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| - OUTER REGIONS OF THE SYSTEM CONTAINING KALRICH C0. HQ... A large force of pirate craft decanted from hyperspace minutes ago, consising of a pair of Corellian Corvettes, two modified Bulk Freighters, converted into mobile hangars for fighters, three Skipray Blastboats, one YT-2000 transport, and a Star Galleon bringing up the rear. Immediately upon arrival, the freighters began deploying fighters... four full squadrons strong, twelve Toscans, twelve Preybirds, and twenty-four Pinooks. One of the Corvettes dispatched a menacing message to the station... "You made a big mistake resisting Overlord Riion! Now, we're not here just for your cargo... we'll drink blood from all your skulls before this day is done!" With that, the pirates began their approach to the station, several of its freighters in the area, some lightly armed, some completely unarmed, and a few visible Razor and Z-95 fighters flying escort. Those aboard the station knew that this was a vengeful retaliation from the same group that launched the earlier raid at the distribution station. Given the size and composition of the pirate force, their situation seemed hopeless. -- Meanwhile, in hyperspace, less than a sector away, aboard a moderately damaged Munja class RTSE frigate, the Strijela, retreating from an abortive RTSE assault on Iridonia, with the rest of its battlegroup destroyed by New Republic defenders. "DAMAGE REPORT!" - the captain barked at the engineering officer in the rear bridge, over the blaring of klaxon alarms. "Hull integrity at 58%, shields have just been re-established, and are slowly regenerating. Weapons grid is mostly functional, with only 18% loss in overall firepower! Hull breaches across the lower-rear section, however... Engines are half-disabled, and the main hyperdrive motivator is leaking! We won't be able to reach the repair yards at Serenno, sir!" - the officer reported in a crisp military tone. The captain scowled at that. "What's our range estimate on hyperdrive?" - not certain he wanted to hear the answer. "We're losing power at a rate of 3% per minute, sir. At this rate, we will revert to realspace within 10 minutes at most! We cannot even reach RTSE space, captain..." - the woman replied, shaking her head. "And those miserable Republic dogs will not give up the hunt so easily... the last thing I want is to be stranded in open space with no hyperdrive, and be forced to send a distress call, which WILL be intercepted by anyone within 15 sectors of space!" - the captain reflected, his face compressing into a scowl, before he turned to the navigations officer: "Display a list of known non-aligned facilities with the capability to repair a hyperdrive within our current range!" - he ordered. "Yes, sir." - the officer replied, and a moment later, a rather short list of names appeared on the main tactical display in front of the captain. The captain studied the list, noting that most were various pirate and shady mercenary outposts, which would not be a particularily healthy choice for a damaged RTSE warship to appear at. However, one name caught his attention... "This station... Kalrich Shipping Headquarters... how far away is it?" - he asked the navigation officer. "Less than 10 light-years, sir... just at the edge of our range, but we can reach it." - the man nodded. "Alter the hypervector accordingly... and someone shut off this blasted alarm!" - the captain replied. "Yes, sir!" - the nav officer replied, adjusting the course. As the klaxon silenced down, the captain added: "Until we arrive at our destination, divert all reserve power to shield recharge - no telling what will meet us there, and I'm not interested in taking chances! Seal off the hull breaches with emergency bulkheads and begin re-routing damaged systems as much as possible... even if they are supposed to be a shipping operation, that may be just a front... " - sitting back down at the command chair, while thinking: "And we will have to bargain for repairs... an RTSE warship captain in a situation to be forced to haggle with civilians! However, desperate situations leave little room for one's pride..." - straightening his uniform. -- Meanwhile, back at Kalrich... It didn't take long for Eisen Kalrich to be informed of the approaching raiders. After bolting out of his office and taking up position in front of a viewport in one of the base's command centers, he started to observe the happenings outside, while being informed of the forces at available for defense. Two full squadrons of Razors could be dispatched, along with about nine total Z-95s piloted by the junior squadron, though Kalrich was loath to send them out to an almost certain death. Outside of that there were two Xiytiar Transports, a Modular Conveyor, a System Patrol Craft and a couple Muurian Light Transports that could be used. The company's best pilots, along with its only starships, were out on convoy escort, so they were unavailable for reinforcement. "Able and Baker squadrons are launching, sir." one of the employees informed Kalrich, "Echo group is being held until all the Razors are launched." "Have all the unarmed ships hyper to the distribution station. Tell the Echo group pilots already on patrol to go with them." the CEO ordered, "The rest of Echo group will also hyper out; with strict orders not to engage." "Sir, we may need th-" "I am not sending kids out to die!" Kalrich roared, "There won't be any negotiating with these savages, but I'm not going to let my people die uselessly! Start evacuating the base, women and children first!" The employee nodded, before turning to go carry out his orders. The first squadron of Razors was almost upon the front wave of pirate fighters, with the SPC right behind them and the armed freighters trying to form a protective perimeter around the station. -- The pirate captain of one of the Corvettes, the Enemy's Blood, growled in derision: "And THIS is all they have to throw at us?!" - in a ragged, gloating tone, before he opened a channel to the fighter squadrons: "Wampa 1, take your boys and blast off those rats trying to leave the nest! Nobody's sneaking out of here alive!" - addressing the first Pinook squadron. "On the way, boss! Haven't killed anyone in a week..." - an eager-for-blood male voice came back, as the squadron veered on an intercept course with the unarmed freighters being detailed to evacuate the base. Against unarmed targets, even Pinooks would be lethal, especially a full squadron of them, and most especially with a single Skipray for support, which the pirate captain also dispatched in their wake, moments later. "Bloodbath 1, your crew is to take those Razors head-on!" - the pirate captain added, addressing the Toscan squad leader. "Time for the kill, boss!" - the squad leader's voice came back, in clipped Zabrak female tones. But deep down, in what remained of her conscience, she had some doubts... "Raiding cargo's one thing... but looks like we're going to stage a full massacre here! Blast it... Ah, whatever... best to focus on blasting these Razors into dust!" - she buried her misgivings behind her fighter-pilot instinct, and plunged forward. "Paingiver, go cover 'em!"- the captain then addressed the hard-shelled YT-2000 transport'. "Formin' up, Bloodbath 1!" - the YT's pilot addressed the Zabrak pilot, as the light transport came abreast of the squadron. At the same time, the two Corellian Corvettes, the Star Galleon, the Bulk Freighters, the remaining two Skiprays, and the two squads of fighters, Preybirds and Pinooks, converged on the station and its motely freighter defense. The pirate Bulk Freighters also had an additional surprise... each one was equipped with a single Space Bomb launcher, which would prove devastating against the station at close range, if the very slow-moving warheads wouldn't be shot down before reaching it... -- The RTSE Strijela, in the meantime, was only four minutes away, its shields back to 75%... The Razor squadron and SPC converged with the pirate Toscans and YT-2000, exchanging fire with one-another as they passed. The more heavily armed and durable Toscans easily won the pass, wiping out a third of Razors before the two sides veered off. Luckily for the Kalrich ships, the SPC was stronger than the YT-2000, even if it was the only advantage they had. The SPC's multiple turrets managed to destroy one of the Toscans, as well as damage the YT-2000 and a couple other fighters. But it quickly became clear that it wouldn't be enough to turn the tide. Meanwhile, the second Razor squadron had just launched its last fighters, and had split up into two groups of six. The first headed toward the already in-progress dogfight, while the other remained with the freighters, waiting for the inevitable pirate juggernaught to get in range. As all this was happening, the unarmed freighters, soon joined by the two patrolling Z-95s and numerous light shuttles and transports leaving the base, made a desperate run to hyperspace. In hangar of the station, the Echo squadron pilots were just beginning their take-offs. In total, there were seven of them leaving the base, along with the two already in-flight. "Those pirates are heading straight for the transport craft!" one of the young pilots shouted, almost before his ship was out of the hangar. "Move to intercept. We have to keep them busy!" Hadji, the squadron's leader, commanded. "I thought our orders were not to engage!?" Jyrett, Kam's brother, exclaimed. "What's more important? Orders? Or keeping a shuttle carrying your mama from being turned into space dust!?" the Twi'lek retorted, "All fighters move to intercept!" Acknowledgements from the rest of the group quickly filed in, but were interrupted by a Muurian Transport leaving the hangar just behind them. "Quarohn to Echo group; we'll handle that Blastboat if you guys can keep the Pinooks busy long enough." its pilot offered. "Copy Quarohn, we'll do what we can." Hadji replied. The other two Z-95s had broken off escort and were also heading toward the pirate force, but the Pinook pilots had also noticed the seven-man flight group moving in on them from the flank... -- "Group 2 and 3, help the Paingiver destroy that SPC! We'll deal with the rest of the Razors!" - Bloodbath 1 commanded, she and the other 3 fighters in Group 1 pursuing the remaining Razors. "Got it!" - came the reply from Bloodbath 5. Switching to their Advanced Protons, the seven remaining Toscans in Groups 2 and 3 converged on the SPC, while the Paingiver was taking significant damage from it already. Preoccupied with wearing down the YT's powerful shielding, the SPC didn't have enough turrets left to deal with the mass of torpedoes converging on it. Of the 14 torpedoes launched, only 6 were destroyed by its defense fire, the rest reaching the target, and consigning the SPC to oblivion. However, the Paingiver also fell prey to the SPC's turrets before that. Meanwhile, only three Razors had remained, no match for the lethal Toscans of the Group 1, while only one more Toscan fell. Redirecting some cannon energy to her severely depleted shields, and restoring them to full, Bloodbath 1 settled on the tail of one of the last three left... her two wingmates doing the same. "Wampas, looks like we've got company!" - the leader of the Pinook squad after the evacuees intoned, as the Z-95 signatures began registering on his scope, before adding: "Ten, Eleven, and Twelve, you go and burn off those shuttles and freighters leaving the base... the rest of us'll have some fun with those Z's!" - he barked, though his voice sounded a lot more confident than he felt. Veering off, the 9 Pinooks closed with the Z-95's and the Muurian, while the Skipray was already on the Muurian, bringing its massive payload of Concussion Missiles to bear. With the Muurian's turrets preoccupied with shooting down the missiles, the blastboat switched to cannons, quickly consigning the soft-shelled Muurian to oblivion - even if its shields also took a severe beating in return. Meanwhile, the Pinooks and the Z-95's were past the initial head on, as many as 4 Pinooks going down, in exchange for only 2 of the opposing Z-95's. Slower, and less agile than the opposition, while only slightly tougher, the Pinooks were outmatched here. However, the three Pinooks after the evacuees had managed to destroy one of the shuttles, and were currently blasting away at an unarmed Mobquet Transport. Meanwhile, the main pirate force had reached the station, the two Corvettes beginning to blast away at its shields, and already destroying the Modular Conveyor, while the Star Galleon was moving to combat the fighters alongside the remaining pirate fighters. The Bulk Freighters were sneaking in below the station, about to bring their Space Bomb launchers to bear... ...at that precise moment, the Strijela dropped out of hyperspace, on the other side of the beseiged station, 7,5 units out. "Captain, multiple contacts on the sensor scopes! Intercepting local traffic, sir... looks like a large force of pirate ships is attempting to overrun the station." - the sensor officer barked out. The captain rose from his chair and approached the Munja's forward bridge viewport, before muttering: "From one battle to another... what's the status on the station's defenders?" - he asked. "Outnumbered and outgunned, sir... I doubt they will last past the next 10 minutes." - the sensor officer answered. "And if the pirates destroy the station, there won't be anyone left to repair us... not to mention, assisting these civilians will give us leverage when it comes to the price for the repairs - if any!" - the captain thought, a slight smile forming on his lips, before he turned to the nav officer: "Best possible speed! Take us toward the station... all weapons to full readiness, all concussion missile launcher arrays to be loaded with Advanced Missiles! What's our overall status?" "Shields at 86%, half-speed available on the sublight, weapons ready. We'll be in-range of the station within 6 minutes, sir." - the engineering officer replied. The pirate captain on the Enemy's Blood stared agape over the shoulder of his own sensor officer aboard, at the almost 500 meters long light RTSE capital ship that just dropped out of hyperspace behind the station. "What the..." - he began, his face instantly taking on a worried expression, as he recognized the class of the ship... and it's main purpose in any battle. -- Just as the Toscans had finished off the last of the first Razor force, the six-man flight from the second entered the fray. Not having to face a head-on, they were given a slight advantage. Unfortunately, these pilots were even less experienced than the first squadron, which did not bode well against the pirates who both outnumbered and outclassed them. One of the Xiytiar's attacked the Bulk Freighters, even though the captain couldn't comprehend what they were up to. But being closer to them than the other pirate vessels, and knowing his ship was no match for the Corvettes or Star Galleon, he felt he could at least give the pirates a black eye. The other Xiytiar quickly retreated in the face of such overwhelming firepower, but exchanged shots with the Galleon, taking heavy shield damage and dishing out fairly little in return. The Razors trying to distract the Corvette's cannon fire were in hopelessly poor position. CR90 Corvettes excelled against fighters, and the Razors had no warhead loadout, so they were forced to make dangerous attack runs using cannons. Although they managed to widdle one of the corvette's shields down below 50%, they suffered complete losses, with not one of the ships lasting long enough to start dealing hull damage. Echo group was managing to hold their own, with Kam and Tay, both having gotten the first battle emotions out of the way, easily outflying the Pinook pilots. While the loss of the two Z-95s in the head-on did hang over their heads, they at least knew that their closest friends, most of all each-other, were still alive. Hadji was also flying well, his maturity allowing him to overcome the fear a little easier than the other pilots. Some of the less-skilled teens didn't fare as well. A third ship fell to enemy fire, and many of the others were taking serious damage. Eventually, however; the ships of Wampa group met their complete demise, with Kam bagging four, Tay and Hadji killed two each, and the remaining three Pinooks were dealt-with by the other pilots. But even before the last dogfighting Pinook was incinerated, Hadji had left the battle with a wingman to try and save the fleeing transports from the Blastboat and three Pinooks still out there... From the command center, Eisen Kalrich watched his world seemingly begin to fall apart. Then a report from one of employees manning a radar screen seemed to deal the final blow: "An unidentified light cruiser has just emerged from hyperspace on the other side of the base! Could be more pirates!" the man cried in a stricken voice. "Wait a minute..." one of the other employees muttered, glancing at the moniter screen before shouting out in excitement "That's not a class used by pirates; it's a navy ship!" "Which navy?" Kalrich questioned urgently. "Uh... What are those guys called? ‘True Sith' I think? But what's important is it's a military ship and-" "Raise comms!" Kalrich interrupted, "QUICKLY!" Within a couple seconds, he was able to hail the recently arrived Sith cruiser. "Sith warship, this is Kalrich Station, we're being attacked by raiders and our defenses won't hold out much longer! Please help us!" he pleaded. The face and upper torso of a hard-faced, early-middle aged lean man with crew-cut, brown hair, in an RTSE fleet captain's uniform appeared on Kalrich's screen. "This is the Reborn True Sith Empire frigate Strijela, captain Vedran commanding. We have taken massive damage to our hyperdrive and main sublight engines in a recent battle, and are in need of emergency repairs. We will provide assistance against the pirate scum accosting you, in exchange for such repairs, free of charge. These terms are non-negotiable." - the man spoke in a military-precise, cold tone. The Strijela was by then 5.5 units away from the station, trailing a glowing ribbon of diffuse fire from it's half-crippled engines. However, almost all the weapons of the elegant warship were fully functional, and were already marking the primary and secondary targets. "Agreed, captian." Kalrich responded, hesitating only for a split-second. "But you'll have to hurry if there is to be a station or any crew left to repair you!" he added urgently. "We cannot exceed 50% speed on sublight... we are still 4.5 minutes away from firing range. Try to lure some of those pirates in toward us, if you can." - Vedran replied, before turning to the sensor officer: "Status on the remaining unarmed ships?" "Most are close to hypering out of the system, but there are few remaining in the immediate battlezone. An additional half-squadron of pirate Preybird-class fighters is converging on them... it seems they are intent on insuring that no survivors escape." - the officer replied. "I would recommend those ships should be the first ones to set a course toward us, Administrator." - Vedran added to Kalrich. "We'll redirect them immediately." Kalrich responded, before relaying commands to the captains. -- The closest fleeing transports, including the damaged Xiytiar, altered course and headed toward the Sith cruiser. At the same time, Echo squadron had finished off the lone Blastboat and the three harrassing Pinooks, giving at least three of the escaping transports a chance to hyper out. Seeing that the rest of the Kalrich vessels were heading toward an unfamiliar warship that must have slipped into the area while he was busy dogfighting, Hadji ordered the six remaining Z-95s to form up behind him, as he moved to escort the freighters to their new goal. By that time, the battle around the station had reached a fevered pitch. Realizing that the RTSE Munja-class frigate would rapidly be shifting the balance out of their favour, by decimating their fighter squadrons and overpowering the Corvettes with its longer-ranged turbolasers when it got in range, the pirates intensified their attack on the station, intent on destroying it before the Sith ship could reach the battle. "Dracco, pursue and destroy those freighters before they can reach those Sithy meddlers!" - the pirate captain addressed the commander of the Star Galleon. "Got it, boss!" - the pirate commander replied, as the relatively quick-moving Galleon went in pursuit of the slower freighters. "Nexu 1, have all your guys pursue the freighters too, and take out those annoying Z's! We've got to take 'em out before they get under cover of that frigate! You too, Mynock 1" - he addressed the Preybird, and the second Pinook squad leaders. "On the way, chief!" - the squad leaders replied, as the 19 fighters from the slightly reduced both squadrons also converged on the freighters. "Bloodbaths, you done with those Razors already?" - the pirate chief then addressed the Zabrak pilot. "Finished... what's next? We don't want to be here when that Sith ship gets in range!" - the woman asked, moments after she took down the last of the Razors, bringing her kill count to six total. She recognized the class of the Sith ship from the stories she heard from some captured New Republic military personnel from a small NR outpost the pirates raided recently. Her seven remaining fighters, as two more were destroyed by the second flight of Razors, formed up on her in the meantime, before she once again re-router the Toscan's plentiful laser power to replenish the shields to full. "My thoughts exactly... so get yourselves over here and help us get through this thing's shields! We're taking it out!" - the pirate replied in a ragged voice. "What's that supposed to mean? I thought the plan was to capture the station and take most of 'em as slaves, to sell to the Hutts!" - the Zabrak growled angrily. "You think we can do that with those Sithies on our back, you idiot schutta?! We're blasting this thing out of space, then bailing out of here as quick as we can! Now GET OVER HERE!" - the pirate snapped, shutting off the link. "He's going to kill 'em all... there has to be over a thousand people left on that station, even with those transports getting away..." - she thought, conflicted, as her squad was approaching the besieged station, it's shields almost gone, just as the two Bulk Freighters began launching Space Bombs at it, the two Corvettes and last surviving Skipray maintaining their unremitting barrage, as well. While the second Xitiyar was managing to intercept some of the Space Bombs and destroy them, two impacted the station... At the same time, the leading wave of Preybirds was in range of the Z-95's, with three more Z-95's, including Jyrett and Hadji, who ejected, falling to the more advanced and numerous opposition in the next minute. The rest of the Preybirds were immediately behind, with the Pinooks not far away as well. However, the pirates had misjudged the time it took for them to catch up with the fleeing freighters, and by that time, they were in range of the Strijela's six forward concussion missile launchers. "Priority targets locked... firing." - the tactical officer reported on the RTSE ship's bridge, as the operators of the concussion missile arrays launched their payloads... three series of 6 Advanced Concussion missiles, one from each array, in an interval of 3 seconds between each firing. Eighteen missiles streaked toward the leading Preybird wave in a period of 9 seconds... with four of the fighters falling to them as a a result, another three taking massive damage. As the forward missile arrays reloaded, then fired another triple series of 6, the Star Galleon, now starting to fire on the Xitiyar, was entering the range of the Strijela's relatively few, but quite powerful medium turbolasers, beginning to shudder under bright violet fire. And none of the pirates were even yet in range of the Sith frigate's main weapons - its enormous number of relatively short-ranged, but deadly, anti-fighter rapid fire turrets, which were numerous enough to be capable of reducing entire squadrons of lighter fighters into nothingness within moments. The ship adjusted its course slightly to port, bringing as many of the turrets to bear, while still maintaning the overall course for the station... The tactical officer on the Strijela smiled wickedly, thinking to himself: A minute later, they were in range... and the violet firestorm began. -- All the while Kam was flying like a madman, having been thrown into a violent rage by the death of his brother. He managed to finish off the remainging Preybirds from the first flight himself, and with the Strijela assisting, he and the last two Z-95s were able to deal with the second flight when it entered range. Despite efforts by his squadmates to try and calm him, Kam irrationally charged into the trailing squadron of Pinooks, almost as if he had a deathwish. Not that it made a difference, however, as the space around Kam suddenly filled with stroboscopic effects of the Strijela's laser bolts, hundreds of them, consigning the hapless Pinook squadron into space dust within seconds. Meanwhile, the unarmed transports had moved past the Sith Munja, with the first Xiytiar pulling up parallel to the Munja to provide assistance. The Star Galleon had taken severe hull damage from the Sith frigate's turbolasers, and its commander panicked, trying to turn back toward the station, and get out of range... but even as it turned ponderously away, its thin hull gave way under the turbolaser barrage. In a brilliant flash of expanding fire, it was gone, leaving behind a cloud of debris. The elegant warship continued its drive toward the station, now 3,75 units away... but the ribbon of flame issuing from its engines seemed to be intensifying... slowly, as it began to lose speed. -- "We've just had another rupture in the ion-distribution chamber, Captain! Sublight power is down to 43% and dropping... we may not even reach the station before we're dead in space!" - the engineering officer exclaimed, her voice harried. "Divert more power to the engines! We have to reach that station and fight off the pirates, if there is to be a station LEFT to repair us!" - Vedran roared, as the klaxon alarm again began to sound out. "Sir, if we overtax the engines, they might give out even sooner!" - the officer protested, quickly shutting off the alarm before it could annoy the captain again. "They will give out soon enough in any case... but we HAVE to get to that station! Do it!" - was his reply, as he thought: "Come on... hold together just a LITTLE longer!" - gripping the armrest of his command chair tightly, as the entire bridge began to subtly vibrate from the increasingly laboured efforts of the crippled main drive. The Munja's speed returned to its previous level, though the fiery ribbon in its wake was continuing to intensify... Meanwhile, at the station, whose shielding had just collapsed, the hull taking massive damage from the two Corvettes and another Space Bomb which bypassed the Xitiyar's defense fire, and it became obvious that it would be destroyed before the Sith ship could reach the range, Bloodbath 1 had come to a hard decision. "I can't let this happen... I may no longer be a mercenary, but I didn't sign on with these pirates to massacre civilians like this!" - the Zabrak woman thought, her face set in hard lines, as she contemplated the enormity of what she was about to do. Switching her fighter's frequency to the private channel with Bloodbath 2, her wingman - the only pilot of her former mercenary outfit who still flew with her, as all the rest were pirate pilots, she spoke: "Listen..." - was all she had to say, before the other pilot's quiet voice came back: "You don't need to say it, Sar'Eel... I know what you're thinking." "You do?" - she feigned surprise, though it was anything but. "I've flown with you for almost a decade now... with all the things we've been through, I'd say I know you better than you know yourself!" - the man's voice replied evaluatively, but with a trace of gallows humor. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kemmo... honestly, I'm not sure I even know myself all that well! But what I do know is that I won't let this happen." - she replied, the last sentence spoken in a hard voice. "What do you want to do?" - he asked quietly. "You think any of the others will go along?" - she answered with a question. "Not a chance... they're all bloodthirsty monsters. You know it, I know it." - Kemmo replied grimly. Grimacing to herself, Sar'Eel glanced at the rest of the squad, happily blasting away at the defenseless station. "No... I don't suppose they would." - she conceded quietly, as her gaze then took in the Bulk Freighters, still launching their Space Bombs at very regular intervals - intervals that were mathematically precise, in fact... "Form up." - she added to Kemmo, before switching the channel back to the squad level: "Bloodbaths, Two and me are heading topside to destroy the station's main life support generator! The rest of you converge on the main escape pod launch bay, and take it out... we don't want any of them leaving this hole before we blow it up!" - she ordered, as she switched to torpedoes, setting them for proximity fuse, painfully aware of the split-second timing this plan will require, and noting that the escape pod bay was directly on the opposite side of the station - and that the Toscans would have to fly directly beneath the Bulk Freighters and their launching Space Bombs to reach it. "Got it, boss... no way any of 'em are gettin' off!" - Bloodbath 3 replied with bloodlust in his voice, before the 6 Toscans veered off in that direction - exactly as she thought they would. At that moment, she launched four torpedoes, in a 1 second intervals, along their flight vector... without a locked target, simply to fly past the nearer Bulk Freighter, between it and the Toscans, as close as possible without actually entering its proximity detonation radius, as she was counting on at least one of them intersecting the next Space Bomb launched. Just when they were directly beneath the first of the Bulk Freighters, it launched another Space Bomb... ...which flew past, less then 10 meters ahead of her third torpedo, entering its proximity detonation radius. The torpedo exploded, taking the Space Bomb with it - directly in the midst of the Toscan group. As the death screams of her pilots echoed across her fighter's speaker, all 6 of the Toscans being consumed by the gigantic Space Bomb detonation, which also severely damaged the Bulk Freighter, a single tear slid down her cheek. "I'm so sorry..." - she whispered. "Let's take out those freighters, Two!" - she then added to Kemmo. As the two Toscans began pelting the Bulk Freighters with a furious barrage of laser and ion fire, the enraged voice of the pirate captan came over her channel: "WHAT IN BLAZES DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?!" - he roared in berserk rage. "Isn't it obvious? Saving a thousand innocent people." - she countered with steely calmness, before shutting off the link. The pirate turned to his helmsman, his face red from fury: "Take us below this thing! NOW! And bring us to bear on that schutta's fighter! I'll personally eat her heart for this!!!" - he roared, spit flying from his mouth. As the Enemy's Blood began to maneuver to dip below the station, most of its turrets stopped firing at the station itself, cutting the firepower against it by nearly half... since the last Skipray also converged on the two traitorous Toscans below. The sudden change of sides by two of the Toscan pilots left the Kalrich crewmen baffled, but also encouraged at the same time. The Xiytiar that had destroyed the Galleon was itself nearing the station, intending to join it's twin and the Toscans in finishing off the Bulk Freighters. With all the Pinooks shredded by the Munja, Kam had thrown all his energy to his engines in order to get at the enemy Corvettes. Not wanting to miss any action, and fearful Kam was about to get himself killed, Tay also converged on the base, joined grudgingly by her last companion, although they were still way behind Kam. -- Inside the station, Eisen Kalrich was trying to divide his attention between everything going on outside. He had decided to stay with the station, no matter what happened. But the events were clearly taking a toll on his overtaxed body. After finishing off the Skipray between the two of them, and blasting one of the Bulk Freighters, Sar'Eel and Kemmo headed out to meet the Sith frigate, intent on luring the Enemy's Blood to follow. However, they failed to take into account the second Corvette, still above the station and blasting at it, as they were focusing on keeping the station between them and the first one. The two Toscans emerged directly to point-blank range of the second pirate Corvette. Sar'Eel reacted instantly, dropping all power from lasers and shields to the engines, and scrambling to get distance between herself and the ship, a flood of laser fire tracking in her wake, most of it missing, but a half-dozen shots spattered off her rear shields, breaching them and causing some hull damage, as her hull indicator changed from green to yellow, while she was making evasive maneuvers. Nontleless, she was successful at outdistancing the Corvette. Kemmo was somewhat slower on the reaction time. Even as he was in the process of re-routing power to the engines, the flood of laser fire washed over him - before his Toscan succumbed to the massed fire, vanishing in a fireball. "NO!!!" - Sar'Eel screamed, almost tempted to turn back and attack the Corvette - but her self-control was strong enough to prevent her emotions from taking over and getting her killed. She resumed her drive toward the Strijela. "PURSUE HER!" - the pirate captain on the Enemy's Blood roared, pointing animatedly out of the forward bridge viewport. "Boss, that'll take us right at that Sithy ship! We can't--" - the helmsman began to retort... ...before the pirate captain pulled his blaster and shot him in his chair, growling: "I'll do it myself, you idiot..." - his berserk rage completely clouding his common sense, as he kicked the body out of the chair and took the navigator's place. The Corvette continued after the damaged Toscan - directly toward the Munja. On the Strijela's bridge... "Idiot." - Vedran thought, lip twisting in contempt, as the tactical officer marked the Enemy's Blood - which was moments from entering the Sith frigate's turbolaser range. -- The Xiytiars finished the second Bulk Freighter, then decided to try to drive off the second Corvette, which was still attacking the vulnerable station. Kam, meanwhile, was flying head-long at the same Corvette. As he drew closer, he readjusted his energy levels to his cannons, intent on firing at the Corvette's bridge. By now, Tay was practically screaming into the radio for him to stop, although he seemed to be ignoring her pleas, if he was even hearing them at all... The Enemy's Blood entered the Strijela's turbolaser range, and the Corvette began to shudder under fire. Only then did the pirate captain actually notice the height of his folly, as he began to ponderously turn the ship away. "Too late, animal!" - Sar'Eel thought, observing the pursuing Corvette on her rear sensor scope - just a her gaze fell on the forward scope, and something else caught her attention... ...a lone Z-95, belonging to the station's defenders, seemingly driving directly toward the second Corvette. Frowning, she switched the frequencies from the pirate channel to the open channel, and caught the frenzied pleas of that pilot's companions to stop his mad charge. Involuntarily, she smiled slightly, before muttering: "You've got a lot to learn about the better part of valor, kid, and keeping a lid on your anger... but I understand how you feel." - thinking about her late wingman. Then she switched to ion cannons only, and shifted her vector to take her on a head-to-head with the suicidal Z-95. "But I won't let you get yourself killed like that!" - she thought, as the range dropped below 1,75 units, and she opened fire. The bracket of ion bolts flashed at Kam's Z-95, ripping through its failing shields and disabling the figter in less than three seconds, as the damaged Toscan flashed past the now-immobile fighter. Meanwhile, the second pirate Corvette destroyed one of the Xitiyars, the ship still being more than a match for the two lightly armed freighters. However, immediately afterwards, that pirate captain decided to cut his losses, acutely aware of the converging Sith ship, as the Corvette began driving away from the station, edging to enter hyperspace. -- Tay's heart almost stopped when she saw the Toscan fire on Kam, but when it only disabled him and continued flying past, appearing to have no intent to finish him off, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. "Thank you Bloodbath 1." she said softly into the radio. "Your friend's a brave one... but he needs to learn not to be a foolish one, pilot." - the clipped alien-sounding female voice came back at Tay, but with clear friendly overtones noticeable in it. The damaged Toscan swung smoothly around, its flight path now paralelling the other two Z-95's, as Sar'Eel once again restored the normal laser/engine/shield ratio, and began diverting power back to shields again. Just as she did that, a brilliant explosion erupted some distance behind - the Enemy's Blood meeting its fate from the RTSE ship's turbolasers. By this time, the second corvette had begun pulling out, with the surviving Xiytiar holding position by the station, knowing a continued battle with the warship was needless. Less than a minute later, that corvette hypered out, meaning the area was now empty of pirates. The crews of the remaining Kalrich ships cheered in joy as their home, friends and family had been saved from certain doom. But as the cheers died down, the cold reality set in: The station's main defenses had been completely obliterated, with only a small handful of the Razor pilots managing to eject and survive. Echo group had lost all but three of its ships, with only two of the other pilots had ejected in time. Several transports of varying sizes had been destroyed, at least one of them loaded with women and children fleeing the base. Eisen Kalrich had to wait several moments for his heart to stop racing, as the stress of the events, in addition to his heavy body, were simply too much for it. When he was sufficiently calmed, he radioed Captain Vedran: "I... I offer you my utmost gratitude, captain. We would all have been massacred had it not been for your timely help." Vedran smiled slightly. "At least one battle to go well for us recently..." - remembering the debacle at Iridonia. Almost as he said that, a more pronounced shudder rippled through the Strijela, as a massive fireball of bluish flame erupted from the sublight drive - and its engines died completely. "Sir! We've lost the engines... we're dead in space." - the engineering officer exclaimed, as the bridge was now awash in reddish light of catastrophic emergency event. The elegant warship's drive toward the station faltered, before it came to a halt, aft section gouting fire. "Seal off the fuel intakes, and send emergency teams to stabilize the reaction chamber!" - Vedran roared, before turning back to Kalrich: "Well... you can begin expressing your gratitude by dispatching someone to tow us to your berth, Administrator." - he said dryly, as he reflected: "Just after the battle was over... fate, or coincidence?" - before he again turned to the engineer, exclaiming in annoyance: "And shut off that alarm!" -- At the same time, most of the transports were returning to station. The few light transports not yet fully loaded with workers were unloaded, then launched to recover the ejected pilots, of both sides. A tug was also sent out to bring Kam's Z-95 back to the hangar. Tay and the other teen pilot, a male Duros, remained hovering around the disabled Z-95 in the meantime. Kam's communications had been knocked-out by the ion surges, so he couldn't radio any messages. But then the station radioed them over the open channel: "Echo 4 and 7, return to the hangar. We're sending out a tug to recover Echo 2." the employee on the other end informed them. "Bloodbath 1, you are also cleared to land. There are plenty of people here who would like to thank you personally." he added. Just after Echo 4 and 7 had landed in the hangar, along with the tug carrying Echo 2, Sar'Eel's Toscan was coming in for the landing, as well. As the battered heavy fighter settled next to Echo 7's Z-95, severe blast scoring visible on its aft section and starboard wing, she couldn't help but think: "Once again, I've burned my bridges with an employer... must be sixth time by now? But this time, I've lost a friend, too..." - a sad expression on her attractive face, violet eyes sparkling, as she removed the helmet, and climbed out of the cockpit. Moments later, she was standing beside her Toscan, a shapely figure in a dark-gray pilot's jumpsuit, as several other people approached her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a slender brown-haired girl, also in a pilot's outfit, running over to the disabled Z-95. The engineers had pried the cockpit open, allowing the occupant, a young man, to emerge. The girl was on him in an instant, hugging him tightly. Sar'Eel could easily figure she was the one who had been calling for her companion to stop so desperately. Then one of the people walking toward her spoke, forcing her to divert her attention forward again. "You don't know how grateful we are for what you did." a middle-aged Twi'lek man said, "Without your help, even the Sith ship would not have made enough difference to save the station. Mr. Kalrich is on his way down to thank you himself." Sar'Eel's gaze lingered for a moment on the two pilots, becoming wistful for an instant, as she thought: "I can remember a day when I'd be so warm and personal with a friend... seems like a dozen lifetimes ago. But I've lost too many friends to believe in attachment of any kind anymore. Still... to lose Keemo like that... well, what's done is done. Everybody dies, no sense dwelling on it." - before she turned her gaze to the Twi'Lek, and speaking in her usual clipped voice, her face remaining impassive. "There are some things I won't do, or condone, ever... and being a party to a mass-slaughter of innocent people is one of them, mister. The name's Sar'Eel." - extending her hand, before she added with a slight smile: "And I'm glad I made a difference." The Twi'lek shook her hand and introduced himself, along with the others with him. They were of varying professions, some being mechanics from the hangar, others from other parts of the station, but having been down at the hangars during the attempted evacuation. The two young pilots, Kam and Tay, joined shortly afterward. The Zabrak flyer could tell they had been crying. "T-Thank you." Kam stammered, embarrassed at his actions, "You saved me from myself. It's just... they killed my brother... and..." He trailed off, not finishing his sentence. "...and you wanted to make them pay?" - she finished for him, knowingly. Then, she placed a hand on Kam's shoulder and spoke in a voice that was somewhat less clipped than her norm, yet firm, and with as much underlying compassion as she was capable of expressing: "Listen, kid... part of life as a fighter pilot is learning to accept that you WILL lose those you care about - even family, if they're in the same business as you are. Believe me... I know. But if you let your anger chew you up, you'll only get yourself killed too. Something I also know from experience - once almost personal. I lost a very good friend today, too... and I'll admit, if was a close call for me to turn around and charge that Cor. But it wouldn't have made any difference, and getting killed wouldn't have brought my friend back to life." - she finished, looking Kam straight in the eyes. Kam nodded slowly in somber acknowledgement, just before Tay also chimed in. "And remember that there are other people who care about you." she said to her friend, "You getting yourself killed would only give your family more pain." Quickly trying to change her dispostion to pleasent, Tay turned and offered her hand to the Zabrak. "We both owe you big time." she stated, "I'm Tay and this is Kam." "Sar'Eel." - the Zabrak woman simply said with a smile, shaking her hand, then Kam's, demonstrating quite a firm grip. Then she noticed a pair of mechanics starting to examine her Toscan's damaged aft section and port wing, and she remarked: "I think the port engine took some damage, too... I had trouble keeping my speed constant after I got away from that Cor." - in her usual clipped professional tone. "Okay, we'll check it out." one of the mechanics replied. At that moment, another shuttle landed, carrying rescued Kalrich pilots. Tay and Kam walked over to see their comrades, being joined by the Duros along the way. The two surviving Z-95 pilots emerged, one of them being Hadji, the other a Zeltron girl. As they talked about how much they were glad to see one-another alive, a trio of Razor pilots also exited the shuttle. One of them immediately noticed the Toscan and its pilot, staring daggers at her and clinching his fist in anger since he had been one of her victims when she was still on the pirate's side. Mr. Kalrich arrived on the hangar level about the same time, greeting several employees before walking over to Sar'Eel. The plump man, like many of his employees had already, offered his hand to the Zabrak pilot. "I was told you changed sides because you didn't want to allow the massacre of our station's population. I'm sure many have already told you, but I will simply reiterate it: We are very grateful for what you have done. I know you killed many of our pilots, but I am not a grudge-harboring man, and I believe any person can redeem themself." he addressed her. The bitter Razor pilot had come up closer and was listening in on the conversation, his face still twisted in contempt. Sar'Eel gripped the proffered hand, before replying: "Mister Kalrich, I assume? I draw a line when it comes to the murder of innocents, but I don't make apologies for any of your pilots I've taken down in combat. It was them or me, and I've got nothing to be redeemed for there." - this last sentence actually addressed to the Razor pilot, whom she noticed approaching her with hostility evident on his face. Tensing slightly, she released Kalrich's hand, then took a half-step back, putting her back against the Toscan's fuselage, her right hand dropping to rest casually on her hip, not far from the compact disruptor pistol in a holster on the belt of her pilot's suit. She locked gazes with the Razor pilot, keeping her expression completely blank... who was also armed, a standard blaster pistol hanging from his own belt. "I suppose you can look at it that way. But regardless, like I said, I will not hold it against you or seek retribution nor will anyone under my employ." Kalrich reassured her, shooting a glare at the Razor pilot, who got the message and backed down. The last of the light transports had returned, the final shuttle carrying the 'rescued' pirate flyers who had ejected during the battle, mainly the Pinook or Preybird pilots. A mix of security guards and armed employees soon herded them out of the shuttle, some of them already arguing on whether or not to shoot them there. But the security officers managed to keep the potential premature execution from happening. As they were walked across the hangar, some of the pirate pilots noticed their former companion... One of the rescued pirate pilots was the Wampa 1, the squad leader of the Pinook squadron after the unarmed evacuees. He was the first to notice Sar'Eel. "Hey, hot stuff! I see you've still got your ride! How'd you pull that off?!" - he shouted, with a grin, before suddenly realizing the truth, as he took in the Karlich employees nearby, most of whom didn't seem hostile toward her... "Hold on a sec... you've switched sides?! What in blazes were you thinking?" - as Sar'Eel approached him. "Probably the exact opposite of what you and the rest thought, blasting away at unarmed civillians. I didn't like you from the moment I started working for you scum, and now I can finally do something I wanted to do for months!" - she replied, her clipped voice with a clear overtone of disgust, before suddenly pulling out her disruptor, and shooting him point-blank in the chest. Then she shifted aim, and took out one of the Preybird pilots, as well. "I don't like rapists and child-killers, scum." - she intoned coldly, as the pair of death-screams died down. Then she turned to the rest of the pirate pilots: "The rest of you - it seems to me these people want your hides. But since Kalrich lost a lot of his assets today, he could probably be persuaded to take you on as replacements." - turning back to Kalrich, then adding, as she holstered the disruptor pistol: "Mister Kalrich... these others aren't that bad. They were just following orders... they're decent flyers and looks like you need new pilots." - she offered. The other pirates looked in shock at the two smoking corpses, then shifted their gazes to Sar'Eel and Kalrich, speechless for the moment. "If they can prove to me they can be trusted, then they are more than welcome to sign on to our security staff." Kalrich stated, "And that same invitation is extended to you as well." "Well, that's up to them, isn't it?" - Sar'Eel asked a rhetorical question, to which one of the pirates added: "We'll do what we can... not that the boss'll ever take us back, anyway." - several others nodding quietly. "As for me, I think I've adequately proven I can be trusted, haven't I?" - she then asked Kalrich, some stiff formality audible in her clipped tone now. "I believe so." Kalrich admitted, "But I'm going to have my chief of security evaluate you all when he returns tomorrow. He'd be much better at this than me. In the meantime, the other pilots will have to be kept under surveillance, as a precaution. You, however; are free to use whatever facilities our station has to offer." The Zabrak pilot approached close to Kalrich at that, adding quietly: "He'll have to do much more than 'evaluate'... trust me, you're now near the top of the list of people the Overlord wants dead - and after what happened today, I get the feeling you just took the spotlight on that list! They'll be back... you can count on that. Of course, I'm probably not much lower now, given my betraying them." - she muttered. Kalrich nodded in unspoken acknowledgement. "Then having an experienced pilot like yourself on our side will be all the more vital." he finally said, "The details of a contract can be worked out later, just relax for the time being. I now have to greet to Sith captain who assisted us." At that, the attractive Zabrak smiled slightly. "I've been a fighter pilot for almost 15 years, Kalrich... you could say I know a few things. Anyway... as long as that Sith ship's in the system, you should be safe from a repeat attack - he's a coward, and is not going to risk it, though his Marauder, coupled with some of the other heavy hitters he has, could easily give that crippled Munja a run for it's credits. The instant the Sith are away, you'll be targets again. Or maybe even sooner, if he's angry enough to see past his cowardice." Turning to walk out of the hangar, she stopped by the mechanics working on her Toscan again. "Take good care of her, will you?" - before walking out, briefly winking in the direction of Kam and Tay. The Strijela's main reactor chamber, just as the freighters had finished towing the frigate to the berth.... "How bad is it?" - Vedran asked the chief engineer, though he had a rather good idea himself. "Not good, sir... main engine array is a mess! All four thrust nozzles have been damaged, two of them literally ripped off by that explosion. If you hadn't ordered to shut off fuel to the engines, we would have likely had a reactor meltdown! Now, add to that--" - before the captain cut him off impatiently. "Spare me the details, Commander... what's the best estimate for repair time?" - he inquired. "Assuming the station has compatible components in its stores... a minimum of four days, sir. And that includes a replacement for the hyperdrive motivator, since this one is beyond repair." - the engineer replied crisply. "And the outer hull breaches?" - Vedran asked next. The engineer scowled at that. "Well, not all of them can be repaired outside a dedicated RTSE shipyard, I'm afraid. However, this station's repair facilities should be able to patch up some of them... I would say enough to bring our hull integrity back up to about 80%." "Weapons?" - was the captain's next question. "That's the good news, sir... the few turrets that have been knocked out can be fixed with the spare parts we have aboard. We should be back to 100% combat effectiveness within a day." - the engineer nodded in satisfaction. "Good... that's something, anyway. I'll leave the repair coordination to you and your teams, as well as directing the station repair personnel which will work on us. Of course... security issues still remain, Commander! None of them are to work on ANY of our critical components without supervision. Understood?" - Vedran asked, glaring at the engineer. "Yes, sir!" - the commander replied, snapping his hand to his chest. With that, Vedran exited the engineering section, and made his way to the umbilical connecting the warship to the station, to meet the administrator, who would doubtlessly want to speak to him personally. Two of the Acolytes accompanied him as guards, a part of the Munja's very small complement of Force using troops. Upon entering the station, Vedran was greeted by a blue-uniformed security officer, who informed him the company CEO would be arriving to meet him shortly. A few moments later, Kalrich arrived, extending his hand to the Sith commander as approached. "Captain, I am Eisen Kalrich, owner and chief executive of Kalrich Shipping Company." he introduced himself, "We all owe you a greet deal for you timely assistance." Unlike the Zabrak flyer, the Sith captain didn't take the offered hand, merely nodding in greeting, before replying in an officious tone, yet slightly amicable nonethless, cold grey eyes steady on the plump businessman before him: "Indeed you do, Administrator Kalrich. And that debt will be repaid by repair work on my ship. Free of charge, as I have indicated before. My chief engineer will be in contact with your head of maintenance shortly, if he isn't already." - he said. Seeing the Sith captain was not one for friendly relationships, Kalrich dropped his hand and folded it with the other behind his back. "Naturally we will fufill our end of the deal. We'll do everything we can to get your ship repaired as soon as possible. You and your crew are free to use the facilities of our station in the meantime." Kalrich offered. The two hard-faced Acolytes, an athletic and resilient looking male and a shapely, delicately beautiful female, stood completely motionless, glowering silently at the security officers beside Kalrich, the fidgeting of the officers clearly indicative that they were somewhat unnerved by the Acolytes' reddish-hued eyes. Still, one of the officers couldn't take his eyes off the female Acolyte... "How easy would it be to just take over and conquer this station, taking whatever we wanted... were we not the True Sith, and above such petty conduct. But for his sake, this... soft little man... had better not renege on the agreement with the captain!" - the male one thought briefly, but keeping his face completely impassive. The female one simply stretched deeply through the Force, and her extreme mental discipline, reading deeply into Kalrich's mind, on the lookout for any sign of deception on his part. Sensing none, she shifted her reddish-dark, ocean-deep gaze to the officer measuring her out, hardly needing the Force to notice his interest. "I will seize your mind, dear... and make you my slave!" - she thought, deciding to have some fun. With a barely-noticable seductive smile, which vanished just as quickly, she sent him a Force message - without applying Force Domination... yet. "You've no idea how much, gorgeous!" - the officer thought, already having a crush on the attractive Acolyte even without additional manipulation. One of the other security officers nudged his companion. "What are you doing? Don't stare at them; you're liable to make them uneasy. From what I've heard about the Sith, we don't want to do anything to get them mad." he whispered. The other officer ignored the nudge, eyes still on the Acolyte woman. Applying Force Domination, she sent another Force message to him: The officer's face turned blank, eyes glazing into nothingness, as the Domination effect took over, and he was deprived of free choice. "Yes... ANYTHING!" - he thought. The male Acolyte snickered slightly at that, before sending his companion a Force message: The second officer was growing more uneasy, grabbing the other man by the shoulder and shaking him slightly. Getting no response, he glanced over at the two Acolytes, his face turning white when he saw they were looking at them. Meanwhile, the conversation between Vedran and Kalrich continued... "That will be appreciated, Administrator. We have had a very... trying... couple of days, to say the least." - Vedran said, his tone turning slightly more friendly now, before adding: "In any case, Administrator, I'm curious... who were these pirates attempting to destroy you?" - Vedran inquired. But before Kalrich could reply... "You're exhausted. Go to sleep... when you awaken, in precisely 5 hours, you will not remember any of this, and the first thing you will do is ask about me." - the Acolyte woman commanded the dominated officer. Right where he was standing, the officer sat down on the floor, then lay on his side, closing his eyes and falling asleep. Before the second officer could so much as utter an exclamation of surprise, the Acolyte extended her Force Domination to him too, just for a moment: "You are seeing nothing out of the ordinary." - she sent to his mind. The other officer glanced at his sleeping companion, then shrugged and ignored him. Of course, Kalrich wasn't so indifferent, turning in shock to look at the sleeping guard on the floor behind him. "What is this all about!?" he demanded. The second officer was at a loss for an answer. "Wake him up." Kalrich ordered the guard, who just shrugged and did as he was told. "Hmm... it seems your employee has had a rather difficult day, to be this tired." - Vedran commented dryly, unable to suppress a smile, even though he had a vague idea, glancing briefly at the Acolyte woman, who was keeping her face straight. She leaned in to whisper in the captain's ear, barely loud enough for him to hear it: "He will be fine, sir, in several hours... and more than that. I apologize, but I couldn't resist!" Vedran stayed silent, but thought: "Very amusing, Acolyte... for now, let's focus on the matter at hand, shall we?" - knowing that she will sense the thought. "Yes, sir." - she whispered again. "Heh... his staring annoyed you that much?" - the male Acolyte sent her a Force message. "Not really... but enough to embarrass him a little!" - she replied, deadpan. Meanwhile, all attempts to wake up the sleeping officer failed, since the instruction to his mind was very clear - he would awaken in precisely 5 hours. At the same time, she ceased the Force touch on the second officer, knowing that by now, he would have forgotten about what he was thinking when the first officer fell asleep. "Have him taken to the infirmary." Kalrich finally muttered. "I must beg your pardon," he said, turning back toward the captain, "I can't understand what could have come over him. Maybe too much stress and worry from the battle." "Indeed... we all deal with stress in different ways, Administrator." - Vedran responded, keeping his face straight, before getting back to the previous subject: "So... who were those pirates?" "Well, this all started with a raid on our distribution station a couple days ago by the infamous pirate ship The Queen's Revenge. We managed to repel the attack, since the raiders had underestimated our defenses. But apparently the pirate leader, this "Overlord Riion", wasn't too pleased with us, so he launched this recent attack in retaliation. From what one of his former pilots told me, our company is now likely his number one target." Kalrich explained. "Indeed. The pirates have been becoming more and more bold throughout the galaxy, Administrator, as both we and those miserable New Republic bastards have been preoccupied with fighting one-another. In any case, from what I have come to expect of pirates, they're cowards, and will not risk an attack while facing considerable opposition. In any case, while we're here, that should most likely prevent a follow-up attack any time soon." - Vedran stated after Kalrich was finished with his explanation. The conversation carried on for another few minutes, before all the arrangements have been made. With that, the captain went to his ship, before authorizing shore leave for any and all members of his crew not occupied with repairs. -- Seven hours later, one of the many common areas of the station, this one set us as a cantina. As the maintenance personnel was still busy with repairs to the considerable damage the station sustained during battle, currently replacing a blown conduit in one corner of the lounge, Sar'Eel was having a drink, talking with Kam, the pilot she disabled earlier, and the Razor pilot who confronted her before, now acting on a slightly more cordial basis, as he accepted the fact it was a battle. Surprisingly, most of the others there, mostly station residents, seemed to be giving her a wide berth, perhaps a little unnerved by her uncompromising execution of the two pirates earlier in the hangar. In another part of the cantina, a pair of RTSE troops were engaged in conversation between themselves. "So are you planning on keeping that Toscan of yours, or are you going to switch to a company-provided fighter?" the pilot asked Sar'Eel, having heard the conversation between her and Kalrich and known she was being hired. Sar'Eel smirked at that slightly. "What... switch her for one of your flimsy Razors? Well, I would have to be rather stupid to do that - no offense, of course. Sometimes I miss the speed and agility of my earlier ship, a Twing, but she pays off in staying power and muscle." - she replied, crossing her legs and taking another sip of her drink. "At least Razors beat Z-95s." the pilot remarked, remembering the days when the Z-95s were the primary security fighter of the company. "I didn't know you were joining the company." Kam suddenly injected, appearantly haven't not been informed prior. "Look at it this way, kid... right now, I'm close to the top of the people my ex-boss wants dead, and he is not the type to give up on the vendetta. So my chances of survival are a lot better if I stick with a group." - she answered, before adding in a steely calm clipped tone: "And... let's say I know what he'll do to all of you if he gets his hands on this station and has you at his nonexistent mercy. And I'm not going to let that happen, if I can help it!" "Besides... I'm a mercenary. Your boss had offered me a paying commission, and I've accepted." - she finished with a slight smile. "How many more ships does he have at his disposal?" the other pilot asked, "He obviously had quite a few to throw at us in this last engagement." "Well, he has his Marauder, the Queen's Revenge... apparently, he named it in honor of his late pirate boss, who got herself killed raiding an RTSE outpost a year ago. And from what his lieutenants told me, her death wasn't quick... anyway, beside that, he has that remaining Cor, one more Marauder, 4 or 5 more Star Galleons, and a Loronar Strike Cruiser he captured from Imperials a few months ago. Why he hasn't made that one his flagship is beyond me, actually... but that one alone could give that Sith Munja a good fight." - Sar'Eel replied. Just at that moment, the general atmosphere in the cantina seemed to escalate a notch in tension - not counting the two RTSE troops, who didn't so much as glance. One of the RTSE Acolytes, the female one that was acting as one of Vedran's guards, walked in. The Razor pilot was just about to respond to the Zabrak when he noticed the acolyte enter and quickly held his tongue. Kam simply couldn't help but stare. Most of the other people quickly put space between themselves and the Sith woman, not wanting to have anything to do with her. A few of the braver ones simply went on with their business, however. "It's one of those Sith." Kam stated the obvious. "I've seen Dark-side forcer-users before." the Razor pilot muttered, already shifting his eyes away from the acolyte, "They're always trouble." "If I were the sort of 'trouble' you are thinking about at this exact moment, you would be dead now, wouldn't you? Which means I'm not... at least not at the moment, anyway." - the Acolyte replied to the Razor pilot via the Force with a mental deadpan wink, easily sensing the thought, despite being well out of earshot. Noticing the Zabrak pilot, she approached the table. At that, Sar'Eel shifted slightly in her chair, right hand almost reflexively edging a centimeter closer to the disruptor at her belt, unnerved by the Acolyte's reddish eyes and strange, greyish-white hair. The nervousness had proven unfounded, however, as the Sith woman spoke in a focused, yet surprisingly amicable tone: "So... you are the one whose exploits in the battle are being mentioned even throughout our crew, pilot? The captain was most impressed... such daring ingenuity is seldom even amongst the elite ranks of our glorious Sith flyers." "Thanks... that's high praise coming from a Sith, I suppose." - Sar'Eel replied, her own tone her usual clipped neutrality, as her hand relaxed fractionally near her disruptor. "Very much so, mercenary. What I find surprising is that someone of your obvious skill and ability would take such a risk on behalf of people too weak to protect themselves." - the last five words spoken with a trace of contempt, as the Acolyte's reddish gaze briefly flicked to the two pilots near the Zabrak, then around the cantina, and the station workers trying very hard not to let their fear of the Acolyte show. The Razor pilot clinched his fist, but didn't say anything, knowing it was better to keep his mouth shut. Kam, on the other hand, wasn't going to sit for it. "What gives you the right to come in here and start insulting us!?" he snapped, jolting to his feet, "We're not a military like you people are! We don't have an unlimited stream of money coming through taxes like you have!" The attractive Sith woman turned to Kam at that, before replying, in an evaluative tone, clearly impressed by Kam's marked contrast in attitude to the rest: "With obvious exceptions, like yourself." Then she flashed a smile at him, those deep dark-reddish eyes literally boring through him. "It's good to see... and sense... some spirit, amidst this general air of cowardice! What is your name, fiery one?" Kam hesitated a minute, surprised at the Sith's reaction. "Kam Drejee." he finally responded, "And we are not cowards! Most of these people are merchants or repair workers, not soldiers!" "Those are occupations only, not frames of mind, Kam Drejee. But I have discovered people tend to use them as a convenient excuse, when there is never an excuse for being a coward. Trust me - I have encountered cowardly soldiers... and also courageous merchants and repair workers." - the Acolyte retorted with a slight shake of her head, before she added in an ominous tone: "For members of the True Sith, there is only one punishment for being a coward... whichever occupation they may hold in our ranks." "If the pilots and ship captains were cowards, they would have fled in the face of a superior force." Kam retorted, "But you saw how many of our people died trying to protect our home and their families!" As Kam was speaking, Tay and the Zeltron pilot entered the lounge. It didn't take them long to notice the acolyte and the table where their friend was seated. "Wow, look at her! I wish I was that beautiful!" the Zeltron exclaimed when she saw the Sith woman. "You are. You just have a self-image problem." Tay deadpanned in an annoyed tone. The two girls walked over to the table, but Tay could already tell that the mood at the table was far from jovial. The Zeltron seemed to tense up as they got closer to the acolyte, and Tay felt a bit of fear herself, since she had heard a lot of nasty things about Sith and Dark Jedi. "Everyone would fight to the end, if the only alternative was death, since those pirates had no intention of allowing you to escape. But yes... some of your people acquitted themselves well in the battle, I agree." - the Acolyte replied, sensing the new arrivals at the same time. Not turning around, she stretched throgh the Force to feel both of the newcomers... ...and her reddish eyes widened slightly, sensing a clear affinity for the Force in the Human girl. While not too pronounced, the affinity was on the level of most Acolytes. "There is potential in that one..." - she thought. "Is there something going on here?" Tay asked, noting the unpleasant expressions on Kam and the Razor pilot's faces. "No more than what their preconceptions of the True Sith in general, and myself in particular, would compel them to believe." - the Sith woman replied before anyone else could answer, giving Tay a reassuring wink. "Well... it's not easy to see past preconceptions, you know. But you're definitely not like the stories of the Dark Jedi, Vader and the Emperor make the Sith out to be." - Sar'Eel injected at that. "At least not yet." the Razor pilot corrected. "Sit down." Kam said softly to Tay and the Zeltron, who both took seats. "Are you one of those... warriors who use the laser sword things?" the Zeltron curiously questioned the acolyte. "Not EVER! There is such a thing as self-discipline, pilot. The one thing that actually separates us from the examples your Zabrak acquaintance had just pointed out. But make no mistake - I could be that way, and worse, in an instant, should the situation require it." - the Acolyte snapped at the Razor pilot, reddish eyes flashing briefly, before she addressed Sar'Eel again. "And thank you... what you said was probably the best compliment anyone could give one of us. We of the RTSE hold the Dark Jedi in utter contempt!" Finally, she replied to the Zeltron girl: "Yes, I use a lightsaber... when I have to." - shifting slightly and revealing a cylindrical handle at her belt. "But that is not my main weapon in battle... I am a warrior of the mind, my dear." - she added mysteriously. The Razor pilot just held an unconvinced look on his face. "Huh?" the Zeltron girl asked, cocking her head to one side. "She's a psychologist." Kam joked. One of the RTSE troops at the bar chuckled at that, overhearing Kam's comment... "Looks to me like the kid needs a demonstration, Acolyte Xanara." - he remarked in the electronically-filtered voice of his helmet speaker. "Indeed." - the Sith woman muttered softly, in a playfully sinister tone, before applying Force Domination on the Zeltron girl. In the next moment, the Zeltron pilot, unable to resist the overpowering Force Dominated suggestion despite her empathic ability, bowled Kam over from his chair, to land on his back to the cantina floor. She landed right on top, about to rip open his shirt, a look of pure lust in her eyes. "Graawr... I WANT YOU! Now..." - she hissed like a snake. "What the frag!?" Kam exclaimed, trying to hold the Zeltron back. Tay was on her feet a couple seconds later, grabbing the Zeltron under her arms from behind and dragging her off of Kam by force, as she was slightly stronger than the alien girl. "What's g...?" she started to say, before suddenly whipping her head toward the acolyte. "What did you do to her!?" she demanded, still fighting to keep hold. "Me? Whatever do you mean? It seems your friend simply couldn't restrain her affections any longer." - Xanara replied innocently, while shifing the focus of her Domination on the Zeltron... The Zeltron girl suddenly grew angry, the anger giving her a burst of strength to tear herself out of Tay's hold, then turned to bowl Tay over, hands at her neck. "Back off, schutta! He's MINE!" - she yelled. The two RTSE troopers enjoyed the catfight, while Sar'Eel simply remarked: "Not too dissimilar to my species' preferred courtship rituals..." - with a grin. Tay choked for a moment, but finally managed to overpower the Zeltron and flip over on top of her. "I've actually wanted to do this for a long time." Tay thought as she got one hand free and punched the other girl straight in the face, giving her a black eye. Kam got back to his feet, but was too dazzed at what had just happened to do anything. The Razor pilot had actually gotten a chuckle from the odd series of events. The Acolyte focused on the Zabrak woman... "So... claim your own prey, then!" - she sent Sar'Eel a Force message, while drawing deeper on the Force and expanding the Domination effect to the Zabrak, as well. Sar'Eel suddenly stood up, and growled to the Razor pilot: "I had shot you down... now I will complete my conquest!" - kicking the pilot roughly to his chest, and dropping him to the floor like Kam was earlier. Then, the intense Zabrak warrior spirit took over, and she clamped hard around his ribs, pressing him down, the much higer inward-pressure the Zabrak can apply with all limb muscles literally cutting off the flow of air to his chest, as she squeezed. "Fight me off... Human! And take me... if you CAN! If not... DIE!" "Aackk... get... off...!" the shocked pilot managed to cough. As the man tried to fight himself some room to breath, Kam had finally realized what was going on. "STOP IT!!!" he bellowed at the acolyte, already jumping over the table to try and tackle her. Even though the Sith woman could sense Kam's intent through the Force a second before he so much as moved, she didn't sidestep his charge. As he tackled her down, she simply hissed: "Make me, fiery one!" - but at the same time influencing Sar'Eel to ease off the chest pressure on the Razor pilot slightly, not actually wanting the demonstration to result in serious accident. By now though, Kalrich Co. security guards were running over to break up the brawl, shouting for them to cease fighting at once. Expanding her Force Domination affinity to the limit, Xanara influenced the guards to completely ignore the mayhem, as they just began standing there, staring disinterestedly at the scene. After another minute, she finally ceased the Domination effects on the Zeltron and Sar'Eel, but still keeping the one on the guards, intending to keep them out of it until they completely forgot the incident happened in the first place. The Zabrak woman's eyes re-focused, and she stared in surprise at the pinched face of the Razor pilot. "What in..." - she muttered, releasing the pressure completely and standing up in surprise. The Razor pilot could only gasp in relief. Meanwhile, the Zeltron girl suddenly returned back to normal, only to find Tay manhandling her. "OWW!!! Tay, stop it! You're hurting me!!!" she shrieked. Tay had gotten worked up into a near-rage, but was able to hold herself from attacking the Zeltron any further. Whatever was possessing the girl seemed to have suddenly left. "I... I'm sorry Yenni." she stammered. "What's wrong with you! I thought we were friends!" the Zeltron cried, on the verge of tears. Meanwhile, Kam was still on top of Xanara. "Take a look behind you, fiery one... my little demonstration is finished!" - the Sith woman suddenly smiled. Kam turned his head to glance, noting with some surprise that the struggles have ceased. Turning back, he found the Acolyte's saber hilt pressed in his stomach. "Frankly, I wouldn't resist, but this cantina isn't really the place for such activity, is it? Too public for my taste... Unfortunately... Now, are you going to get off of me, or were you just making yourself comfortable?" - she hissed playfully. Kam didn't utter a word and hastily got off of the Sith woman. He only glared angrily at her before walking over to Tay and Yenni, both of whom were clearly distressed. Tay was having a tough job convincing the Zeltron girl that she didn't just attack her for no reason, although she hadn't gotten around to telling why. When Kam joined the two, he had to try and help explain what had happened to her. By now, the Razor pilot had staggered back to his feet. "You're stronger than you look, Zabrak." he wheezed to the merc pilot. "Never judge by appearances, Human... and don't think that was my best, either!" - Sar'Eel deadpanned with a slight smile, before turning to glare angrily at the Acolyte. The Sith woman shrugged slightly, before speaking to everyone at the table: "Let's just say I didn't take kindly to being referred to as a psychologist! I cannot STAND those..." - with a mock-menacing frown, before adding: "In any case, I feel obliged to repair any damage inflicted..." - closing her eyes, and applying Force Heal on Yenni's black eye, and a few bruises on Tay, as well as a cracked rib of the Razor pilot. The two girls started in surprise, as their injuries regenerated within a dozen seconds. The Razor pilot breathed in relief. "Never judge by appearances, Human... and don't think that was my best, either!" - Sar'Eel deadpanned with a slight smile, before turning to glare angrily at the Acolyte. The Sith woman shrugged slightly, before speaking to everyone at the table: "Let's just say I didn't take kindly to being referred to as a psychologist! I cannot STAND those..." - with a mock-menacing frown, before adding: "In any case, I feel obliged to repair any damage inflicted..." - closing her eyes, and applying Force Heal on Yenni's black eye, and a few bruises on Tay, as well as a cracked rib of the Razor pilot. The two girls started in surprise, as their injuries regenerated within a dozen seconds. The Razor pilot breathed in relief. "At least she has the decency to fix the damage she caused... or she's just trying to hide it from the security guards." Kam thought to himself. "T-Thank you." Yenni managed to blurt out to the Sith woman. "Please don't do ever that mind stuff again." Tay asked, her voice firm with an angry undertone to it. "Don't worry, I promise I won't... but I trust you understand now, what I meant when I said I was a warrior of the mind? Of course, this was just one innocent example." - Xanara replied to Tay and Yenni, before adding a Force message to Kam's mind. "Those guards' presence here had nothing to do with my decision. It wasn't my intent to cause any damage in the first place, you know. They will remember only as much as I want them to remember of this little event." Slightly over her anger, Sar'Eel remarked thoughtfully: "Most intriguing... a means to overpower the enemy without them even realizing it. I suppose there is something to be said for unconventional approach to battle..." "That's scary." Tay put forth her honest opinion. Finally sitting at the table to join them, Xanara nodded. "I suppose it does seem frightening to you, Tay... however, every ability is frightening to those who don't have it. And I speak from experience, as well... since my prowess in a direct lightsaber battle is very much lacking compared to most of my counterparts. Not to mention their proficiency in unarmed combat... all of that just a small part of the price I pay for my intense focus on the mental aspects of the Force." "She will be ready to be told... soon." - the Sith woman thought, about Tay's Force affinity. Only then did she ease off the still-enduring Domination on the security guards, who stirred where they were standing motionless for the past few minutes. Looking around at the once-again-peaceful cantina, none of them could remember what was the problem in the first place. The Razor pilot had resumed his seat, with Kam and Yenni following shortly afterward. Tay remained standing, however. "The things I've heard the Force can do... a lot of terrible things. It's even worse to see it used on a friend." she mused. Xanara studied her for long moments... long enough for Tay to begin to fidget under that deep reddish gaze. Finally, the Sith woman spoke: "Have I done anything so... terrible? I don't recall... I have a feeling Yenni is in fact less upset about it than you..." - in a mysterious tone, not elaborating further, since earlier before the demonstration began in the first place, she could sense the Zeltron girl's genuine affection for Kam... which was confirmed a moment later, when Yenni quickly shifted her gaze to the table's surface. Before Tay could reply, Xanara continued: "You, however... are different. What if I were to tell you that you could learn what the Force can do personally?" "What?" Tay asked, not knowing where this was going. Her reddish gaze still boring into Tay, the Sith woman stated it bluntly: "You have Force affinity, Tay. I could clearly sense it in you ever since you entered this place." Tay felt a strange excited yet terrified feeling in her gut, enough to make her feel somewhat sick. "You mean... I have the Force?" she inquired in a shaky tone. Xanara smiled mysteriously at that. "No, my dear... the potential for it. To actually develop that potential, and feel the Force flow freely through you, requires training... a great deal of it. But essentially, yes - you COULD have the Force." - she replied. Kam reached over and poked Tay in the arm. "Hey, that would be cool!" he said enthusiastically. Tay was too conflicted to present a composed response. "I... uh... that's scary." she finally said, imagining herself with the freakish eyes that the acolyte possessed. "So you had said a minute ago, pilot... no need to repeat yourself!" - Sar'Eel injected, with a grin, before adding in a conspiratorial tone: "If I were you, I'd jump at this... think of the kind of pilot you could be with the Force there to give you an edge when needed!" The Acolyte nodded. "Just one relevant example, but... true." "Maybe you'd even be able to beat me in the simulator for once." Kam suggested jovially. "Bu-- But how? You Sith guys aren't going to be staying here long, and I don't want to have to leave my friends and family to go back with you!" Tay exclaimed, "And especially not when we're in so much trouble with the pirates as we are now." Yenni was secretly wishing Tay would go, as she viewed her as the only competition she had for Kam's attention. "I am not going to force the issue, of course, Tay... that is not our way. To do so would make us no different from those pathetic Dark Jedi pretenders who employed such methods! Not to mention, a forced induction will only hinder your potential in the long run... severely. The decision is yours alone." - the Sith woman said. "It is not easy, by any stretch of imagination... and it's also not something that can be accomplished without a long-term commitment, true." - she added to Tay. Although her adventurous spirit was telling her to go for it, Tay felt many other forces urging her to stay put. "I... I'll have to think about it." she finally responded. Xanara nodded in agreement. "Yes... do that, Tay. Think about the possiblilites, and the potential you could develop. Affinity for the Force is a rare gift... don't waste it. Or worse... squander it by joining the lost Jedi cause." - in an intensely focused voice, her deep reddish gaze locked on Tay, before she stood up to leave. On her way out of the cantina, the beautiful Sith woman turned once more: "When you reach a decision, let me know. You can reach me by contacting the Strijela's communications officer and asking to be put through to Acolyte Xanara, since I most likely will not be visiting the station again today." Then she walked out at a measured pace, almost all the men in the cantina staring after her. There was a silence at the table for a few moments. Sar'Eel was the first to break it. "Uufff... there's something about her that's really... unsettling. Still, she seemed personable enough... Definitely not the kind of Dark Side user I was expecting her to be. She's got conscience and self-control, no doubts about that." - shaking her head slightly in amazement. "I'm not convinced." Kam muttered. Tay just stood and watched the Sith woman leave, wanting so badly to say she'd go with, but being held in place by other things. She'd have to consult with family and friends first. "Did you see what she was wearing?" she suddenly asked, the odd question causing the Razor pilot to burst out laughing. "I wish our dress code was that free!" Yenni teased, knowing Tay tended to be, in her opinion, overprincipled in that respect. Tay just shot an annoyed glare at the Zeltron as she finally took a seat at the table. "Maybe they don't all dress like that." she thought to herself. "Well, maybe you should bring it up with your boss!" - one of the RTSE troopers remarked jokingly, overhearing Yenni's comment, before adding: "I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing you in those threads, foxy!" - measuring the Zeltron girl closely from behind his helmet visor, the visor's integrated vision enhancement features also providing some assistance there. Yenni blushed, slightly embarrassed, but also flattered, at the attention. Kam nudged her with his arm. "Maybe not the most appropriate conversation topic right now." he whispered in her ear. Tay rested her face in her hand, sighing in annoyance at the Zeltron's unnecessary comments. MEANWHILE, AT THE RANCOR'S PIT, THE PIRATE BASE Aboard a well-hidden asteroid base, protected by heavy defense platforms and surrounded by an extensive minefield, in an asteroid belt only a sector away from Kalrich HQ... After getting a report of the debacle that was the attempted takeover of Kalrich HQ, Overlord Riion, a massively muscled, savage man, literally went berserk. Grabbing the surviving Corvette's pirate captain by the throat, and slamming him to the wall, he thundered: "ALL OF THEM?!? ALL OF MY SHIPS?! THOSE INSIGNIFICANT TRADER INSECTS HAVE DESTROYED ALL OF MY SHIPS?!?!" - before crushing the hapless man's throat with a powerful squeeze, and tossing him against the opposing wall, dead. Then he turned to his chief lieutenant. "Get the boys ready! NOW! We're finishing those bastards off, once and for all!" - he roared. The lieutenant, knowing better than to contradict the nasty-tempered Overlord directly, bowed deeply and spoke: "At once, Overlord! I'm sure even those Sithies won't be able to resist your might!" - in an awed voice. At this, Riion's expression turned thoughtful, as he muttered: "Yes... the Sith. They will be a worthy challenge... and I will crush them as such!" - his voice sounding more confident than he felt. "And finally avenge my queen..." - he added a thought to himself, about his former pirate boss, the only person in his life whom he had ever cared about. Then he turned back to the lieutenant, and growled: "All the ships out on raids, call 'em back in here! I want 'em all together here in half a day - we'll need all the muscle we've got to take on those bastards and the Sith at the same time!" "At once, Overlord!" - the lieutenant replied, bowing again, before retreating backwards toward the throne room exit, and making a hasty retreat, glad to be away. The huge man sat back down at his desk, ignoring the pair of cleaner droids who came to take the body of the Corvette captain away, rubbing his knuckles, as he thought:
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