| abstract
| - A Squadron of fifteen Void Hounds approached Kraga, a planet that housed a wide array of businesses, so well known for it that it had earned the nickname of “Planet Business” among those familiar with it. The biggest businesses were allowed to own sectors and make their own laws, so long as the laws did not interfere with the other sectors and as long as the planetary leadership was paid proper tribute. The business based sectors were responsible for hiring their own security and enforcing their own laws; the Kragan Government only enforced its laws in the “Government Sector”, which was where a large portion of the planet's population lived (employees that worked for companies that owned business sectors tended to live in whichever sector the company they worked for owned, usually for benefits). Startech was one such business that had its own sector on Kraga. The cockpit of Florence Jader's Void Hound was silent with the exception of the occasional beeping instrument. The silence eventually broke when Raleigh Hinarian's old, gruff voice came through the comms. “The largest building in the Startech Sector is our target. As you all should know, they've been producing those advanced ships, those of make like the one that Bright brought back to us, so if we fail this war is going to be that much more difficult. Bomb em, Torpedo em, whatever. We just don't want that building standing.” Gravin Brimoire's voice broke as his voice came through the communications channel in reply, “What about collateral damage, Raleigh?” “Collateral damage is acceptable as long as it is contained to the Startech Sector, but avoid it if you can, Brimoire. We are already going to be killing hundreds of civilians who are at work in that blasted factory.” Florence Jader opened his mouth to speak, but was beaten to it by another voice, Jamillon Parsus. “This doesn't sit right with me.” “It isn't about what sits right, Parsus, it's about what gets the job done and saves more lives. Remember the Devotee code, “Save what you can, forget about what you can't.” We can't save everyone, but if we destroy this factory we will save a lot of lives by removing such an effective weapon from the war.” The Startech factory was now in view, so were the automated Anti-Air Turrets that covered the facility grounds. This isn't right. I won't kill innocents. I'll focus on the turrets. Florence brought up his targeting computer as he twisted, rolled, and dodged laser fire with his Void Hound. Raleigh's voice boomed over the comm speakers once more, “Startech Defenders inbound.” Damn. Now civilians are going to be shooting at me. Void Hounds and Startech Defenders littered the airspace over the Startech Factory, stray laser and torpedo blasts occasionally struck the ground near the Factory as the two opposing sides fired volley after volley upon each other. Florence tended to what Anti-Air Turrets he could as the other Devotees made sure that the Startech Defenders blinked out of existence one-by-one. Startech Defenders stopped arriving to reinforce the factory and to replace those that had been destroyed. Florence stared at the factory in thought as the last of the Defenders were moped up. They don't stand a chance against us, but it's self-defense, right? No. We initiated this, this is a slaughter. Screams of pain and terror filled the cockpit. To Jader's horror, Void Hounds began falling from the sky instantaneously; one, two, three, four, five... Gravin Brimoire's panicked voice shot through the comms, “By the stars! What is doing this? Is it some sort of super-weapon?”. “No, it's a ship. A fast one. Picture proof of why we must destroy that factory.” Raleigh replied. Jader was able to detect the pilot for a split second, his signature in the Force was ever so faint. A moment of clarity overcame Jader, he shared his revelation with the other Devotees with a trembling voice, “The pilot is a Force User”. Tilsen Xeema chortled as he shot down the tenth Void Hound. “Five left!” he exclaimed as he positioned his Star Phantom for another strike. A small series of explosion came from the factory below, Tilsen watched on as the building refused to be penetrated. The Devaronian's sharp teeth glistened as he smiled, “You fools. That factory is nigh impenetrable, your aerial attacks are futile”. He readjusted again and took down the eleventh Void Hound. The four remaining Void Hounds veered away, towards space. Another laugh escaped the butcher of Void Hounds, “They're retreating. Do I have permission to pursue?”. “No. That factory is key, if it is destroyed we would be driven to a stalemate. Reinforcements shall be there within the hour” responded Darro Blood through the other end of the communications system. Tilsen sighed as the Void Hounds escaped his view. Florence Jader threw his cracked helmet on the ground as he climbed out of his downed Void Hound. “At least I crashed at the factory” he said to himself dryly. He looked up at the sky to count the remaining Void Hounds, there were four, he watched as they quickly left the planet's atmosphere. Many innocents died here, I can't let this mission end in failure or they will have died for less than nothing. I wonder.. Florence thrust his arm into the wreckage, fishing around and around until he found what he was seeking. He pulled his arm back out with the Void Hound's fuel cell in hand. YES! If I can find the proper spot, I should be able to take the factory out of commission. The Star Phantom Factory stood still, under a full lock-down with all employees inside. This did not deter Florence Jader, he strolled up to the factory door with a fuel cell in his left hand, his lightsaber in his right and began to carve into the factory door. Although strong and resilient, the door was no match for a lightsaber. Wherever the yellow blade traveled, the door melted like butter in a skillet. Florence stepped through the perfectly carved circle in the door and stopped at the entry-way taking in the site. Conveyer belts, assembly machines, computers and unarmed factory workers everywhere. Different materials forming various shapes, Star Phantoms in different stages of development, also littered the factory. A set of railed stairs sat off to the side of one of the many conveyer belts, it led up to a catwalk which in turn led to the administrative office. The administrative office was positioned in such a way that the entire facility was in view. Two armed guards stood on the catwalk up above with their blaster rifles drawn and aimed at Florence. Calling upon the Force, Florence Jader augmented his voice to an astonishingly loud decibel, loud enough that it rang throughout the entirety of the factory “Everyone get out, now”. The guards naturally took offense to his demands and fired. With skill and precision Jader batted the bolts of energy back into the guards; they were hit with such force that they fell over the railing and crashed into machinery. The factory workers ran for the exit as soon as it became apparent that the intruder was the only armed person in the facility, all of them made it as Florence Jader had intended with the exception of the two deceased guards. The Devotee of Ashla set about slashing the various construction instruments as he looked around for the perfect place to set the fuel cell, now a makeshift bomb. The Startech factory exploded. Signs of the facility's northern wall and a sizable crater was all that remained of the production plant. Shock-waves rippled through the sky causing Tilsen to struggle keeping his Star Phantom airborne. Tilsen's smile disappeared from his face and was replaced with a grimace upon his realization of the factory's destruction. The Devaronian patched into Darro Blood's private channel “Master Blood, I've failed you. The factory has been destroyed”. No verbal response came from Darro Blood, but his breathing was audible. Xeema desperately continued “Someone had to have infiltrated the factory from the ground. I picked the sky clean.” “Capture the saboteur and bring them to Aila or die.” “Yes, Master Blood.”
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![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)