| |
|
A Republic at War 17: Into the Inferno . . (24 hours after the events of Chapter 17, concurrent with the events of Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith)
(The command bridge of the Valor in orbit above Onderon. Commodore Revees slammed his fists on his desk as news of the attack on Coruscant reached him)
Commodore Revees- Are you absolutely sure? I see. Do your best Captain and keep me informed.
(Revees turned his attention to Republic Intelligence Director Meredith standing calmly across from him)
Revees- Coruscant under siege! Why was I not informed of this?
Meredith- Commodore, I regret to inform you that we were just as much in the dark as you.
Revees- An attack on the capital of the galaxy just comes out of nowhere? What have your agents been doing? For me to make strategic decisions for the Republic I need to be well informed!
Boris- Ahem.
Revees- Master Boris, yes?
Boris- If I may say something Commodore.
Boris- I have just received word from Master Ban-Kazi on Coruscant, the Separatists show no interest in taking Coruscant. They have just abducted the Chancellor and Jedi are in pursuit. Needless to say our reinforcements from Coruscant may not be joining us.
Revees- Oh so just the Chancellor! This intelligence breach-
Boris- Commodore, I do not need my top officers bickering, we have bigger issues to attend to, on Hypori.
Revees- Sir, I am beginning to think Hypori was a ruse from the beginning, the attack on Onderon was perfect keeping us from Coruscant-
Boris- An our allies from meeting us. Even without the Chancellor the Republic will go on, but if the Jedi are killed by these new cortosis droids...the Republic would fall.
Gulio- And we are determined to not let that happen.
(Boris smiled as Jedi Gulio Marcus and Alinta Knight walked onto the bridge)
Alinta- We are with you Boris.
Revees- Even so we are at less than half-strength, if we were to postpone the operation-
Boris- We may not have that time Commodore, already the Dark Side grows stronger, we have to act now or risk annihilation.
Revees- Very well. We can be ready to move out within the hour.
(Meanwhile on the command bridge of the Inferno in orbit above Hypori, Dark Jedi Mehendrish Sinn gazed across the starry expanse of the galaxy, using her Battle Meditation to subtly influence battles lightyears away)
Battle Droid Commander- Sir, we have detected a Republic fleet on route to our position. What are our orders?
Mehendrish- Maintain fleet position, the Republic will stand no chance against the might of the Dark Side. Our victory is assured.
(The Republic fleet burst into orbit above Hypori, the two fleets moving to engage each other, Mehendrish Sinn's Battle Meditation demoralizing the clone troops and tearing into the Republic position)
(Alarm klaxons blared on the Valor as explosions burst around the bridge)
Boris- What is the situation Commander?
Revees- Sir, it's hopeless, the Separatists were waiting for us this whole time. We've lost the Vigilance and our fighters are being decimated. You must order the retreat!
Boris- Commodore, this is our only chance we will not-
(Boris stopped mid-sentence, his lightsaber flashing to life as commando droids burst onto the bridge)
Reeves- Wha- All hands! Separatist troops have boarded the ship, man your battle-stations!
(Boris quickly leaped onto the table, swiftly decapitating a commando droid)
(Flipping backwards, Boris destroyed the last droid with one swift slice)
(Suddenly Boris felt something in the Force, as lightyears away the death of Count Dooku at the hands of Anakin Skywalker took place)
Revees- Sir, are you-
Boris- Get me a ship Commodore, I think it is time I visited our Sith friend.
(Boris landed his ship in the Inferno's hanged, the Separatist forces quickly falling into disarray as Mehendrish Sinn's Battle Meditation faltered and ended)
(Boris quickly decimated the hanger guards, throwing a piece of metal at a droid)
Security Battle Droid- Sir, the Jedi is in the hanger! We need reinforcements!
Boris- I think it may be a bit late for that, droid.
(Mehendrish stood in despair at the death of Count Dooku, oblivious to the battle raging around her)
Battle Droid Commander- Sir, the blockade has been broken! Republic transports are landing on the surface and a Jedi has been spotted in the hanger-
(Mehendrish turned around on the droid grasping it in a force-crush as Boris walked onto the bridge)
Mehendrish- You think that I care? Nothing matters anymore! All of my visions have been for nothing- Ah, Master Boris.
(Mehendrish and Boris summoned their lightsabers, the blades flashing to life)
Boris- Mehendrish it's over. Count Dooku is dead. The Separatists have been defeated.
Mehendrish- You think I don't know this? I do not care for the Separatist cause, all I care for now...is to see you die!
(Mehdnrish charged at Boris, the Jedi easily sidestepping the enraged attack)
Boris- The Dark Side has clouded your mind Mehendrish, why fight any longer?
Mehendrish- The Dark Side is all I have left! And I will destroy you with it!
(The Dark Jedi swung again at Boris, who skillfully chopped her lightsabet in two)
(Mehendrish sank to her knees before Boris, despairingly looking at the remnants of her weapon)
Mehendrish- You have won, now end this and kill me!
Boris- I do not wish to kill you Mehendrish, I wish to redeem you.
(Boris shut off his light saber as Mehendrish rose to her feet)
Mehendrish- And what would you know about redemption? How can one such as me ever be saved?
Boris- I have seen redemption before and I know that despite your hardest work, there is still a shimmer of light in your heart. Let the Force free you.
(Mehendrish stood, crushing the battle droids through the Force as she began to accept the Light)
Mehendrish- Perhaps you are right Master Boris...but perhaps I am not quite ready to join the ranks of the Jedi. I need time to think, but I will no longer oppose you.
Boris- Take your time, the Jedi will always be there with open arms.
Mehendrish- I thank you Master Boris, for showing me the truth at last. I will set the self-destruct mechanism and transfer the coordinates of the droid factory to your ship and then I shall leave and finally have some time to myself.
Boris- Thank you Mehendrish. I will leave you in peace then.
(Mehendrish called after Boris as the self-destruct initialized)
Mehendrish- But be warned, Dr. Rastem is waiting for you on the surface, and Anton Rogun along with an entire planet's source of weaponry and soldiers. I wish you success Master Boris, for your sake and my own...But know this that the greatest enemies of the Republic are the ones on the inside...
|
