Kobayashi Maru (Dan and Lok)

[Soren Akkadien]

SX-616 was one of countless dead planets littering the galaxy like so much celestial refuse. It clung to a tenuous oblong orbit around a guttering red dwarf star that looked as fragile as a candle's flame, and what atmosphere it could hold on to was bitterly cold and swept into vicious storms that scoured the planet's surface. The spit of a system sat on the edge of Wild Space, wholly unremarkable except as a navigational marker. The pilots who passed by, and they were few, simply referred to the planet as Styx.

There had been a smuggler's camp there once, and then the base was appropriated by the Alliance, which used it to spy on Imperial doings at Adumar and other fringe worlds, but the Empire allowed it to operate because it simply didn't care. There was nothing notable about Styx.

Until the base intercepted transmissions about a freighter ferrying unknown technology to Adumar. Until Imperial Intelligence found out the shipment had been hijacked. Until Soren Akkadien arrived.

Soren stood in the ravaged command and control center of the base, an island of unearthly calm in the wake of devastation. The walls and ceiling were scorched, and what had been a bank of computers was now a melted heap of silicon, metal, and plastic - the Rebels had apparently incinerated it before the Imperials landed. The naval captain lifted a hand to unbutton the collar of his crimson Imp Intel jacket - the damned thing had never felt like it fit properly - and moved through the wreckage, shifting fallen girders and ruined electronics with animal strength, searching for anything still in working order.

An imperial lieutenant entered the command center behind him and saluted. "Sir!" the lieutenant barked. "We've finished preliminary sweeps of the compound."

Soren nodded and twisted a durasteel beam up off the floor grating and out of his way. "And what did you find?" he asked.

"More of the same," the lieutenant replied. "They torched everything. Even datapads."

"And there were no survivors?"

"No life signs other than us, sir. They must have completely abandoned the base before we arrived."

Soren crouched low to the deck plates to see a pile of dust-fine ash underneath the debris. He scooped some of it into his hand and rubbed it between his fingers.

"Did they?"

He rose and turned to face his subordinate. The fresh-faced lieutenant paled under the force of his captain's lion-like stare.

"Or perhaps," Soren said, "they merely pressed the wrong button."

The lieutenant hesitated, then added, "We're still trying to dig our way to the lab. But with this much destruction, we're not optimistic there'll be anything left to find."

Soren brushed the last of the ashes off his fingers. "You will find it. Tell the men to keep digging."

"Sir, there's a very real chance the Rebels' distress signal got through. They could be sending a recovery team to investigate what happened."

"Yes," Soren replied, "I am counting on it."

"But our orders were merely to investigate, and bring back anything of interest--"

"Lieutenant," Soren interrupted, "I hope you are not implying I am being negligent in my duties."

"N-no sir," the lieutenant stammered, "I only--"

"Director Esalis wants this new toy for Imperial Intelligence. And she shall have it. But not before I have some satisfaction of my own."

Soren smiled grimly. "It is time to prepare a warm welcome for a very old friend."

[Cerberus]

INCOMING TRANSMISSION

Rebel code Delta Gamma Nu identified. Source: Alliance Cruiser Cerberus.

Datastream encrypted: Security level Rho.

Encryption key accepted.

"This is Captain Marco Fenris of the Alliance Cruiser Cerberus to commander Dauntless group. We have intercepted a distress signal from a Rebel listening post on Ess-Ex Six-One-Six and are closing to investigate. We have been advised by Intel that this outpost is a matter of prime security, classed way above my level. I've been ordered to await command-level oversight before attempting to recover any materiel from the planet's surface.

"There seems to be some kind of interference surrounding the system that's hampering long-range communications, so it may be radio silence until you get here. We'll proceed to the planet and render any medical aid we can while we await your arrival. Fenris out."

END TRANSMISSION

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She was in Dan's office, standing behind his desk quietly as she read through various reports on the datapad she held. A silence had long since permeated the office's interior. Thumbing through each file, the Lupine found herself pacing as she read; standing in one spot only seemed to draw out the time she had to spend going over such things. So much of these ramblings were nearly impossible to bear.

There was already a pile of 'pads set aside on his desk, needing his signature.

There was a strange calm however to her work, and with a sigh she lowered herself into the chair behind the desk. Tired of her pacing, she'd settled on simple sitting. It would ease the soreness she was feeling in her back at any rate. Her pregnancy was beginning to show itself, as a slight bulge had begun in her normally flat midriff.

In the process of sliding another 'pad to the pile that awaited his approval, she paused as the comm-line built into his desk chirped. Without hesitation she activated the link-up, waiting as the ever familiar Alliance insignia flashed to life briefly, followed momentarily by a blank screen. Then...


INCOMING TRANSMISSION

Rebel code Delta Gamma Nu identified. Source: Alliance Cruiser Cerberus.

Datastream encrypted: Security level Rho.

Encryption key accepted.

"This is Captain Marco Fenris of the Alliance Cruiser Cerberus to commander Dauntless group. We have intercepted a distress signal from a Rebel listening post on Ess-Ex Six-One-Six and are closing to investigate. We have been advised by Intel that this outpost is a matter of prime security, classed way above my level. I've been ordered to await command-level oversight before attempting to recover any materiel from the planet's surface.

"There seems to be some kind of interference surrounding the system that's hampering long-range communications, so it may be radio silence until you get here. We'll proceed to the planet and render any medical aid we can while we await your arrival. Fenris out."

END TRANSMISSION


The screen went blank, and s'Il's brow knit in thought.

Styx?

She leaned back in the seat, biting her lip before finally reaching for the call button that would connect her to Dan. He was on the bridge, overseeing the arrival of a new batch of trainees. In some ways she wished that she could be present to watch him interact with fresh recruits, but it was enough to be able to spend her time in peace and quiet.

Of course now that solitude would need to wait.

As she waited, the Lupine idly picked up Dan's reading lenses, inspecting them with a patient eye.

[General Dan]

The comm chimed, and Dan excused himself from a trial run exercise on the bridge. His XO had everything in working order, and they seemed to be working cohesively.

Stepping into an alcove, he punched up a local terminal.

"Lok, you needed me?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Thumbing the playback button, s'Il paused the recording so that it would be ready for him.

"You'd better come see this."

Letting a pause hang between them, she went on.

"It's a transmission from the Cerberus."

[General Dan]

He was familiar with the ship, and knew it operated on sortie missions, usually to sniff out Imperial battle groups on the prowl. A message meant something had been picked up, and judging from Lok's inflection, it was something big.

"I'm on my way."

He looked to Captain Gereth, and nodded his head.

"You've got the com."

He exited the bridge for his office.

"Cerberus picked up enemy activity?"

He was interested in setting up another encounter to spring an attack on a gradually-weakening Imperial fleet.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Setting his reading lenses back on the desk as he strode through the door, s'Il slowly stood, vacating his seat so that he could sit.

"Not exactly," she started.

She stood to the side, folding her hands in front of her.

[General Dan]

His brow knit, and he took his seat at the desk, and played the reconaissance dispatch from Cerberus. After it was over, he said nothing, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I feel like I'm flying blind here."

Glancing up at Lok momentarily, Dan brought up a separate terminal that was normally collapsed into the surface of his desk. It was an isolated computer core, kept separate from networked systems and updated by only one source, Alliance Intelligence. Dubbed the "black box", it was the next best link for a fleet commander to Intel beyond the attache officer.

"Computer, authorize Dan, Hotel Seven Bravo Six Six Two Four Whiskey Whiskey Delta Two."

[Cerberus]

SEARCHING. CROSS-REFERENCING CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE ON SX-616 LISTENING POST.

>SX-616 Listening Post
>Class-6 strategic surveillance outpost
>Crew complement: 16
>Commanding Officer: Major Gared Wallace
>Primary target: Adumar

Established ABY 5. Primary purpose to monitor Imperial weapons production facilities on Adumar, esp. development of powered and unpowered missiles, warhead tests, WMDs, hyperdrive-powered ISBMs.

Base equipped with two turbolaser batteries plus one flight of four X-Wing starfighters.

>
>
>MEMORANDUM: ANOMALOUS IMPERIAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERCEPTED
>XX/XX/ABY 7
>TO Alliance Intelligence
>FROM Maj. Gared Wallace

Imperial communiques decoded using XXXXX encryption key on XX/XX/ABY 7 indicate transfer of technology of unknown origin from primary site deep in Wild Space to R&D facilities on Adumar. Communiques indicate technology is a weapon prototype. Communiques indicate weapon is unconventional in nature and massive in scope. Early indications that weapon will be reverse-engineered on Adumar to be put into mass production.

Weapon to be transported on armed Imperial freighter with fighter escort. Outpost fighter complement can intercept Imperial convoy at coordinates XXX/XXX/XXX. Awaiting your recommendations.

>
>
>MISSION REPORT: IMPERIAL TECHNOLOGY RECOVERED
>XX/XX/ABY 7
>TO Alliance Intelligence
>FROM Maj. Gared Wallace

Alpha flight intercepted Imperial convoy carrying weapon of unknown origin en route to Imperial facilities on Adumar. Enemy convoy consisted of Action VI bulk freighter and four TIE/ln Interceptors.

Two enemy fighters were destroyed within thirty seconds of initiating the attack. 1'15" after initial attack, a proton torpedo fired by Lt. Cmdr. Auryn Fane struck the freighter, triggering an explosion from within the hold. Explosion produced an EMP which disabled the freighter, both remaining TIE/lns, and two of Alpha flight's X-Wing starfighters. Imperial freighter and Rebel fighters were recovered safely.

Upon boarding freighter, no crew could be found. All electronic systems overloaded beyond repair, data irretrievable. Salvage team reported organic dust, could be remains of freighter crew.

Device of unknown origin recovered from freighter hold. Device appears to be highly sophisticated containment module. Contents unknown. Returned to base for further study.

Intercepted communiques indicate that Imperials designate unknown containment device as "Starkiller."

>
>
>INTEL REPORT: PRIMARY RESEARCH ON IMPERIAL DEVICE
>
>ERROR: DOCUMENT CLASSIFIED ABOVE CURRENT SECURITY CLEARANCE.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il blinked as the message cut off, and she gave a look down at Dan.

Starkiller? What sort of weapon could the Empire possibly have been constructing? As well, if this Major Wallace's suspicions of the 'organic dust' were indeed factual...

Could it have been the weapon that killed the crew? If so, the possible ramifications of such a weapon were staggering.

She inhaled deeply.

"We can't go anywhere," she started in annoyed protest before Dan could speak, "... not with fresh trainees."

[General Dan]

"We're the nearest task force."

This was a strange scenario. With material this sensitive in play, they couldn't afford to move slowly.

"Whatever they have, it seems highly volatile. If the Imperial freighter was neutralized in an accident, there's a good chance that the same fate was shared by the outpost."

He shut down the black box, and stood from his desk.

"I need perspective."

He tapped a desk comm, connecting him with the bridge.

"Captain, set a course for the Adumar system, and prepare for fleet hyperjump."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She stared at him as he rose, eye searching his face for anything.

"Perspective?!" she hissed quietly after he'd closed his channel with the bridge.

Placing a hand on the desk, she partially leaned against it.

"What sort of perspective do you hope to gain?"

[General Dan]

He paused, and looked at the lupine with a taut-lipped expression.

"There's no decorum you need to uphold. If you have something to say about it, then I want to hear it."

He wasn't above having her dissenting voice as his counsel, but he wasn't going to suffer contrariness for its own sake.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

His expression was met with a frown; she would ultimately never go against his wishes, but something like this... was he taking an unnecessary risk in simply rushing to the rescue?

"Being the closest task force is one thing, but don't you feel that we need to contact High Command before traipsing off to go play space cowboys?"

Her eyes fell as she felt a small bit of frustration.

"With so many new recruits - would High Command even want us to leave our current position for such a mission?"

[General Dan]

His jaw tensed as he mulled her words around in his mind.

"You're right. We should send word to Alliance command."

He returned to his desk, and punched in a direct channel to Mon Calamari. Inwardly, he chafed at what he imagined they would say. The groupthink that was quickly forming into a proto government had a decidedly Bothan taste to it.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Are you planning on asking them to allow you to assist the Cerberus? Or will you simply tell them that you're going to."

It wasn't necessarily a barb, but more a frank assessment of his command habits.

[General Dan]

"I reserve the right to keep both options open."

They waited for the channel to open. Eventually, a Mon Calimari admiral responded.

"General Dan."

Dan nodded in greeting.

"Admiral Galek. I'm transmitting an intercept we just received from the Cerberus, stand by."

He punched in a few keystrokes to send the encrypted data stream. The Admiral began to read it, the feelers on his jawline twitched as he did.

"It seems like a serious situation, General. I will convene with the rest of the military council. Hold your position and await orders for deployment."

The General pursed his lips a little as he inwardly chafed against the plodding gears that were driving the Alliance command. He glanced over at s'Il.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A helpless shrug was sent his way; times had long since changed from the days they'd spent in the thick of things, making decisions without the need to convene with any sort of larger body of command.

"You know, there's a good chance that a fail-safe was accidentally tripped. It's happened before."

She reached down to shift a few datapads.

"I mean, suppose it's just nothing?"

[General Dan]

"If it's just nothing, where did all of the freighter's crew go?"

Dan brushed an errant strand of hair aside as he talked with both s'Il and the Rebel admiral.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il gave him an odd look, and stopped her restless fussing with the 'pads. She rested one hand on her hip.

"Suppose they went nowhere?"

[General Dan]

"Well then, now's our chance to get away from it all."

The Mon Cal Admiral's large glassy eyes blinked.

"General, I will authorize a small reconaissance mission, but keep your task force in position. If this is an Imperial trap, I don't want us to take the bait."

Biting his lower lip slightly, Dan nodded.

"I understand."

Nodding, the Admiral closed the channel. Dan looked to s'Il.

"Get your gear. We're leaving."

[Soren Akkadien]

A half-dozen black-armored stormtrooper commandos pushed through the wreckage of what had once been the rebel laboratory. Much of the ceiling had collapsed entirely, and the recovery effort was more a mining operation than a search. They had commandeered a pair of hoversleds to ferry the debris away to an empty storage chamber.

Lieutenant Veers waited at the doorway as a laden hoversled passed by and then strutted into the lab to the site where the troopers were digging. They had formed a tunnel of sorts through the fallen structural material, carefully shifting what wreckage they could without bringing the whole thing down again. "What's our status?" he asked.

The sergeant-at-arms stood upright and saluted. "Sir. It's definitely here. Power readings are off the scale."

Veers didn't even attempt to conceal his shock. "You mean it's still functional?"

"Can't know that until we've recovered it, sir," the sergeant replied. "But it's definitely active."

Before Veers could reply, there was a shout from a helmet vox inside the tunnel. "Sergeant! We've found it!"

"Excuse me, sir," the sergeant said, and he disappeared inside the tunnel.

What followed was a difficult, ticklish procedure of moving the device through the claustrophobic passageway. The commandos couldn't have been more cautious if they were handling a live proton warhead. Veers stepped back to allow them room to haul it into the open air.

When he saw it, he was almost disappointed. The device was an unassuming durasteel sphere, about half a meter in diameter, set in a square pipe frame to keep it from rolling and to give it handgrips. On one side of the device was a control panel - perhaps some sort of locking mechanism - that was blinking serenely. From the carbon stains that gashed the casing, it seemed the device had seen rough treatment.

"That's it?" Veers said in disbelief.

"That, Lieutenant, is more power than you have seen in your lifetime."

Veers and the commandos moved aside as Soren came stalking into the laboratory. The captain approached the device and delicately ran a gloved hand over its contours. "There it is," he said quietly. "Not so broken and useless as we were led to believe."

Lieutenant Veers watched his captain uncertainly and then cleared his throat. "Sir, it seems we've accomplished our mission. I can alert Adumar to prepare for our return."

"No," Soren replied, still admiring the device, "I don't think so."

Veers' mouth worked soundlessly, and then he found his voice again. "Captain, our orders are quite clear."

"They are," Soren agreed. "I simply choose not to follow them."

Veers swallowed nervously. "I was afraid it would come to this," he said. "In that case, Captain, I am authorized to relieve you of command. Sergeant, put Captain Akkadien under arrest."

The sergeant made no move. Soren only laughed.

Veers looked from his captain to the commandos in mounting terror. "Sergeant!" he said. "That was an order!"

"Sergeant," Soren said, "would you please relieve the lieutenant of his sidearm?"

The commandos moved quickly - two of them seized Veers' arms while the sergeant pulled the service pistol from the lieutenant's belt. Veers' face turned white.

Soren stood and gave the captive lieutenant a predatory smile. "As you can see, these men are under my command now."

"This is treason!" Veers gasped.

"It's more than that," Soren replied. "This is the start of a brand new empire. These men are my first loyal subjects, and they have sworn to live and die at my command. And soon, you will join them."

Veers opened his mouth to protest, but he found himself powerless to respond. It wasn't merely the iron grip of the stormtroopers on either side. He felt as though some oppressive presence were closing in around him, slowing his thoughts and sapping his will to fight. He shrank before the wieght of Soren Akkadien's manic stare.

Another commando entered the lab from the corridor. "Captain, we're receiving a signal from orbit."

The commando held up a communicator, and a voice spoke through a heavy fog of interference:

"Repeat, this is Captain Fenris of the rebel cruiser Cerberus to outpost SX-616. Do you require assistance?"

Soren smiled. "Sergeant, please confine Lieutenant Veers. We must prepare to entertain our guests."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

They were aboard the Carrack-class cruiser Reiner, an hour from their destination of Styx. Ensconced in the small cabin afforded, s'Il had spent much of her time reading as much information as she could gather about the planet. It was a wasteland of a world it seemed, with no redeeming values other than its' proximity to Adumar.

The smell of aromatic oils brought from Cathar filled the air around her, and every so often the Lupine would inhale deeply, bringing the heady scents into her being. She could almost feel it settling into her muscles, bones, the fiber of her essence; it was a soothing thing.

She pressed a button on the datapad she'd been reading, and leaned back in her seat. This felt like how things used to be... almost. Rushing off to to the unknown.

A wry smile, and she looked to Dan.

"Galloping around the cosmos is a game not only for the young, no?"

[General Dan]

"I like to think that as long as we're in the presence of ageless stars, we're at least still slightly young."

Dan smiled thinly as he watched the stars zip by in their viewport.

"I feel strangely compelled to this place. Beyond what I see and know of the mission. I think this is more important than just face value. I also think the danger is something different than what we would expect."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She gave the back of his head a smirk.

With an intrigued hrmph, s'Il thumbed through the pile of 'pads that she'd surrounded herself with andpulled out the one she'd saved what little mention of the 'Starkiller' containment device she could find. Not much beyond a name, really, as well as what had been written in the Black Box in Dan's desk back aboard the Dauntless.

"This 'Starkiller'. What do you suppose it could be exactly?"

[General Dan]

"Supposedly, it's alien tech from beyond wild space. In that case, it could be all manner of strange things."

He reached into an alcove and retrieved a reserved bottle of Corellian Whisky. At times, it paid to be senior exec in a task force.

"Then again, maybe it's not from beyond at all. Maybe that's just the story."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Taking in his speculation with a far-away look, the Lupine returned to her reading. His own knowledge added nothing much to what was written down, and turning the 'pad off, she set it with the rest of the others.

Time was slowly being eaten away, and it wouldn't be long before they would drop from hyperspace. What would they find, exactly?

With the Cerberus already there, at least they would have support.

[General Dan]

Dan took a seat, swirling his whisky in a glass as the dots of starlight stretched into a hyperspace vortex.

Soon, they would unlock many mysteries.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Five minutes before reversion to realspace...


Standing on the bridge of the Reiner, s'Il watched the crew move about with practiced ease. They were efficient, knowing that this mission was - on the surface - one of support and investigation. They were here to accompany the Cerberus.

The Lupine intertwined her fingers in front of her as she waited for the signal that would mean the drop from hyperspace. A quick look to Dan as he sat in the captain's chair, and her eye returned to the forward viewport.

[General Dan]

The Reiner suddenly cut hyperdrive, and the inertia gently yawed forward as the ship warped back to realspace, with the distant planet Styx some way ahead of them.

"Scan."

Dan studied the viewscreen for any sign of peculiarity that might catch his eye. He paused only to glance at s'Il. He didn't have to ask that she reach out for anything that might strike her as unusual.

[Cerberus]

There was only one ship in the system - the unmistakable pronged hull of a Liberator-class cruiser. The Cerberus was a smaller variant, significantly lighter than the older Carrack-class, built for maneuverability and surgical precision. She appeared to be on patrol about halfway between the Reiner and Styx.

Scarcely a minute in-system, the communications panel in the Reiner's bridge lit up with an incoming signal.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Her gaze shifted between the Cerberus and the planet beyond; Styx. It looked far more uninviting than the reports had indicated, but s'Il knew that such inhospitable environments meant little to the Alliance when the payoff was discreet close proximity to the Empire.

A shake of her head and a rather blank expression was sent to Dan, meaning that she felt nothing.

[General Dan]

"Open it up."

Dan stepped forward on the command deck, awaiting the incoming transmission from Cerberus. His feeling mirrored s'Il's own, and he was quickly wanting to populate the unknown territory of this mystery with some solid facts.

"Cerberus, this is Reiner."

[Cerberus]

There was no visual contact, and the audio was peppered with low-level static. "We're reading you, Reiner," came the response. "Captain Fenris reporting. Who's in command over there?"

[General Dan]

"Captain Fenris, this is General Dan, Task Force Command."

He glanced at a lower level officer, who was working to clarify the signal. There was a lot of heavy interference, and the effect seemed abnormally disruptive to the comms.

"What's your status?"

[Cerberus]

There was a brief pause, and then Fenris replied. "General Dan. It's good to hear from you. I'm currently on the planet's surface. We encountered a small Imperial presence, but the threat is neutralized. I don't want to say much more over this channel."

There was another pause. "Cerberus will rendezvous with you shortly. Fenris out."

The Liberator-class cruiser silently grew in the forward viewer.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She remained passive during the brief exchange, only watching as the Cerberus came about, closing the distance between them. That they had come upon an Imperial presence, no matter how small, was not surprising. Judging by the sensitivity of the matter and the limited information that even Dan was able to get, it made sense for their to be resistance.

[General Dan]

"What kind of Imperial presence?"

Dan spoke at a closed channel, mostly to himself while crossing his arms.

"Take us to the planet and establish orbit. Instruct Cerberus to establish orbit as well."

[Cerberus]

The Cerberus settled - almost lazily into an approach pattern toward the Reiner. There was no sign Dan's instructions had been received.

And then there was an energy surge in her forward section, and her deflectors went up.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Furrowing her brow, s'Il watched as the Cerberus approached. A puzzled look descended upon her features as she stared out the viewport.

A creeping notion began to prickle at her senses, and she laid a hand on the back of Dan's command chair, her confusing rapidly turning to alarm.

[General Dan]

That the Cerberus hadn't diverted toward the planet was concern enough for Dan, but the next moment brought more alarm.

"Cerberus deflectors are going up."

The sense of impending threat was obvious to both of them now. The color drained from Dan's face.

"Raise shields."

[Cerberus]

The energy surge peaked, and the row of ion cannons along the leading edge of Cerberus's wings glowed bright red, then blasted a storm of incandescent ions across the Reiner's bow. From this range, they couldn't possibly miss.

The savage barrage knifed through the Reiner's unshielded hull, sending her vital systems into convulsions.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

With shocked horror the Lupine gripped the command chair, bracing herself as best as possible from the vicious beating the Reiner took in. Lights dimmed and men all around her lost their footing, falling to the metal deck.

She herself only managed to barely stay on her own feet, supporting herself as best as possible with an iron grasp on the command chair.

"Dan!"

Another violent shudder passed through the ship, and she gave a wild-eyed stare to Dan.

[General Dan]

"Report!"

The lights flickered as electrical sparks arced across terminals.

"Ion cannon blast from Cerberus! Targeting systems and weapons offline!"

"Full reverse, get us out of here!"

His gut was right. It was a trap, just not the one he expected. The Carrack cruiser's enormous engine banks flared up as the ship banked for a quick evasive.

[Cerberus]

With her engines at full power already and momentum on working in her favor, Cerberus quickly overtook Reiner and swooped overhead. As she passed, her turbolaser batteries cut deep into the Carrack's dorsal skin. One bolt severed the hyperdrive relays.

With her prey blinded, disarmed, and now crippled, the Liberator-class cruiser swung on a broad arc around the Reiner in the confidence that the wounded Rebel cruiser could now be destroyed at her leisure.

A voice-only transmission leapt from across the void: "Cerberus to Reiner. Commander Cerberus wishes to discuss terms of your surrender."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Shaken from the onslaught, s'Il steadied herself as best as possible, slowly rising to stand on shaky legs. Fear began in the pit of her stomach, fear for the new life she carried.

"Dan," she hissed, "What's going on... "

Surrender?! What was going on with the Cerberus? Had the ship been taken over by pirates... or worse yet Imperials? Pulling in a deep breath, the Lupine did her best to divine the underlying reasons for the assault they'd just endured.

Nothing. Nothing but a low current of malevolence; unlike her master's, this feeling tasted bitter.

[General Dan]

"Bridge to engine room, I need power to the drive now or we're dead!"

"General, we're on emergency power here. I may be able to get auxilliary on in a few minutes."

"We don't have a few minutes!" He snapped.

The comm officer delivered the grim news. Cerberus demanded his surrender.

Dan squared himself at the viewer, ready to at last put a face to his attacker.

"On screen." he commanded dryly, with a grim expression.

[Soren Akkadien]

The bridge of the Cerberus flickered onto the main viewer. Like most Rebel warships, she had seen her share of workarounds, retrofits, and jury-rigs, but otherwise the bridge was pristine - no signs of combat or of any violence at all. But it was no Rebel crew manning her.

Imperial storm commandos operated most of the bridge stations; their matte black armor was unmistakable, though most of them had their helmets off and had otherwise individualized their uniforms with painted designs, metal bands, nonstandard weapons. The imperial crests had been scuffed off their shoulder pieces.

At the helm to the port side was a young man in the gray of the Imperial navy, but all rank and post insignia had been stripped from his jacket. And dominating the tableau was a lion of a man wearing an open crimson jacket. His face was brooding, hard, and angular, his eyes narrowed like a snake's, and his head was topped with a wild mane of silver hair. He stared out from the viewscreen with self-confident triumph.

"General Dan," he said. "I never forget a face."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

In the aftermath of it all, s'Il could only stare at the viewscreen in more than apparent shock. Her lips parted, but no sound came out as she straightened her posture. Her breathing had slowed down, though her heart still raced, pounding against her chest as if trying to beat its' way out.

No one but she and Dan would recognize the face that now looked back at them. He was older, his hair longer, and there was a far more crazed glare in his eyes, but he was unmistakable none-the-less.

Even over all of the years that had come and gone, after making her own peace with that mission so long ago, she knew this man.

And he had most certainly not forgotten Dan.

[General Dan]

In silence, Dan stepped forward to the viewscreen. It was like staring at a ghost. He'd lived? How could this be?

"Soren."

It was nearly a whisper.

[Soren Akkadien]

"You remember me. I cannot help but be touched."

Soren's eyes shifted to Dan's side.

"And the lovely Loklorien. It seems fate has brought us all back together at last. General."

He rolled the title off his tongue like an epithet.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Soren Akkadien. Captain of what had once been the Corvus. Confusion clouded her eye as the Lupine balled her hands into fists. How could anyone have possibly survived that?

There was nothing she could say to adequately express her disbelief at the events now unfolding, and she remained where she stood, instinctively feeling as her body shifted defensively beneath Soren's steel gaze.

[General Dan]

How had he escaped from the collision? The ship they had hijacked and crashed so many years ago should have been annihilated.

"How?"

It was obvious what he was asking.

[Soren Akkadien]

"The answer is simple. I refused to die."

He steepled his fingers in front of him. His left hand was covered in a metallic glove.

"There was little left of me after the crash," he said. "Fortunately the Kaminoans are well renowned for their medical prowess. They had just enough equipment and genetic material to restore me. In fact, they did better than that. They enhanced me."

He spread his hands and smiled as if sharing a joke among old friends. "But all of this is academic, yes? The fact is, General, I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing around I mean to deprive you of your life. I wanted you to know, first, who it was who had beaten you."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

He was the one. He was the origin of the underlying malevolence she'd felt; was still feeling. It was clearer now though, and more pronounced, and s'Il slowly reached out with her own senses to test the strength of those feelings.

They'd enhanced him? Was that the reason for what she was sensing now? It had to be; there was no other explanation.

Squaring her shoulders back, the Lupine half-turned to Dan and gave a whisper.

"It's coming from him... he's the one... "

Perhaps an unnecessary comment on her part, but the surprise of what she felt radiating outward from Soren was unable to be contained completely.

[General Dan]

So it was revenge at its purest then. Dan could understand that.

"Leave my men out of this. It's me you want. I'll take a shuttle over and turn myself in if that's what it takes, but spare my crew, and spare Loklorien."

[Soren Akkadien]

Soren elevated his chin by a fraction as he reveled in the power of the moment.

"I make you a counter-proposal," he said. "I'll agree to your terms, if... if... Loklorien accompanies you to the Cerberus, along with all data and material regarding the project Starkiller."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

With a knit brow, the Lupine gave a grimace. They had hardly any information on the Starkiller, despite Dan's rank. What did Soren hope to glean from Alliance records?

A sidelong look was sent to Dan, but his face was unreadable from her limited view, and so her gaze once more returned to Soren. He was mad; pure insanity given human form.

[General Dan]

Dan gave a confused look.

"Starkiller, what's that?"

[Soren Akkadien]

"Don't insult my intelligence."

[General Dan]

"Alright, alright."

Resigned, he looked back at the screen.

"You've got to give us some time to get the data pulled up for you."

[Soren Akkadien]

Soren nodded. "I give you sixty seconds, General. Don't disappoint me."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Backing away, the Lupine lifted a hand to massage her temple while walking with him to one of the side tactical stations on the bridge.

"We have almost nothing on the Starkiller," she quietly whispered to Dan, "... though from what I can gather he might not have it yet; whatever it is."

[General Dan]

"Clear the bridge."

Non-essential personnel exited from the command deck, leaving Dan, s'Il, and the senior staff.

"Just keep nodding as though I'm giving orders." He whispered out of earshot of the comm.

Dan casually looked to the weapons officer, whispering very low.

"What's the status on our weapons?"

The weapons officer looked at his readings, and whispered back.

"With emergency batteries, we can do a turbolaser salvo, maybe two. Our targeting system is out, so it'll have to be manual."

Dan didn't budge from his console, and was scouring through data.

"Do we have the prefix codes for Cerberus yet?"

[Soren Akkadien]

"Forty-five seconds!"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Standing over another of the crew, s'Il stared intently over his shoulder as he brought up an array of technical data. Mostly specifications and other information on the Cerberus, but it wasn't long before she caught sight of the code Dan had requested.

An affirming pat to the officer's shoulder, and s'Il casually moved to stand beside Dan.

A brief look was sent to Soren, as he spoke, and the Lupine defiantly spread her arm to indicate the destruction his attack had caused.

"We need time, Soren. The bridge is a mess, and our computers are hardly operable."

[Soren Akkadien]

The ex-Imperial smiled wolfishly. "Time is a luxury you don't have."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A hrmph, and s'Il turned from the viewscreen with a look of frustration about her. She leaned over Dan.

"Prefix code of eight five three three delta zero."

"I don't understand," whispered a voice. It was one of the newer lieutenants who'd insisted on coming, and the Lupine had already managed to forget his name. He gave a questioning look to both Dan and s'Il.

Partially startled by his voice, s'Il found herself staring at him, her features twisting into an expression of mild frustration. She held her tongue however, knowing that Dan would be better able to answer such a question rather than herself. She understood the concept of prefix codes well enough, but to have to explain it was an entirely different thing.

[General Dan]

Dan peered down at a console at data coming through, answering the Lieutenant's question in the process.

"Lieutenant, you have to understand why things work on a warship"

Dan nodded to the weapon's officer in an unspoken request to manually target Cerberus

"to prevent an enemy to do what we're attempting; to use our console to order Cerberus to lower her shields."

Finally turning back to the viewer, Dan spoke to Soren.

"It's coming through now Soren. How do we know that you'll keep your word?"

[Soren Akkadien]

Soren watched the flurry of activity on the Reiner's bridge like a manka cat stalking its prey - patient, up to a very sudden and very lethal point.

His lips curled slightly as he answered, "Oh, I have given you no word to keep, General. In my judgment, you simply have no alternative."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Pursing her lips, the Lupine spoke out the side of her mouth to Dan.

"He has a point."

Twisting on her heel to face Soren fully, s'Il folded her hands in front of her, interlocking her fingers. She stood tall, her chin held high.

"Stand by for our transmission."

[General Dan]

Dan turned to face Soren, and spoke evenly.

"Alright Soren."

He glanced to the comm officer, ready to transmit the prefix code. He gave a nod to him.

"Now."

The comm officer sent the short code transmission to the Cerberus.

[Soren Akkadien]

Soren settled back in his command chair as the transmission arrived -

With a warning chime from the tactical control panel. Lieutenant Veers stabbed at the console. "Sir - our deflectors are dropping!"

Soren bolted up from his seat. "What? Raise them!"

Veers worked furiously at the controls, then turned around with a look of desperation. "I can't!"

In a flash, Soren was hovering over the lieutenant, feverishly searching the unfamiliar controls. "The override!" he spat. "Where's the override?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She felt the sudden desperate surprise from Soren as if it were a siren's call, and she snapped her head to Dan.

"Fire."

[General Dan]

The middle hull bank of turbolasers on the Reiner cut loose a short but furious barrage. Firing manually, the first two shots missed wide starboard, but quickly tracked on target, allowing a half dozen direct hits before weapon power was exhausted. The blasts seared across the Cerberus, scorch marks burning deep into the unshielded hull, and causing a few breaches where serious enough.

"Get us out of here, on thrusters if you have to!"

[Soren Akkadien]

The force of the barrage rocked the entire bridge, sending a few of the storm commandos staggering for the safety rails. A shower of sparks burst from an overloaded power conduit, and the bridge consoles flickered with damage reports.

Soren gripped the handhold on the side of the tactical console, staring wildly at the retreating Carrack on the forward viewer. "Fire! Fire!" he roared.

"We can't fire, sir!" Veers said.

Soren wheeled on him. "Why can't you?"

Veers cringed and pointed at the tactical display. "They've hit fire control and the hyperdrive. We must withdraw!"

The captain tore at the controls, trying to squeeze life out of the tortured circuits. "No, no!"

"The Reiner can wait!" Veers insisted, pointing to the viewer as the cruiser limped along on maneuvering thrusters. "She's not going anywhere!"

Soren'e eyes darted back to the viewscreen for one last caustic glare. Slowly, he mastered himself.

"Bring us about," he said at last. "Begin repairs to the weapons. And see that our security codes are changed."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Watching as they shrank away from the Cerberus, s'Il gave a minor sigh of relief. For a few more moments she stared, but it wasn't long before she turned to face the back of the bridge, bringing a hand up to massage her temple. Her other hand moved to rest over the slight bulge in her midriff, and she let her shoulders slump. For now, they had gained a short reprieve.

Moving to Dan's vacated command chair, the Lupine slowly eased herself down. Her eyes closed in a brief prayer of thanks to the Bloodline.

One of the lieutenants had stood from his station, his eyes on the viewscreen before he looked to Dan with an expression of relief.

"You did it, General."

[General Dan]

"I did nothing, except get caught with my pants down. I must be getting senile."

Relief seemed to wash over him after his own anger at himself, and he patted the weapon's officer's shoulder.

"Good shooting, Ensign."

He glanced to Lok and nodded gravely.

"Let's find out how badly we've been hurt."

[Soren Akkadien]

Soren turned and paced stiffly away from the tactical console. Around him, the storm commandos busied themselves with securing the systems, repairing what damage they could remotely. The captain stopped in the center of the bridge and rubbed his brow. He sensed the lieutenant's eyes still on him.

"You are having second thoughts, Malcolm," Soren said. "About your change of loyalties?"

"No, sir!" Veers replied, immediately, with conviction. "Yours is the superior intellect. But, sir... why General Dan? Why bother with an insignificant insect when the greatest power in the universe is at your disposal?"

Soren turned to look Veers in the eye. The lieutenant didn't - couldn't look away.

"He tasks me," Soren said. "He tasks me, and I shall have him." He sank back down into his command chair and gazed at the viewscreen once more. "I'll chase him round the ruins of Alderaan and round the Maw's gravitic maelstrom and round perdition's flames before I give him up."

Veers swallowed uncomfortably. He found that speech had deserted him.

"Send a signal to the planet," Soren said at last. "They should make themselves ready for the general's arrival."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Their minor victory had not come without a cost, and there were some of the crew aboard the Reiner that would not be going home.

They'd gone to the small medical ward aboard the Carrack cruiser, assessing the human casualties that had been sustained. Some of the bodies had been burnt beyond all recognition while those that still clung tenaciously to life would forever carry scorched burn scars. She felt unrest at the sight of it all, but not because of any sort of disgust at human misery; no, she felt disgust by the simple fact that she'd not been able to sense the danger they'd just faced.

It was sobering for the Lupine, and she stood to the side, both hands now protectively covering her midsection. One of the medics moved toward her, but she waved him away with orders to tend to those more in need of his care. She might've been pregnant, but she wasn't completely helpless. As well, she'd not been hurt as badly as many of the others scattered around her.

A look to Dan, and s'Il bowed her head in shame. She'd failed him; failed to recognize the danger present.

She'd failed her master's teachings.

[General Dan]

Dan toured the medical ward, the sight of each injury adding to his feeling of failure. He'd failed to see this coming, and failed to keep his men safe.

One man, bloodied and delirious, struggled up from his cot to clutch at Dan's sleeve.

"Is the word given, General?"

He knew from the sight of the kid that he wasn't long for this life, and consoled him in his last moments.

"It is. Prepare for the jump to light speed." He gave the dying crewman his last command.

"Yes sir." The mortally wounded man's voice softened, and he eased back to the cot, and closed his eyes.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She'd heard the exchange, and opted to silently leave the ward. There wasn't much more that she'd be able to take in, as her senses had been battered well enough. Instead, the Lupine focused more on the fact of Soren's survival of the Corvus mission that she and Dan had led all those years ago.

How? How could he possibly still be alive?

Lost in her thoughts, she soon found herself at the door to hers and Dan's small quarters. She stared at its' surface for a few moments before depressing the entry pad, and after it had opened, s'Il slowly stepped inside.

[General Dan]

Dan entered the quarters, looking a little weary from the ordeal.

"We're on best speed to the planet then?"

He wanted to change the subject from giving dying crewmembers their eulogies.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Her back was to him, and the Lupine gave a nod.

"We are."

She could tell from his voice that he wished to deviate from the thought of those gone beyond, and s'Il let out a long sigh.

Staring out at the stars from her vantage, she frowned.

"I didn't see it in time," she whispered.

[General Dan]

"Nor did I."

Dan was obviously thinking about the same thing that s'Il was.

"How does a man survive such a thing, anyway?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"I don't know."

She stared for a moment longer at the stars before her, then turned to face him.

"If it's true what he said - about the Kaminoans and what they did to keep him alive... "

She trailed off, her mind racing to connect each point, to piece together what Soren had said earlier. There was no denying the fact that she'd felt the Force from him, and that disturbed her greatly.

"He has the Force," her lips twisted in a scowl. Dan would've already known that, so why did she even say it?

Frustrated, she squared her shoulders back. Never had she thought that they'd be faced with such a situation.

"I don't know how or why, just the truth of it."

The Lupine shook her head, her hands coming up as if to illustrate some sort of point, but she gave up as her thoughts refused to adequately coalesce into anything meaningful. Instead, she voiced the only concern that had become like a raging firestorm.

"I'm... scared... "

It was an emotion that she had been so far taught to feed from; to fuel her own power, but the fear she felt now was nearly debilitating, and she looked upon him with shame.

"I'm afraid for our child."

[General Dan]

"He will not harm our child. Of that you can remain certain. Channel your fear into anger. Whatever reason for him being here is moot. He is here.

We have to deal with that."

Dan walked to a wall, punching in a comm.

"Bridge, status report."

"General, main power is offline, estimated repair time in three days. Likewise shields and weapons are damaged, and it will take four days to repair."

Dan nodded.

"Get us into orbit. I want to go planetside."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She turned from her vantage at the stars to cast her eye to Dan. His words once more began to rebuild her resolve, and the Lupine clasped her hands over her stomach, taking a step toward him.

"I have a request to make of you."

[General Dan]

He looked back at her, and nodded.

"Anything."

The recent bout with death had given him fresh perspective on what was worth fighting for.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Some of her free time had been spent studying; in addition to her own reading materials, her master had provided Sith texts to satisfy her literary hunger, and it had been in one of those tomes that she'd come across something of such a profound nature... something that would allow her to regain that which had been taken from her. Whether he had allowed her the books so that she would come across it on her own or not, the fact still remained that she had.

"I have been reading; the books that you granted me have much to offer, and I thank you for that."

Would he consider her desire at all? It had many times occurred to her that he would deny her this, as it was he who'd taken from her, but in the direct aftermath of this new threat, she felt it necessary to at least ask.

"The Sith of old speak of something - they call it... alchemy."

In respect, the Lupine bowed her head, gaze to the floor. In that moment she was not the mother of his children, his lifepartner, or his counsel.

She was his apprentice, and he her master.

"After we have dealt with Soren, I... ask that you return my eye with this power."

[General Dan]

Dan's eyes momentarily lapsed into a yellow hue, but the effect was quickly dissipated.

"I suppose the meaning of the scar you received is now redundant."

He smiled.

"It will be done."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Another inclination of her head, and the Lupine looked up to meet his eyes. She felt bolstered, renewed. Their temporary victory had been costly, yet the knowledge of things to come was welcome indeed. His reassurance and approval, as she was coming to realize, formed the cornerstone of the dark fire that he'd begun within her soul.

Yet, though she desired the eye that he'd taken, she had no wishes to be rid of the scar itself.

"I may desire my eye, but your mark has taken on far more meaning since we've been together, and I do not wish it gone. It is proof that I was yours since the day you gave it to me, and now it is proof that I will always remain yours."

[General Dan]

He thought about this.

"As you wish. Keep the scar. I will restore your eye."

Dan ran a hand along the line etched into your face.

"It does have some character and allure. Why not?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

* * *


The trip to Styx was one made with caution, and as the shuttle descended into the atmosphere, s'Il kept her eye on the readouts; she did not wish to run afoul of the Cerberus no matter the extent of the damage that the Reiner had caused. Her gaze lifted from the instrument panel to the view before them.

It was bleak, barren, and uninviting. The nearer they drew to the planet's surface the more it was apparent that Styx was never anything more than a listening post. It wasn't good for anything beyond that.

Leaning to the side so that she could watch the ground pass by in a blur, she instinctively rested a hand on her belly. It would not be long now before she'd have to step away from her more active duties for the Alliance. She would be relegated to far more mundane work, no doubt.

"Given Soren's grasp on the Force, we must be cautious."

[General Dan]

"Once bitten, twice shy." Dan agreed.

The ship's skipper had insisted on an accompaniment of a half dozen commandos with the away mission, and Dan had agreed to the notion. Partly it was due to protocol, but also, he wanted the added protection for Lok, no matter how negligible it might be in comparison to the power of a Sith Lord.

"Sensor scan?"

At least the shuttle had sensors, which was something that Reiner had lost in the surprise attack. They were rather limited, however.

The pilot ran the scan as requested.

"Planet is Class D, consisting of various unremarkable ores."

The General crossed his arms.

"Just a big rock in space, huh?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"And the Cerberus could be hiding behind that rock."

The Alliance's presence on Styx was a quiet affair, the listening post a small one that had room enough only for those stationed upon it. With a vauge look to the dead landscape zipping by, the Lupine tried to recall when the base had been established; she could not remember, which led her to the conclusion that it must've been while she was in exile on Cathar. So many years spent away, spent in relative peace away from the strife and turmoil experienced by the rest of those in the galaxy.

Dan had been kind enough to not discuss the war with her whenever he'd visited, and so her solitary years had been unencumbered by such thoughts. The two had only so much time before he was to once more leave her, and they spent it wisely, and without distractions brought about by talk of the Empire.

Now however, she was back. Once more a part of everything.

And now, so close to an enemy that she'd tried to forget - so close to the Empire - she knew that it was her destiny to be so caught up in it all. So entrenched in the heart of the conflict.

It seemed that no matter how much she'd run, her path had been set.

And there was no comfort to be had with the knowledge that Soren, a man who should've died so many years ago, had returned to exact his own brand of revenge upon Dan... and herself. She was unable to forget how he spoke her name, and it caused her enough frustration that she found her hands balling into fists. She fed upon her emotion, giving it a life of its' own.

But, that same twisted vengeance she'd seen in his eyes assured of of at least one thing.

"Soren is acting outside of the Empire," she thought aloud.

"He is only concerned with you and I."

[General Dan]

"I feel the same."

Dan's expression was stern as the shuttle finally came to its destination, doing a quick loop around before settling down.

"It's troubling, but perhaps we can use this. Change one set of rules for another."

The shuttle slowly touched down, and Dan rose from his seat.

"Let's go see what all the fuss is about, then."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Unbuckling her own crashstraps, the Lupine carefully eased herself upwards. She waited patiently, watching as the commandos that'd accompanied them prepared themselves. It was an eerie reminder of that fateful day, just before they'd boarded the Corvus.

Standing behind the main group, she was mindful to keep a loose hand on her sabre, the jointed handle a newly familiar thing.

What awaited them now was yet to be seen, and half-closing her eyes, the Lupine reached out with her senses, unsure exactly of what she would find.

[Cerberus]

There was one other shuttle on the landing pad. The three-headed vornskr painted on the side ID'd it as one of Cerberus's boats.

The outpost was a scab on Styx's surface - the same prefabricated metal dome construct that went up on a hundred frontier worlds as spy bases, smugglers' depots, or scouting posts. A few corridors ran spiderlike from the base to communication and sensor towers, one to the fusion power plant, another to a fighter hangar.

The outer hatch opened without resistance. The place was silent as a tomb, and the only power readings were emanating from the very center of the complex.

[General Dan]

Dan followed s'Il, letting the commandos take the lead as the group cautiously approached the shuttle.

"Check it out." Dan commanded his troops, and they moved on ahead to set a perimeter.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

With one hand still on her sabre, s'Il refrained from unclipping the weapon just yet. She was puzzled, uneasy as she stared about her.

"There's... nothing. I feel nothing."

It was infuriating to be so blind like this, and the Lupine ground her teeth.

Her eyes shifted from the shuttle to the arching blastdoors that would allow them passage into the base. What lay beyond them?

[General Dan]

The commandos closed the perimeter, reaching the shuttle. The lead pair set a cutting charge on the door of the craft, ready to breach and clear the door. Moments later, a shower of sparks and a quick crack made short work of the hatch. In a plume of white smoke, two commandos entered, with Dan following behind.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The smell. It billowed from inside the shuttle like an invisible stampede, and s'Il reeled back, away from the opened hatchway as if she'd been struck in the face. With one hand on one of the landing struts for support, the Lupine covered her nose and mouth with the other, coughing in the vain attempt to expel the stench. It was useless.

She remained outside, alone with a single commando who'd stayed with her, but it wasn't long before she once more moved to stand at the hatch. A look of pure disgust on her features, s'Il slowly stepped up the ramp and ventured inside.

What she had scented was a grim harbinger of the sight she now beheld.

Bodies, hung by crash harnesses like sides of beef in a slaughterhouse dangled from the roof of the craft, their arms lifelessly reaching for the deck. Even the blood around them was fresh. She had seen so many things in her years, yet the butchery before her now was of a far more visceral sort. These men had been tortured, their lives taken from them violently and in a manner that no man should have endured.

She stood, transfixed, and out of some sort of macabre sorrow, s'Il reached a hand up to one of the lifeless limbs hanging in front of her. She ran a finger through one of the many thin rivulets of blood tracing down the arm.

Dan stood a short ways ahead. He was tight-lipped and stoic in the midst of such carnage.

The commandos likewise seemed somewhat taken aback by the sheer barbaric nature of what they were now witness to, but it wasn't long before they came to life.

One by one, the dead bodies began to come down, gently laid upon the deck.

s'Il moved to the side, watching.

"Rigor hasn't set in yet," she murmured.

"This is recent."

[General Dan]

Dan watched the bodies being eased to the ground, one by one.

"It's the Cerberus crewers."

He plucked a discarded ID badge, and tossed it to s'Il.

"Why the carnage like this? What point is there to make?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She caught the badge easily, looking it over with a cursory glance before handing it off to one of the commandos. A frown, and the Lupine finally slid her sabre gauntlet on, locking it in place. So freshly dead, she couldn't help but wonder if Soren and his men were in the base, and the thought made her grow cautious; not uneasy, simply cautious.

A last look about at the bodies now carefully laid out, and she stepped from the shuttle. Though arid and dry, the fresh air outside was welcomed with a long, drawn-in breath.

She looked toward the main blast doors of the base, unsure of what lay within. She could hear the commandos still working to release the last of the bodies, and without a word, s'Il started across the tarmac toward the base's entrance.

[General Dan]

Dan followed s'Il's lead. The commandos briefly worked the bodies down, but they knew their priority, and were quick to accompany their commanders to the main facility. The area was not yet secure, and the enemy may still be lurking nearby.

Dan's eyes narrowed as they approached. Unlike the shuttle, whose door had been locked shut, the base's main blast door was slightly ajar enough for a man to pass through. The commandos formed a line of covering fire, and two briefly entered the structure.

Dan unholstered his blaster pistol, and looked to s'Il knowingly.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

So focused on what lay beyond the blast doors, she was unaware of her master's eyes on her. Her nostrils flared as she scented the air in the hopes of gaining a hint of what waited for them; it was almost a useless gesture. The atmosphere was crisp, but aside from the leftover smell of those dead in the shuttle, there was nothing to indicate any other presence aside from their own.

s'Il gave a pause, but only because two commandos moved to stand in front of her, their blasters leveled at the darkened interior. They slowly started forward, cautiously slinging their rifles over their shoulders before straining against the blast doors to widen the gap.

Another joined the effort, and soon enough they'd opened the doors fully.

What little light from outside illuminated only a short way into the base. As well, no sound could be heard; it was as silent as a tomb.

The Lupine stepped forward, past the commandos through the now-opened doorway. It seemed her curiosity had overriden her previous caution; indeed, she could feel her fear in the pit of her stomach, but as Dan had told her, s'Il channeled it, using it to fuel her own resolve.

[General Dan]

"Do you sense anybody alive here?"

Dan asked her as they all descended into the facility. There were no bodies here, but no signs of life either. The facility looked to be ransacked.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The sound of his voice was enough to break her own concentration, and s'Il drew to a standstill. Taking her eyes from the deserted surroundings they now found themselves in, she gave an odd look to Dan.

"I... it is nothing direct."

She searched with her feelings, through each empty corridor and and abandoned room. It was as though she was looking into an empty shell, devoid of life...

... except...

She shook her head to bring herself back to the here and now.

"Only one."

[General Dan]

"And that one could be Soren."

His eyes squinted down a corridor that was barely lit by flickering light panels.

"Where?"

The commandos continued ahead, sweeping a few rooms as the inched forward.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She allowed her senses to flow outward like an all-encompassing fog, seeking to permeate every inch of the base. Even through the Force, the Lupine was acutely aware of how dead it was inside... dead, except for the one glimmer of life that she'd been able to detect.

"Further in, toward the back."

Her voice came out in a whisper as she continued her efforts. The whole of this place was like a tomb, the only sounds within coming from the commandos that were smoothly combing each room and corridor. Not necessarily unnerving, it was enough to make her cautious, and s'Il pulled an odd face.

"It's not Soren," she finally murmured while testing the scents in the air.

[General Dan]

"A Cerberus survivor?"

They continued to advance down the main corridor, and then pushed into a room that was the main control area.

"Or maybe one of the original crew of the post?"

Dan searched around, finding a power switch, hitting it to return main lighting to the area.

It was ransacked.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

For a brief moment she shielded her eyes from the sudden illuminating light, angling her head down to lessen the brightness. For the moment, she stood stock still, refusing to move until her vision once more returned, and when it did, the Lupine let her arm drop once more to her side. She stared around her at the disarray of what was obviously once a neat and tidy command post.

Whatever Soren had been looking for here, it was a foregone conclusion that he was less than concerned about cleaning up after himself. Whether it was the stench of dead bodies wafting its' way inside or something coming from deeper within, s'Il twisted her lip in a grimace at the smell. So much conflicting scents swirled around her - death, sterility, even the emotions from the commandos she could see begin to coalesce into an olfactory morass.

She felt sick to her stomach then, and clutched her belly while moving to lean against a side console. This whole place was so wholly disorienting that she closed her eyes against rising bile - the unsettling mix of scents around her and the general nauseous feeling accompanying her pregnancy was threatening to overwhelm her senses.

[General Dan]

Dan put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, you need to step out?"

It reeked of death, and if he was noticing it, then her sense of smell was being bombarded on an order of magnitude more than his own.

One of the commandos stepped toward the two Rebels, and nodded to them.

"General, the computer here is still offline, though it seems there's been a full systems access fairly recently."

He looked at s'Il, wondering if she had any thoughts of this.

"See about getting it booted up. Whatever data can be downloaded, it's important."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"I'll be fine," was her only muttered response.

Still though, the Lupine used the console for support, and she took a comfort in Dan's touch. Pushing herself up to stand straighter, s'Il tensed the muscles of her jaw before stepping away, towards a far doorway that would lead deeper into the small facility. The commandos as well set about bringing the base's system back online - however long that took meant little to her. She could feel the presence still, and despite her nausea, she was determined to discover exactly who it was that was hiding.

[General Dan]

"Sir!"

Another commando spoke up from across the command center. He was poised near a large equipment locker.

Dan looked to s'Il, wordlessly beckoning her to follow him as they moved to the locker.

"This locker's electronic seal has been tampered with and frozen."

The General nodded.

"Can you open it?"

He popped the control panel cover off and inspected it.

"I think so."

He began to work on the circuitry, and after a few seconds, the door hissed open.