of our troops pinned… we will win but it will take time," the commander replied. "Hmmm… short of time we are. Break through soon we must or all is lost," Yoda ordered. "It will cost many good men," worried the commander. "Many more it will cost, if we do not" replied Yoda. The commander gave a nod and hurriedly began issuing orders. "Alpha squad, move to sector two mark three and clear the area out. Beta squad, give Alpha fire support. Zeta squad, you are to assault the ridge. Rho will be your backup."
[Camera zooms in to Icho Tolot commanding Zeta Squad]
"CHARGE!" boomed the Halutian's voice across the battlefield, as a mass of troops surged forwards around him to assault the ridge that lay ahead of them. The Halutian bounded easily up the sharp incline with troops falling all around him. As he neared the enemy, he activated his lightsaber. The titanic Jedi became a blue-green blur. His giant-sized lightsaber flicked from side to side, deflecting laser fire with ease. Icho used his free hand to smash nearby MWC troops and then threw them aside like rags. He felt someone behind him and with a quick turn and a strike, they were down and he was on to the next opponent.
[Camera zooms to Arcilte and Exar Kuun, with their Padawans Moff Tarkin and Sephlock, leading the SS Totenkopf unit. They were sheltered behind a rocky outcrop when the order to move came in.]
"My Lords, Master Yoda commands a full frontal assault. We are to take out the artillery batteries on Sihaya ridge." the Comm. officer reported. "Radio back and tell them there's no chance. It's the artillery fire that has us pinned here in the first place! It'll be a massacre!" responded Exar. "Belay that order. Patience you must learn, Exar. Master Yoda would not send us to our deaths. You must trust him" countered Arcilte "The Force will show us the way." Noting the glint in Arcilte's eyes, Exar replied, "I see you have a plan. Would you care to share it?" A grin began to form on Arcilte’s face.
[Camera returns to the battle between Kryo and Plephart. Kryo is now shrouded in a ball of fire.]
Kryo was fighting for his life as the fire surrounded him. Somehow, Plephart knew his weakness. As a student, he had done his best to hide it from him but somehow Plephart had found out. He needed to counter-attack somehow but he was using everything he had to shield himself from the intense heat of the flames. It was this damned valley that was distorting everything. "You should have followed me Kryo. Now you will pay the price for your mistakes. You will die and so will the rest of the Jedi!" The flames around Kryo suddenly became more intense and he could resist no longer. With a flash, the flames ceased and the cloud of dust and ash that was Kryo slowly settled to the valley floor.
"I may not have gotten here in time to save Kryo, but the rest of the Jedi are a different matter! I will not fail them as I have failed Kryo!" rasped the voice of KEmperor. Plephart slowly turned to see KEmperor standing there before him. Force lightning already surging from his hands. Caught by surprise, Plephart was immediately pinned to a nearby tree by the intense flow of electricity. "YOU CANNOT RESIST!" screamed KEmperor as the Force surged through him. He rode the wave of euphoria that accompanied use of the Dark Side of the Force. KEmperor felt a surge of elation that came from the knowledge that the fool Plephart had used too much energy in killing Kryo to save himself now. "NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO DIE!" KEmperor let loose for an instant with all he had. Lightning rippled across Plephart's body, tearing, burning, and searing him to the very core of his being. Then KEmperor let Plephart's lifeless body fall from the tree. With barely a pause he moved forward. "Now to other matters," he thought as he strode off to the shining white tower in the distance.
[Arcilte, Exar, Sephlock and Moff Tarkin were under the cover of the Force and had crept up to the MWC artillery batteries on Sihaya ridge.]
"Good idea Arcilte. I nearly forgot that we are far more dangerous than the troops," noted Exar. "Four Jedi against 1,000 troops… no problem," replied Arcilte with a grin. Slowly and stealthily they crept as the Force hid the sound of their passing. The second they engaged the batteries, the rest of the troops would come to aid them. They just needed to create a diversion and disable a few of the batteries. Only another thirty meters to go and they would be there thought Arcilte, hope swelling within him. A shudder ran through him as he turned to look at the Padawans. He had no idea why, but the Force told him they would not survive. He thought about sending them back, but if he did that, would they die on the way? Or was it the upcoming battle that would kill them? Arcilte pondered this for a moment. As he turned around to send them back, the MWC batteries opened fire. Sephlock and Moff Tarkin were vaporized by a hail of plasma fire. Exar looked at the body of his fallen Padawan and rage surged inside him. He knew these thoughts led to the Dark Side but in this moment right here, right now, he didn't care. He unsheathed his lightsaber and ran at the Midwesterners, who only stared in shock as the Jedi appeared out of thin air. Exar became a whirling maelstrom of death, one down, then the next. Exar didn't even notice. He just wanted revenge. Just behind him, Arcilte charged into the fray. The older, more experienced Jedi felt the loss too, but was more in control of his feelings. "There is nothing we can do for them now. Let's just hope the troops get here in time before we end up dead too." Arcilte thought as the MWC troopers turned to fight an enemy within their ranks.
[Camera changes to Master Yoda on command post Alpha a few hours later.]
Yoda listened carefully to the chatter over the comm. "The enemy is in full retreat. Heavy casualties on both sides," spoke one voice. "Artillery battery destroyed, sir!" "Enemy position neutralized, no survivors," interrupted another. It was the sounds of victory, tainted by loss of life that flew across the airwaves. "Master, the enemy is in full retreat. Most of their units have disintegrated into isolated groups. The battle is effectively over," reported the commander. "You have done well commander. Advance on the research facility we must, before they regroup" replied Yoda. The loss of life affected him greatly. If they would have had a few more days, they would have lost a tenth of the number. However, time was short, and growing shorter. "Order the council to assemble before the gates," Yoda continued.
[The Jedi council stands before the main gates of the research facility on Wardell IV]
Yoda used the Force to throw the gates aside as if they were feathers. Slowly the council consisting of Arcilte, Icho, Exar, MBM, Sherbert, and Yoda himself, advanced with lightsabers drawn. They could all sense the evil that dwelt there. Not quite living but not quite dead either. Something was definitely very wrong. They found themselves in a large antechamber full of large metallic statues which were almost too real. "Something's wrong here, very wrong," whispered Sherbert as the Jedi slowly formed into a circle. "Something is here, but where?" replied MBM. "Whatever it is, it is powerful indeed," continued Arcilte. KEmperor strode into the chamber and bellowed out "Defend yourselves!" His entrance was greeted by the sound of a lightsaber coming to life. The Jedi stared in disbelief as one of the statues drew a lightsaber and started to move, followed by another and yet another, twenty in all. The Jedi leapt into action.Yoda zipped and spun across the antechamber, while Exar laid into the nearest statue with all his strength. The other councilors acted similarly. The Jedi were fighting for their lives. They were but blurs as they used the Force to dodge, parry, and counterattack. These machines were no match for trained Jedi. Outnumbered though they were, the council slowly cut the machines apart one by one.
When it was over, the statues were nothing but a wreck of lifeless metal. KEmperor turned and faced them. "Quickly, there is not much time left. Follow me!" As he marched across the chamber with the Jedi following in tow, Arcilte spoke: "KEmpperor, where have you been for the past couple of months?" KEmperor turned and looked at Master Yoda, who gave him a nod. "Master Yoda sent me on a mission to find a Dark Jedi by the name of Plephart, He was Kryo's old master. I was to either destroy him or bring him before the council for judgment. His trail led here. While I was tracking him down, I found he was involved in something called project Maelstrom. The plan was to use machines to manipulate the Force and give the MWC lordship over the entire galaxy." "I was almost too late though. I knew you would sense the change in the Force here and throw everything you could into battle… and so did the MWC. They set a trap for us" KEmperor replied. "Anyway, just through here is the Eudaimonia Machine, as they call it. It is the heart of project Maelstrom. It drew the Force from the rest of the galaxy and used it to turn parts of Wardell into a teeming paradise" continued the KEmperor. "Remember the plague on Altair IV?" he asked as the council members nodded. "That was due to a prototype of this machine."
The Jedi left the antechamber and entered a huge cavernous room. At the center of which was their target: the Eudaimonia machine. The remaining MWC troops had fled by now. All that remained was to destroy it and end the threat it posed to the galaxy, once and for all. Master Yoda stepped forward with his lightsaber and cut through the cables that gave the machine power. As the foul machine shuddered and ground to a halt, it issued a chill breeze, reminding KEmperor of his failure to stop Plephart… before he killed Kryo.
[Camera zooms out to the paradise valley.]
The valley seemed to implode as the machine that created it was destroyed. It was as if the Force itself was righting the wrong that had been done. A few moments later, there was nothing there but the original sand dunes.
Meanwhile, on the distant world of Heinlein III, drought stricken crops came to life as the heavens opened and rain poured down.
THE END
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