The Sentience of War. (Closed)

[Salem Norongachi]

"This is Beacon Task Force, we're all set and ready to go." Came the crackle through the Shroud's com-system.

Salem looked out at the Three Dreadnaughts standing by to make the jump to hyperspace at the other side of the space station, they'd jump ahead of the single Dreadnaught and the transport, which he would be piloting personally, for the border. The single Dreadnaught and transport would jump to Nirauan and their target.

"Beacon you are clear for a go, remember when you arrive, start the timer, One hour and then get out of there." Responded Norongachi.

"Katana ready, Captain Strom."

The former Prex gave a look to the bright flashes in the distance as Beacon Task Force jumped to light speed and then clicked open the channel. "Prepare to jump, you all know what to do."

The two ships moved out away from Exis Station and the remaining Six Dreadnaughts and hulking Acclamator Class Star Destroyer and then with a sudden pulsing of light, star lines streaked by The Shroud and Katana before morphing into the luminous tunnel of hyperspace.

Twelve hours later; The Chiss Border.

The Imperial Star Destroyer Razor powered along its patrol route, its massive Ion Engines the only source of light bar the stars in this godless expanse of nothing. Captain Lette would have agreed with that description, he had often said as much about the loathsome task assigned to himself. He sat with his legs crossed on the bridge of the ISD, occasionally he gave a sigh or a tut of annoyance but even more regular than that he ran a comb through his thinning blond locks that were swept into a comb over. His skin was tanned and his face wrinkle free, yet the occasional strand of grey hair told that this was not a naturally youthful appearance, maintained through years of healthy living, but rather a sculpted youth at the hands of many fine cosmetic surgeons.

He gave an exasperated growl and let his blue eyes WILL something other than stars, space dust and the occasional asteroid to appear before the behemoth of a Capital ship. His mouth fell open when in the distance three flashes of light appeared as the wish sailed into the great beyond.

"Three ships dropping out of hyperspace Captain, Dreadnaught Class, broadcasting as the Rebel Alliance!" Came the call from his sensor officer.

"Mo-move to intercept!" He said still unable to believe his luck. Alliance, here, right in his path. Perhaps this would be his ticket back to the Core!

 

[Salem Norongachi]

The Peregrine moved toward the grey mass in the distance, her sister ships in formation. The ships Captain N'kal struggled round in his seat, three chins and an ample stomach jiggling, to look at the sensor readings.

"Peregrine to Task Force, no risks, we just have to keep their attention on us. One hour shipmates, one hour and we're out of here." He said and then turned back to the view port, he didn't like Star Destroyers...he especially didn't like them making a beeline toward him.

Nirauan.

One hour, thought Salem as the ships dropped out of hyperspace. Immediately he activated the Shroud's cloak and came up alongside the Katana which surged forward toward the Imperial Dred in the distance. The enemy Capital Ship began turning toward the intruder moving into a defensive position close to the planet.

As the optimum range was reached both Drednaughts began exchanging blows, the darts of turbolaser fire filling the space between the giants, all the while Salem Norongachi and his men were slipping by unseen to sensor or eye drifting toward the enemy Drednaught with deadly intent.

Norongachi strained against such an excessive use of the Force, using all his skill to guide the blind ship toward the Imperial ship, his men looked on nervously as the sweat poured from their Captain and his skin grew steadily paler almost to the point of grey. In the Force Salem could see where they were heading but it was much more than that, he could feel it, feel every subtle change in the space around him, feel the intensity of each turbolaser blast. His hands moved with eyes unseeing, adjusting the controls as needed and then he cut the engine and they found themselves inches from the hull of the Drednaught, just beyond the hull lay the reactor room of the ship.

A flick of a switch was all it took for the mining drill to slide from its compartment on the outer hull and in seconds it was boring into the Imperial Frigate, punching through layers of hull and bulkheads with ease. In the next few moment the drill retracted and a docking tube slid across the short distance and locked itself around the gaping Eight foot by Six foot hole. His men, donning pressurized suits, lifted the weight of their 'gift' for the Imperials and opening the custom built chamber that housed the drill head and boarding tube lugged it inside. Ten minutes later and they were back inside, the drill compartment sealed and the ship was sailing past for Nirauan and the Baron they were to kill.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

The Katana rocked under the turbolaser fire from the Imperial Drednaught and then seconds later flashes of light appeared along the rear of the enemy vessel, a few seconds more lights began to fail and then, electrical systems and finally the guns fell silent. The crew of the Katana checked their sensors, shields were powered down, the ships reactor had fallen silent. The Captain knew this was all part of Stroms plan and so he urged his crewmen on and the Drednaught pushed past the crippled foe and took up orbit around the planet. In seconds blips began flashing on the scopes as the military compounds single squadron of TIE fighters launched.

"Launch Thunder and Bolt Squadron's." Said the Katana's captain and as per his orders two squadrons of X-wings left the small hanger in the Drednaught and met the TIE's in the upper atmosphere. "Commence bombardment." Was his next order and taking a careful aim the gunners began launching darts of emerald lightning toward the Compound.

The Chiss Border.

N'kal wasn't a tactically gifted man but his superior was and he'd given him strict instructions, keep one ship in front as a shield, then when its took enough of a beating move it in behind another of the Dreadnaughts and repeat the process as necessary. It was working, however now that the Peregrine was being shot at he wasn't too comfortable with it.

The Dreadnaught returned fire but compared to the forward firepower of an ISD they may as well have been using harsh language. He checked the read outs, shields were at 65%, time to pull out. The dark hulled ship began moving to the back of the formation and the Saviours Wrath came up to the fore, turbolaser fire splashing against its hull. So far so good...

Nirauan.

X-Wings and TIE danced in the lower atmosphere of the planet and from the clouds fell judgement on those still on the ground. Salem could see it in his minds eye as the Shroud slipped by the dog fighting craft and made his descent to the mostly ruined compound below. He was low to the ground now, skimming its surface by Twenty feet, and clicked off the cloak. Immediately the bombardment stopped as the Katana picked up its signal on its sensors. The Action V came crunching down in the ruins of the Compound and those Imperials that remained and had their wits about them fired blaster bolts harmlessly into the hull of the invading vessel.

"All out!" Cried Norongachi as the ship ground into the dirt, his men, a team of fifty pirates, all piled out as soon as the massive cargo ramp of the ship hit the dirt. Exchanges of fire filled the air but this was a one sided battle, the Imperials were disorientated, their numbers reduced to almost nothing, and so they were brought down by the advancing Cut Throats.

Salem's lightsaber hummed and the sight of it only drew more fear, more desperation from the remaining Storm troopers. He cut a swathe through the ruined defences, his men spreading out through the remains of the compound searching for their target. Salem leapt up on the broken husk of an AT-ST, its legs entirely melted by turbolaser fire, and deflected blaster fire back at a Storm Trooper who fell, with what Salem thought was an amusing death scream. He jumped down from the broken Walker and let his armoured head scan the battle field, already the sound of the firefight was dying down.

"Captain Strom, we have Imperial prisoners. Orders?" Came a communication. Two Storm Troopers opened fire upon him from the cover of a semi-standing building and his viridian energy sword batted them aside. He called to the Force, summoned it into his body, and with speed unseen in any normal sentient sped toward them, his body a mere blur, before he slid to a stop, his Saber cutting one down instantly and with another slash a set of shins and feet came off the other.

The black armoured figure must have seemed like a demon come up from hell to the dismembered Storm Trooper as he tried to scramble away from his attacker but found that an invisible force held him in place, a hand wrapped around his midsection, pinning him to the ground.

"We don't take prisoners, kill them all." Norongachi finally responded through his helmets com- system and then advanced on the Trooper, his mind commanding an unseen tentacle of telekinetic energy to drag his broken body up from the ground. The Black helmet stared into that of the smeared white of the Trooper as his body hung helplessly suspended on strings of Force energy before Norongachi.

"Where is the Baron, Trooper..." He asked, his voice sounding mechanical, emotionless through the speaker systems of the full face Helm.

"Go to hell..." Roared the Trooper and swung a punch with one of his two remaining limbs. A dull thunk was the result as the fist hit the solid metal of Salem's helmet.

"You are a credit to the Empire..." Salem responded coolly and with his free hand reached up and gripped the front of the mans white and black helmet. Immediately daggers of Force energy punched through it and pierced the mans skull, pushing deeper the creeping tendrils bored into his mind and in seconds Salem had the information he needed. The Trooper gurgled helplessly, his mind mangled by the brutal Force Technique. Salem gave his wrist a flick and the mans head twisted abruptly to the side with a crack before he fell to the ground.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

"I have the Barons location. Clean up the remainder, no one gets out alive." The message went to all his pirates as he stalked through the battlefield toward the half collapsed bunker across the way. He stepped inside the gloom, using the Force to push aside fallen timbers and metal before he came to a clear corridor. It was quiet, no guards, no troopers, and he moved forward with ill intent, his senses picking up Seven life signs in a sealed room to the left. He raised his blade and tore the door asunder, the energy weapon easily cleaving through the metal.

His senses screamed blue murder in his mind and he rolled across the floor bringing his saber up defensively to deflect the offending blaster bolt meant for his head. He stood up and faced the man standing a few feet away, a blaster pistol held expertly in his hands, and behind him, cowering were five children and a woman. Evidently the Baron had his family here, judging by his protective stance.

Salem clicked a button on the side of his helmet and advanced on Fel. "By order of his majesty the Emperor you are hereby removed from duty, Baron Soontir Fel. In the most definite way you can imagine." Fel had little time to respond as the lightsaber wielding madman made his move, in less than a minute it was over and the Fel's lay quiet and still at his feet, the occasional arm or leg strewn about the room. He let his visor swept across the scene once more and then clicked the same button on his helmet and moved out of the room.

His next stop was a few doors down, communications room to be precise, and he approached the banks of technology and with swift fingers adjusted the dials and controls to a channel he had not used in so very long. One he thought he'd never have to use, because whoever was on the other end would know that he had survived, that Omega-001 was still out there. The line gave a distinctive click-click-click as it connected.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

The door to the throne room closed with an audible thud. The long navy robes gently swayed as man walked down the corridor away from the seat of power of the empire, his journey accompanied by a bronze coloured protocol droid. As the droid shuffled alongside the figure, its head turned to face the orange haired being beside it.

"Forgive me for calling upon on you while in audience with his highness master, but you wished to be notified if the line was used", spoke the bronze droid in an eloquent tone. The beside let his roll back and tutted lightly at the words of his metallic companion.

"Well, it wouldn't have gotten those extra sub-routines placed in you if I did not wished them used, now would I?", asked the man in a reassuring voice. A moment later his familiar smile returned to his face, "Anyway, his highness can do without me now, after all it's only the Grand Moff giving his report of the recent Moff Council meetings. Heh, and as much as that is important on some level, the excuse of a matter of state is more than justified in my early absence".

The two figures continued on their journey within the bowls of the palace until only the man was left alone in his private chambers. Entering his study, the figure noticed the silent lit up light from the in built computer terminal in his desk. Letting an inquisitive hum sound, he slowly moved to the single tall window of the room, and reaching for the controls increased the tint of the glass, shielding him from the evening glare of the local star. Reaching his desk, the man pressed a few of the touch screen controls around the light, a military strength encoding programme activating. Immediately the red light turned green, and the figure pressed the light, and spoke the word, "Yes?".

* * *

It felt like an eternity, waiting on that line, thinking of what to say, how to word it, what to let slip and what to hold close to his chest. Finally a beep announced the call had connected and Salem Norongachi, the man who had faced as many battles as any Imperial General or Veteran Soldier, felt fear. It stabbed into his gut like a blade and froze his insides in an instant.

He had not been in contact with the Empire since his new life began and although this, ultimately, had to happen and such an opportunity to forward his goals could not be missed a part of him very much wanted to disconnect, to run away, as far as he could from the Imperials and live in blissful ignorance as he had once done.

"Yes?" The voice was one he had not heard although that was hardly surprising, the turbulent change that had shaken up the Empire since Palpatines death had meant old faces had gone and new ones had risen up in their place.

"Your task is complete, Imperial, the Baron is dead." Salem began. "But the conditions of payment have changed...drastically."

A look of pleasant surprise struck the face of the orange haired man, his smile widened at the words of man from the other side of the communication. Holding back a chuckle, his ice blue eyes looked over to the tinted windows towards the skyline beyond, before falling back on the table, giving a reply a deliberate moment of pause.

"I would expect nothing less from a man of your reputation", came the response in a smooth tone. His eyes narrowed slightly as his smile shrank into a small smirk, "Well, on the completion anyway. Does the current payment not meet to your expectations? I thought your agreement to the assignment was you acknowledgement of this".

Brushing his hair back, the man watched the mostly blank desk surface, as with his other hand he brought up another section of his desk to light. On it was a constant stream of updates from the military, a feed that was fed to all in the palace, a way of helping to keep tabs on the galactic spanning force.

This Imperial was a smooth one, if these were different times he'd have recruited him to the CSA while he was Prex. "I furthered your goals, now I must further mine. Credits are meaningless to me but you posses what I need and I have something that could blow this entire assassination into the public eye." A cold smile crawled across his face.

"I wonder how the Imperial citizens and the Military would feel if they saw the Imperial poster boys final moments plastered across the Holo-Net? I always cover my end Imperial, i always have a backup to any plan, to gain leverage when and where I can." He finished and waited for a response.

The man's face merely looked on amused at the desk, and nodded at the last few words that came through the communication.

There on the list of updates, in red text was the name of the system were a certain Baron resided. His left hand touched the wording as it continued a downward arc on the updates, and the screen swiftly changed to show the update in more detail. mentions of an imperial held world under attack, of a border skirmish. The eyes of the orange haired man almost seem to twinkle as they read the news sent in. His small smirk widened, "So, what do I possess that you need more than the allure of credits then?".

"I have grand ideas but as you can no doubt guess, the best kind often involve blood, war, battle and for that I need tools to fight for my dreams, my vision. You come in at this part, I require the use of one of your fine vessels of war, Imperial, an Imperial Class-I Star Destroyer to be precise. I require it within the week."

The mention of the vessel caused a silent chuckle from the man, as his eyebrows rose as well. Indeed a main line star destroyer was worth far more than mere credits, these symbols, these weapons of war. So the demand sent by the communication meant a lot, such items were are guarded treasure of the empire. The further response of the man behind the desk was the bring up a new screen over the updates, his fingers dancing over the touch screen surface. Letting his eyes loll back to the screen containing the communication for a few seconds, he replied to the change, "An imperial class, that is a tall order".

The orange haired man let his words hang in the air. His eyes were back at the other screen, menus were quickly appearing and disappearing as his fingers continued on their accessing of the electronic system. His mouth opened slightly, as his fingers suddenly backed up through the menus again. Leaning forward he read the information and swiftly closed the screen, revealing the list of military updates once more. "Very well then, we shall meet in a week to conclude this affair. I will await you at Darknon Station on the day", he replied wistfully. His right finger waited on the green light, awaiting final confirmation to the deal from the being on the other end.

Salem was instantly cautious, this was to easy, there had to be a catch. "One week, Darknon Station. No tricks or i go very public with this latest Imperial atrocity." He said and cut off the communications before turning and making his way back outside. His men were scattered across the ruined compound, waiting idly for orders.

"Back on the transport our jobs done." He said and rushed up the loading bay ramp and into the cockpit of the Shroud. One week and another piece of the puzzle would be within his grasp, if everything went according to plan at least. The Transport lifted off and sped away toward the waiting pirate capital ship, passing the silent remains of the Imperial Dreadnaught. In little time they were making for home.

Chiss Border.

"Times up!" Cried N'Kal his many chins drenched in sweat, as he looked at the continuous hail of lase fire being launched in their direction. "Get us to fraking hyperspace, double time!" He yelled, this was the easy part, surviving had been the hard part, changing his trousers without anyone noticing would be harder still.

The Three Dreadnaughts broke off the engagement and made the dash toward the hyperspace point, the computers already inputted with the coordinates. In a few moments they shot away into the psychedelic safety of light speed and the CO of Beacon task Force slinked away to his quarters but not before someone said rather loudly in the Turbolift 'What IS that smell?'.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

Part Three; The Price of Dreams.

The Edge Space Station, home to the pirate group Morgans Cut Throats for over a hundred years, was silent for the first time in so many years. Its corridors empty, its mess halls devoid of life and as the generators began to shift into stand by the Entire fleet pulled away from the station en mass. Ten Dreadnaughts, an Acclamator Assault ship and various smaller corvettes and frigates jumped to Hyperspace in unison. Salem Norongachi was taking no chances, nothing would stand in his way, nothing.

The ships sped onwards toward Darknon Station and the meeting with the Imperial but Salem could not help but wonder if this was some cleverly played trap or whether this whole thing was merely a game to that faceless voice, like handing a gun to primitives and watching them shoot each other. Whatever the case would be he was committed now, they all where, to his goals, his ideals, his dreams. Whether by choice or by manipulation and the well constructed act he had played out since he joined the Pirate band was of no consequence, he would get where needed to be regardless.

"Do we really need everyone here?" Asked Nik Straven, Admiral and supposed leader of the Pirates. They were both in the officers mess, N'Kal, the recently promoted Commodore, thanks to his work at the Chiss Border distraction, was there also.

"You think anyone wants to miss this? The day a mere band of Pirates force the Galactic Empire into handing over the very symbol of their might?" Salem said his feet up on the table and a cigarra in his hand. "Cant you feel the excitement? How many of them thought they would be here, at this moment with the Empire under their thumb, Did you Nik or you N'Kal?" He asked, both of them chuckled and grinned, they didn't not for a second.

"Its better off this way Admiral, even though the Dreds are slave drived and can be controlled from either one of their sister ships we have them nearly fully crewed and if we meet trouble I'd rather trust in people than jerry rigged tech." Said N'Kal, each agreed, they had repaired the dreads up to modern standards but it took only one crossed wire and the Slave System could malfunction effectively stranding those ships not with a crew to compensate.

"Heres to lording it up on a Star Destroyer boys." Salem Smiled and lifed the glass of whiskey from the table in a toast.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

Darknon Station hung at the edge of the Itani Nebula, the colourful gases and electromagnetic storms beyond creating a wondrous and ethereal backdrop for the structure. This far flung space station was best half used at the most of times, yet the usual inhabitants were no where near. The imperial military had seen to that, the people whisked off to other ports and anchorages in the sector. The station, despite its poor condition, had been requisitioned for military affairs. Despite being designed for small vessel, and minor problems, the site was currently playing host to large imperial craft.

The dagger like weapon was perched alongside the station, connected to the superstructure at various parts along its belly. A number of pipes and cables trailed out of the nearest docking bay, jerry-rigged together to extend,and also linked to the vast imperial craft. A hand full of repair droids fussed about the hull of the vessel, mostly concerning themselves with its weaponry. For all purposes, the station was seeing site to the maintenance and re-supplying of this star destroyer. Yet such a site was rare, for imperial military craft of this scale were normally sent back to the ship yards it came from for this work. Yet here, on a station in the middle of no where, one of the prizes of the empire was being seen to in such a low manner.

Apart from the docked imperial class vessel, the scene would further seem out of place by the lack of any other imperial presence. There were no fighters flying sorties, no smaller war craft defending this beast at its most vulnerable time. Even the docking bays of the station seemed devoid of any other craft, all except one. A sole small transport stood beside two personal fighter craft in of of the bays opposite from where the war machine lay. Even these stood out in the large bay they were kept in.

And thus this was how the station was coming up to the allocated time. Away from what seemed both the empire and the galaxy, a mighty vessel lay looking almost forgotten. A station seemed almost almost devoid of life spun slowly. And a pair of ice blue eyes looked out into the nebula from the safety of the window of station's control room.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

Reversion to real space came quickly for the Cut throats and to quickly for Norongachi, he had many options to consider, many possibilities to run through in his mind but a great number were cast aside when sensors from the Acclamator Assault Ship Extortion showed no signs of an Imperial fleet bar the station and their prize...sitting...waiting for them. Salem gazed out of the view port at her, such a magnificent sight, one he thought he'd never see without the accompaniment of laser fire.

"Nothing on scanners, there's nothing in the system bar that ISD and the station." Said a crewman.

"Transmit to the fleet, all non-essential personnel board transports and join me in my journey towards a better future. This is the first step to glory gentlemen, lets savour every bloody second of it!" Salem said and made his way to the transports in the massive hanger of the Extortion. The ships would be down to a skeleton crew and Ten Thousand souls would come with him, his rag tag band of Pirates set on the path of destiny that he had laid before them.

The Transports set off, dozens upon dozens of them spreading out from the Fleet, each heading for one of the many Docking bays on the station proper. Sal set down in the bay with the only other ships, beside the ISD, occupying the system. He ordered his men to remain in the transports and if things looked wrong they were to attack with everything they had, after all there could be a legion of Storm Troopers awaiting them inside.

"Okay Imperial, here I am....lets get this over with" He said through the transports Comm.

* * *

Ice blue eyes looked deep into the nebula beyond, each time it seemed to end the gases would clear and the vision continued on further. A natural marvel such as this threatened to steal the soul of the unsure, to keep them enticed with its beauty. Just as scope of the first site of a city world could take a person's breath away, so could the nebula. The ice blue watched watched as a stormed moved nearer, towards the station it almost seemed. "Sir", came the abrupt word from behind.

The orange haired man turned around on the spot, his eyes blinked for a moment before a merry smile across his face. In front of him stood a man in a flight suit, a mask hanging from the side of the helmet that he still wore along with the rest of the apparel worm by spacers. The only sign of anything worthwhile in the person's appearance was a gun holster attached to a slightly loose belt. "The contact has arrived and started communication", spoke the spacer in a dull tone.

The man in the navy robes looked down to see a comlink in the hand of the spacer being offered to him now. Taking the device, his thumb pressed the button to in return open communication back to the incoming signal, "Welcome to Darknon Station". Walking from his place by the large window, past the spacer, his ice blue eyes fell on the large yet primitive holographic display in the middle of the control room to the station, showing the incoming ships as small red dots, "Once you and your crew dock, can you please come up to the Commander's quarters alone or with a few men as possible please, then we can finish this deal personally".

Taking his thumb off the button, the orange haired man gave the comlink back to the spacer, and watch the small red dots close in to the long blue slab on the holo display that showed the station. Letting a long sigh escape his lips, the man turned to the flight suit clad man next to him. "Have the men keep guard at the docking bay entrances, lets see if we can keep as many there, we don't have the staff to open all the bars up for these new arrivals", spoke the blue eyes man merrily, "Also are the funny lizards ready in the room?".

"Yes, they'll be in the one next to yours. Also, the system has been put in place, the droids now just continuing with general maintenance", replied the spacer dully. Walking over towards the nearest console, his fingers moved over the controls, a message being typed out on the screen in front of him. Behind him the orange haired man clapped his hands happily together.

"Good, was going to ask you about that now. In that case make sure that whatever men he brings with him this far go no further yes?", asked the blued eyed man with a small smile. The spacer stood away from the console, and nodded his head towards the man, "Of course sir".

Walking up to the window once again, the orange haired man looked to the far side through it and caught sight to the edge of the imperial war machine attached to the station. His smile increased as he looked at the vessel, "How the Imperial citizens and the Military would feel if they saw the Imperial poster boys final moments eh? Heh, he did sound so very serious and make it sound so threatening. I have to give it to him, he does amuse me". Turning back to the spacer, the man let out a brilliant smile and slowly walked to the turbolift that would take him quickly to the station commander's quarters.

"So very pretty", he uttered finally before he entered the lift, his eyes lingering on the nebula.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

"Its your party Imperial, my men are just here to see me return with the prize, they'll hang back until such a time but don't think I'm an easy target, if you do it'll be the very last mistake you ever make." Responded Salem and walked past the rows of Pirates, their faces showing signs of the excitement, nervousness, even a touch of pride as he passed and stepped out into the Bay and towards the turbolift at its far end. Luckily there was an illuminated map of the station within the cylindrical elevator and he punched in the proper floor.

Every floor he passed brought the realization home that perhaps the wheels where finally turning, the threads of fate spinning themselves to his design. The Star Destoryer wasn't the final step, far from it, but it was one of many cruical first steps on this dangerous and uncertain path and having taken it he felt more hopeful for the future, more certain in himself and his plans.

The lift opened onto a corridor and at its end lay an open door, he pushed out with his senses but he found blankness surrounding that room, a void in the Force, which meant one things...Lizards..he hated those Lizards. He took a deep breath and moved forward purposefully, head held high and braced himself for that wet cold blanket where all his senses went dark for a split second as the effects of the Reptiles took effect. It hit him and he faltered a step but he was growing accustomed to the feeling now that he had spent time around them, trained while under the influence of their strange powers.

He stepped into the room and looked at his host. The vibrant orange hair, the jovial smile of a carefree man and not one being fleeced for some serious hardware. Salem skewered him with a stare as he came to a stop a few feet from the Imperial.

"I assume that's my ship?" He said looking out of the plexiglass at the massive war ship.

The orange haired man turned as he heard the door to the room open, and watched the man come in. He turned his head also when the other did to look beyond the confines of the room out towards the star destroyer, and then turned back to the man again. His reply quickly followed the words of the other, "In a manner of speaking, yes".

His ice blue eyes looked over the man now, as if first taking him in, and letting a out a slight chuckle he reached up to brush back some of his hair. He looked the man straight back in the eyes, his care free expression keeping despite the others darker mood, and let his reply sink in for a few seconds before he carried on in the same unconcerned voice, "But before we go on any further to that little question, do you proof of the poor man's fate my good man?". Turning to his side, still with his little smile, he took a step or two towards a small table on which sat a small computer terminal, meant generally for the station's Commanders private use.

"Hmm?", he asked while motioning his his other hand after turning to the man once again.

"That's not how we play the game Ginger snap, the ship is mine or it isn't, in which case I'll cauterize a few new arseholes into you." Norongachi responded in a matter of fact tone. Salem’s response to the Imperials question was to slip a hand inside his jacket pocket and retrieved a small portable holo-payer, no bigger than his palm, and hit the play button. The holo-vid started with a burst of static and then resolved into the image of Soontir Fel pointing a pistol directly at the camera, behind him his wife and children, and as this was the first perspective the gauntleted hands of Norongachi holding his lightsaber could be seen.

"By order of his majesty the Emperor you are here by removed from duty, Baron Soontir Fel. In the most definite way you can imagine." The emotionless voice began and then there was a vivid burst of motion and the green blade snapped up and down toward the Baron his hand and weapon falling to the floor with a scream of agony, a boot flew into view and connected with the Imperials jaw sending him to the side and then then Norongachi stalked toward the mans family, the children cried and but the woman was rooted to the spot, her eyes wide and her mouth partially open she didn't even move as the tip of the energy sword pierced into her chest and she fell to the floor. The children were dealt with in an equally quick manner, a slash to the neck severing their heads with the ease of a skilled swordsman.

The Baron screamed out his curses at him, tried to make it to his feet but Norongachi approached him calmly, with a kick turned him onto his back and planted a foot onto his chest. The man looked directly up at the camera, tears welling up in his eyes and his teeth bared, then the viridian blade plunged into his chest and he lay still, eyes unseeing. The camera panned across the scene once more and then the recording ended.

"Proof enough?" Asked Salem, nothing evident in his tone or expression that the recording had stirred any feelings within him.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

The face of the navy robed figure looked up from the the fading image of the holo-player, a look of innocent curiosity still written across his face, his only reaction to the other man's reaction to his question. Reaching over he took the small item, and held it clearly in his right hand, making no attempt to pocket the device, not until the deal had been sealed and the other would have what he wished anyway. Giving the little holo-player device another look over, he placed it on the small table beside him and turned to face the man, a small smile on his face once more.

"Thank you very much, I very much praise your camera work in such circumstances too. I also hope nothing caused you too much trouble there", spoke the orange haired man still in his merry tone. Walking past the other and back to the room's window, not signaling the question to be rhetorical only, he tapped the glass with the back of two fingers, in the direction of the stationary vessel beyond.

"There is your payment sir, one imperial class star destroyer, more than worth its weight in credits no?", asked the ice blue eyed man as he turned his head back to the other. Leaving the statement sink in, he then tutted lightly and walked away from the window and back to the small table.

"And that is where a little niggle lays", spoke the man still in his sweet tone despite the meaning of the words in the context. Facing the man he motioned both hands out towards the other, "You see, a star destroyer is a very much valued piece of military hardware. There have been hard battles fought just to keep others merely from taking ones that have been lost. Heh, it might have been easier to merely ask for double its worth in credits".

Letting out a brilliant smile despite the mood and atmosphere of the room, the orange haired man waved his hands slightly in gesture to calm the man from the words he had already spoken. Then, with the smile still, there and looking as if he was asking some minor unrelated thing, the ice blued man continued, "That is why I must ask for a little addendum to this deal".

An eyebrow rose up Norongachis forehead and a look that suggested he had been expecting as much crossed his face, he approached the window and looked out at the ship. It wasn't simply a ship to him but rather a symbol as it was for the Empire who built it, it demanded respect and awe and woe betide those who did not give it.

"I figured this was too easy," He said tearing his eyes away from the behemoth and returning them to the Imperial. "What more can you ask of me, hmm? Your Baron is dead, the evidence of it in your possession and you're still breathing..."

 

[Salem Norongachi]

The navy robed man nodded happily to the words of the other man, seemingly agreeing easily to them. "Indeed I am quite grateful to all three", the man spoke in a most pleased tone. His left hand fell upon the controls of the small computer terminal and danced across the keys for a few seconds before he turned his attention back to the man he was dealing with.

"Now what I ask may be little more than what we agreed on, but its not like agreement has not been altered slight already", finished the orange haired man with a light laugh. With a warm smile he continued, "You see the current vessel you see out there is currently docked here for maintenance purposes. Heh, despite this place not being what one could consider normal mooring ground, a word here and there managed to get this craft placed here. Still, we are left in the situation with an important prize being left here in a vulnerable state".

His ice blue eyes now looked off to the side, as if trying to put on a show for remembering or thinking of something. "In such a state, pirates or rouge powers would find this the ample time to strike down such a great weapon. After all, in these circumstances, only the most basic of crew would be aboard, and its power limited. If it was attacked and destroyed, it would be a great pity. Such a loss is always feared but accounted for in some small way. But even now, that vessel could still easily cause great damage to those that attack it now no?", asked the innocently, though another meaning could be said to hide behind his last few words. Those happy and unclouded ice blue eyes now looked directly at the other figure waiting for reply or recognition.

He was correct, if his fleet were to take on that ISD even in its current state the loses would be substantial and he couldn't afford that...but that was the reason for bringing his men aboard, if it came to it they'd storm the ship before it could undock from the station and seize it by force...however the chance of failure or that this red haired Imperial had considered such a course of action were great. All he could do was indulge the man...for the time being.

"I think I understand you, Imperial. What you’re saying to me is that I'm between a rock and a Star Destroyer....I had figured that out already. If we can complete this transaction without damages on either end then that would be the best outcome. Say what you have to say, there is no need to beat around the bush."

"If that is how you want to look at it, then very well, but I really did not mean anything to you", the orange haired man spoke innocently. His eyes then fell back on the the small computer terminal, and his left hand danced across the keys once again. With a widening smile he took his fingers of the controls and turned the monitor of the computer terminal around to face the man's direction. There on the screen was the security footage of the docking bays, flicking to a different camera each few seconds, and each showing the docked craft of the man.

"Like I say, nothing to you, but these men however I fear may be another story. Like I said before, that vessel would be expected to cause some damage before its loss", the ice blue eyes turned to the man. His smile was smaller now, bit still there when he continued on, "So my good man, in order to complete our deal I must ask something that might be quite hard for you".

The docking bay pictures flickered by automatically on the screen, and the words of the navy robed man would now make more sense. Tilting his head to the side, the orange hair of the man shifted slightly, "In order for you to complete this deal, and for the military to become wary of what really happened here there needs to be proof of a battle. You see, you can take this great vessel now, but in return I need your men, and I need a great many of them I am afraid".

Again, the navy robed figure allowed the words to sink in for a few moments for the man, after all what was asked was a great deal, and not to mention a dramatic shift in the deal that had been originally made. A lop sided grin showed seemingly the only concern that the orange haired man gave the other.

"With the men at high command would be fooled into thinking a major engagement had gone on, and that the vessel had been lost while fulfilling its duty. That would allow you to have the star destroyer, and leave here with no fear of being hunted down by the empire. You have my sympathies, but really, if you want this deal of yours, you now know what is needed to seal it", he spoke smoothly.

Turning to face the monitor for a moment, his happy attitude could still be sensed, "A tough decision no? A sacrifice either way.".

 

[Salem Norongachi]

Salem's face remained as stoic as ever, as he looked at the screens and absorbed the words this Imperial said to him. Several thoughts went through his mind as the choice was placed before him but one rang truer than any other. These men, down there, waiting for him to return were expendable. If not now then at some point down the line they would have to be sacrificed.

"Your logic is impeccable," He said truthfully, no one wanted to take the blame for giving away a Star Destroyer without a fight. "And this isn't as tough a decision as you may think. These men, all of them, are tools..whether they know it or not their fates were ultimately sealed when they signed on with me and their purpose has now been unveiled. If I'm required to give the oldest kind of sacrifice in the universe, that of blood, for me to further my goals then I'll gladly pay it." He said and with a coldness in his green eyes, in his mind these men were already dead.

"The men that remained on my fleet will stay with me, I need them for the moment. If that is all I'll take my ship and leave, however before I go I'd like to ask you you're name Imperial, although if you refuse iI would understand." He finished.

The Imperials eyes widened slightly as he turned from the monitor, to the other person, yet an expression of subtle amusement still played easily across his face, only showing the hints of a knowing looking. "So the deal is struck, I thank you my good man", let a slight chuckle through his words.

His eyes turned back to the computer for a moment, as his left hand lay across the keys to the device. "You have the head of man who does not let his vision get clouded, and that is a strong and admirable trait to have", spoke the orange haired man with flick of his right hand right. Then nodding slightly as his smile softened to become more humble than the brilliant smile of before, yet he continued with a still mirthful tone, "Heh, and by looking at this as you say, you are merely replacing one burden with another on the way".

His left hand pressed on the keys of the small computer, and the monitor switched from the changing cameras of the docking bays, to a list of various statuses of the station. Moving away, the navy robed man stepped back to collect the small holo-player, and looked at it again with a small knowing smile, "I'll admit I am also a tad curious as to your goals with this result of our dealings, as well as that band of yours, but I think it would be easier and safer for me not to dwell on it too much hmm?". As his hand closed over the small device, he looked over to the man.

"Still, I thank you for your completion of my little assignment, and this little token here. I hope you find the vessel to your liking, after all its no small price tag", the orange haired man continued again in the same tones as before, though his large smile had returned. Moving over to the other side of the room of the station commander's quarters, he pressed on the wall controls for the door to slide open, revealing the short corridor beyond, the figure of the spacer stood silently there.

"I would offer you a drink, but I think its best we both part ways now. After all, this is not strictly the kind of business that would allow us to indulge in that eh? But still my good man, it has been a pleasure", he spoke smoothly as he motioned to the open door as if both had merely finished a simple and harmless transaction.

As the other man slowly left the office, the small computer bleeped, with which the robed man merely sighed and walked over to with a slightly off expression, nodding farewell to the other in the room. The figure moved past the doorway as the orange haired man pressed on the computer keys. As door to the quarters closed behind him, two simple words just escaped the room and the small electronic device, "Lord Lazrus-".

 

[Salem Norongachi]

Salem didn't even look at the Imperial as he moved to the door and the out into the hallway, all that had been said was more than enough but he caught one word as the door hissed closed, Lazrus... Yes, they'd meet again, if everything went according to plan, they'd meet more often than the Imperial would like, under what circumstances either pleasant or ill remained to be seen but yes...he was sure this was not the final encounter with the strange Lord of the Empire. On his way down the short corridor, utterly blanking the Spacer from existence, he made a note to pull his informants and find out exactly who this Lord Lazrus was...but for now he had to act.

As the turbolift door hissed shut, and the cylindrical tube began moving down to the Star Destroyers level he considered his options. He could not allow the finger of blame to fall upon himself for this act. The simple minds of Pirates could not see past the few, they could not grasp the scope of his vision.

The turbolift door swished open and he stopped as he stepped a few feet from the lift and then taking a breath ran full pelt down the corridor that lead to the ISD and opened up communications with the fleet, purposefully leaving the channel unsecured.

"GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!" He screamed down the comm unit, making sure his laboured breathing could be heard and the fast 'clunk-clunk-clunk' of his boots on the metal. He pulled out the small hold out blaster from its holster in his sleeve and began firing at the floor in front of him, rapidly and without any real care, it was all for effect after all. "ITS A TRAP! GET TO THE RENDEZVOUS! THEY HAVE SHIPS INCOMING!" He finished and then cut off the communication. He reached in his pocket and retrieved a circular device, roughly the size of an orange, and hitting a switch on its top half turned and threw it behind himself. A small comm's disruptor...but it would at the very least stop the Fleet from contacting the men on the station.

The next phase...would hurt. Commanding the Force he ensnared the blaster pistol with telekinetic energy and let it float in front of him and then moved it a few feet away and with a mental thought...pulled the trigger. The bolt burned into his shoulder and the smell of his own cooking flesh filled his nostrils but this pain was nothing, it wasn't even on the same playing field as what he had endured in the past.

Salem tentatively reached up and took the blaster from the air and put it back in its holster, wincing from the movements, and then stepped inside the Star Destroyer. Now for his brilliant escape...

Nik Stravens eyes widened in fear and although his gut told him to bust in there and pull Norongachi out of the fire his sense of logic won out and he gave the command to jump to hyperspace. They couldn't tangle with an Imperial fleet, they were far from strong enough yet. The ships remained motionless for a second and then all at once surged forward past lightspeed and into hyperspace, safe from the apparent trap laid by their Imperial employer.

"What a price..." Straven thought as the Cut throats Flagship the Extortion sailed through the luminous void. Since saving Norongachi from that carbonite prison the Cut throats were no mere band of ruffians, they had grown, evolved and restructured under his unseen hand, the man wanting no recognition for the work he had done for those serving beside him, choosing instead to take the lowly rank of Captain when, if Salem had asked, Nik would have gladly given up his position, which sat heavy upon him at the best of times. However if there was one man who could escape from this it was Salem Norongachi, the man had the devil's own luck...but the thousands of other men...who had gone to savour victory over the mighty Empire...could he say the same of them?

 

[Salem Norongachi]

"-your wish?", finished the words from the small computer terminal in the quarters. Blinking, and furrowing his brow for a second, the orange haired figure merely replied a simple, "No, that will be fine thank you. Just make your way to your craft for now".

Pressing the keys of the computer, the screen changed back to the flickering images of the various docking bays of the station. Letting go of a contented sigh, the navy robed man turned to survey the room, now alone in it once more. His eyes fell back to the even smaller device he held in his hand. A finger reached back to the item, and the short holo-vid played once again, watched by the ice blue eyes. As the image disappeared, the device was lowered and held loosely to the figure's side as he now made his way over to the door, which opened swiftly again.

"Oh? He is gone then. You know, I almost expected him to be here with some new terms or the like, heh", came the jovial tones of the man as he looked out into the corridor beyond the room. The spacer turned, his vision previously having rested on the door of the turbolift, his lower face, the only part of him not covered by the flight suit and equipment showing now emotion. For a moment, the orange haired man looked at the man, and then a thin long smile spread across his face, "Oh dear, here I am already speaking bad of him. I didn't mean to sound so you see, its just that he was such an interesting person".

The spacer silently turned to the controls of the turbolift, and both figures walked into the small empty space. As the lift made its way through the station, the navy robed man looked back down to the small holo device and passed it over to the spacer, who took it from him. "This is?", asked the spacer flatly.

"Old news. Can you dispose of it for me please?", replied the navy robed figure as he used his now free right hand to brush back his hair. The spacer clasped both his hands together, clenched them firmly. The sound of a small pop and some sizzling came accompanied by a trail of smoke that left from the gaps in the hands. The ice blue eyes of the other man simply watched with a blank expression, only marred by a slight smirk. As the spacer opened his hands and a trail of electronics, and twisted scorched metal fell to the floor of the small space.

"Well don't you take things literally. A little later maybe", spoke the orange haired man as he waved at the the little cloud of smoke that rose away from the opened spacer hands just as the doors of the turbolift opened to fresh air.

Both figures walked out into the room filled with monitors and controls, though while the spacer walked towards these, the navy robed figure walked towards the viewing window, the nebula clear beyond. As he closed on the window, his ice blue eyes turned to another shape, on that was still latched on to the station. A warm smile graced his features, his vision focused on the form of the star destroyer.

* * *

The bridge of a Star Destroyer is large and standing next to the console Salem Norongachi felt this acutely. He felt tiny standing there, working off instinct gifted to him in the 'womb' to reroute controls and get the mighty warship out into hyperspace. The entire vessel was deserted, as he'd expected, and as he sat down and began the tricky task of piloting the vessel alone he could not help but give a final look to the space station. A worthy sacrifice...

The ship pulled away slowly at first, clumsy almost, its side slightly clipping the station sending a small jolt through the ship and then when it was far enough out it turned and its speed increased and under the enormous engines surged into hyperspace.

Salem sat back and let the pain of his self inflicted wound was over his body and gave a sigh, it would look realistic...he'd fought his way through the station and hijacked the ship...aye..Straven would believe him, the man placed far too much trust in him, in their 'friendship'...he'd learn one day just how misplaced it had been.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

Part Four: Of Man and Machine.

Borra the Hutt was a small time gangster in the grand scheme of things. He had himself a modest fleet and a veritable army of goons and lackies but he was quiet, reserved almost, for a Hutt. He let the galaxy rip itself apart and he let the shadowy underside of society be made more by those with the ego to do so. He did all this and quietly pulled in the credits, never sticking his bulbous head out on the chopping block or proclaiming his name for all to hear.

It was a business strategy that had served him loyally for over four decades, while others in his line of work perished. When Jabba fell to Skywalker and his band of merry men twenty years prior, he did not scramble to fill the power vacuum. No, he waited and he watched; he picked his targets carefully and after much deliberation.

His target was not one easy one this time, it was also not one he was willing to approach on his own or with any chance of reprisal. No, to prise open this purse would require outside assistance, of a most specialized kind.

“Can it be done?” Borra spoke the the black armoured figure before him in his audience chamber upon Bonadan.

“Anything can be done, for a price.” Came the slightly metallic response as the voice was filtered through the helmets speaker system.

“Name it, Captain Strom.” Strom indeed, the Hutt thought, he knew who lurked behind that impassive mask. Salem Norongachi, the Mad Prex of the Corporate Sector turned pirate but the facade served them both, for now.

A datapad flew from the mans gauntlet and with a dexterity beyond what most would have imagined, his hand snatched it from the air. On it was a name, one Borra was not even aware anyone else knew. His large amber eyes blinked slowly and then his gaze returned to Norongachi.

“What do you want with Talta, Captain Strom?” He could feel his guts twisting into knots, the General was not a man he wished to cross. The risk was too great, given what he’d seen of the….creatures they bred there.

“I was born there, Borra. I want to go home.” An honest response from the man that near sucked the breath from the Hutts lungs but he remained outwardly calm, assessing the sincerity of Salems claim.

“We have a deal. When can I expect the items I have requested?” He said with a nod.

“Two days and not a second more. Send a man to the Ninth Gate and they will be packed and ready for transport.” Norongachi replied and then turned to leave, a few steps was all he took before he stopped and half turned to look at his employer. “Don’t betray me Borra, you’ll regret it.”

“I wouldn't dream of it, Captain.” The Hutt replied with a cool smile but they both knew he would.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

The Hand of Fate, he had called her, his Star Destroyer. Gone was the drab grey of the Empire, to be replaced by matt black paint upon her hull and instead of Imperials at her stations there were pirates. It took all that remained of the group to crew her, leaving dreadnaughts and the rest of the fleet on a skeleton crew. It wasn’t an ideal situation but she was the most powerful ship in the fleet by a large margin.

“Are we ready to get underway?” Norongachi asked N’Kal, his unwilling second in command, the man carrying just as much weight as the Hutt he’d left hours before.

“All stations manned and ready, plotting hyperspace coordinates for Cato Nemodia.” Was the response with a snappy salute that set his fat to wobble.

“Imperial presence?”

“Strike Cruiser in orbit with Golan Defense platforms. The system patrol was called away last week, rebel trouble I imagine.” N’kal replied, wedging himself into the seat next to Salem upon the raised dais.

“Keep the cruiser busy, I want them in utter disarray. We’ll slip planetside with the Shroud and breach the facility. Once you have our confirmation, beat a hasty retreat, I don’t want you caught by any reinforcements that arrive.”

“Don’t trust me boss?” The pirate smiled.

“Not as far as he-” A hand motioned toward a weedy coms officer. “ -could throw you.” With that the ship surged forward into hyperspace.

* * *

Cato Neimoidia, Capital City of Zarra. ZolTech Research and Development Facility.

Emah was bored. She was ALWAYS bored. With so little in the way of work to contend with the A.I spent most of her days scanning the holonet. News of the war, stock prices rising and falling, a celebrity cashing in on a leaked sex-holo.
Since she’d been sold off by Lantillies Shipyards to recoup the losses they had suffered over two-hundred years ago, she had gone through many owners. Some legitimate companies, some less than reputable and now she was here, both the guard for the facility and the storehouse for the schematics and designs that it produced.

It paled in comparison to running an entire shipyard and she found herself yearning for more, for anything to happen that would stimulate her. Eyes unseen scanned the camera feeds; nothing, not even a janitor in the hallways at this late hour.

She tested each of the ceiling mounted turrets spread throughout, turning them this way and that, just for something to do. Turret twenty-seven was sluggish and she made a note to request it be looked at by the maintenance department.

“What I wouldn’t give for a reactor meltdown…” She sighed and then checked the reactors read out, because you just never knew.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

The roof access to the large forty storey building was a sealed doorway of durasteel and mag-locks that serviced the private landing pad set before it. It was large but no where near large enough to support the bulk of the Action-V Transport, Shroud, that had slipped past the planetary sensors thanks to its stygium cloaking device. It instead hovered above the rooftop and the six-man team rappelled down onto the roof from the open side entry hatch.

As soon as their boots hit the rooftop, the armour clad Norongachi lead them toward the doorway, above them the hatch upon the Shroud sealed itself and the ship vanished and the only indicator that it was even there were the sounds of its massive thrusters holding it aloft.

“You’re up.” He nodded to their resident slicer, a stick thin twi’lek who hurriedly extracted his slicing tools and set to work on the keypad keeping the door sealed. The visor of Salem looked up above the doorway when the barely audible sound of servos moving caught his attention. He found himself staring into the lens of a small camera.

“Well, hello there...” Emah thought to herself as she observed them and with a thought activated the doors security measures. A burst of electricity ripped from the keypad and the slicer shot half way across the rooftop in a mess of limbs, charred flesh and smoking lekku.

“Get back…” Norongachi commanded and the remaining four pirates did as they were told before a flash of viridian signaled the ignition of his lightsaber. Two strokes cleaved the door in a perfect cross and a boot to the center of it sent the four pieces tumbling down the wide stairwell beyond.

“Now that's interesting…” The A.I thought and a digital smile played across her incorporeal lips. “Come and play."

 

[Salem Norongachi]

“What the hell, man!” A pirate was saying, his eyes fixed upon the slicer while Salem lead the way into the stairwell. “Did he trip the security system!? He’s dea-” A hand encased in armour clamped over his mouth and slammed him against the stairwell wall.

“Shut. Up.” Norongachi spoke, turning the atmosphere to ice. He let the shaken man go and turned his gaze back to the bottom of the stairs. “We aren’t alone. Stay behind me.”

The bottom of the stairs had a similar door but Salem had given up on subtleties and the door suffered the same fate as its brethren above. The corridor beyond was shrouded in gloom, only subdued lights set into the center of the floor and the green blade held by Norongachi gave any hint to its dimensions.

His visor swept to low-light mode and the path ahead became clear, unfortunately his team were not so lucky to have an expensive armour set. Most wore light armour-weave clothing, a single blaster on their hips.

The corridor carried on straight ahead for a dozen meters and then offshoots went left and right while at its end sat a turbolift. Norongachi raised his right gauntlet and consulted the micro-computer on its top. The needed to get to the mainframe, which was...unfortunately..in the sub-levels.

“Peek-a-boo!” Emah said to herself as she dropped a turret from the ceiling at the end of the corridor and fired red lances of energy at the intruders. The armoured one was quick, faster than he should have been given the surprise but his blade swept up and she found her gifts returned instantly. “Perks of being a Jedi…” She thought with an unseen pout while her turret trembled under some unseen power and then was ripped to the floor in a pop-hiss of sparks.

Norongachi let his hand fall to his side again and then turned to make sure no one else had fallen, they all seemed to be fine- A little jumpy, their pistols held expectantly, but that was to be expected. Borras info hadn’t said anything about a security system this advanced. Salem made a note to have serious words with the Hutt when they finished this days work.

They reached the turbolift without incident and much to his surprise its doors opened as soon as he called it. Cautiously he looked around its interior, searching for hidden compartments where more surprises might be held. He found none and then motioned for his team to get inside behind him.

The small camera watched from the corner and Emah sighed, it was too easy. The one exciting thing to happen all year and it ends like this, it wasn’t fair she thought as she disengaged the safeties on the lift and then cut its power.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

Darkness. A plummeting downfall that stole gravity from them. Screams ripped from Salems team as they were thrown to the ceiling like rag dolls. How many floors had they passed? How many did they have left?

He tried to keep count in the momentary flashes of light from each floor that peeked through the crack in the turbolift door but it was too fast and soon he’d lost count. His face grew serious and he let his mind touch the Force, hands and feet bracing against the walls to his left and right while his body was stuck to the roof by momentum.

In a world beyond the veil roots ripped from his body, piercing the metal of their would-be coffin and taking it in a stranglehold. Their speed began to slow under his Telekinetic command, slower and slower until the four men with him slammed to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs.

Norongachi eased the pressure on his hands and feet and landed beside them, noting how they all sought the apparent safety of the walls in the pitch-black. His senses stretched out beyond them and he felt the ground below, with that as a guide he eased the dead turbolift down and with a bump that brought more yells from the terrified pirates he set it down.

A hand swept from left to right and the doors were moved aside by his power, green eyes hidden from view pierced the camera just outside the lift. Emah was genuinely surprised, she expected to have a pleasant evening cleaning up entrails. It only occurred to her in that moment where the five men were and a coldness swept over her that could have been fear.

At corridors end was one room, its doors thick durasteel and above it was a sign that read: 3M4H-03-X3 Mainframe.

Thankfully the room was the most heavily defended in the entire facility. She waited, biding her time until they were in the middle of the corridor, a stones throw from the entrance to her sanctum and then all hell broke loose. Turrets, four in total, two from above the door and another two from just ahead of the elevator lowered and opened fire.

The pirates at the back of the group were cut down instantly but their armoured leader was not to easy, he moved like ebon electricity, the lightsword of his a viridian blur that never stayed still and always seemed to be precisely where she was aiming. One turret met its death in a boom of sparks, then another went the same way. Only the two that remained guarding her door were left and now that the assault was only from one side the mans movements had slowed, the lightsaber still snapped and hissed at her attacks but it was lazy now, almost mocking, in the simplicity of his defense.

“Are we done playing games?” Norongachi asked, his gaze looking up into the camera.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

The A.I stopped firing, the guns were already approaching the point where they would overheat and besides she was now under no illusions that she could kill this interloper making to siege her sanctuary.

For several seconds they looked at each other, man and machine, in silence. Before she deemed it necessary to speak to him, in the very least to sate her own curiosity. The man had just lost five men in this assault and seemed to care little, not even sparing the smoking bodies a casual glance. She needed to know why.

“Why are you here.” She spoke, her voice booming in the silence of the hallway from speakers set in the middle of its left wall.

“So you can speak,” Norongachi responded, his saber held loosely at his side with blade dipped groundwards. “I’m here for your archives. Nothing more, and nothing you can’t replace. Allow me access and no harm or further damage will befall you. You have my word.”

“Your word?” She laughed, the sound slightly distorted and nearly mechanical. “What good is the word of a thief?”

“The word of Salem Norongachi is worth more than the Imperial Fleet.” The way he said it, the way his voice hammered it into you, made you believe that it were true. Immediately she ran a full check on the holonet of that name. What she found were atrocities, worlds destroyed and armies slain all at his command.

“The mad Prex…” She sneered. “You have fallen low.”

“All visionaries are thought mad,” He responded flatly, the insult sliding across him without the desired effect. “But my past as is something that I cannot, and have no desire to change, I have a job to do. Grant me entrance and let me be on my way or I’ll reduce this place to rubble and still get what I came for. Choose.”

“The issue, dear Prex, is that I am the archives you seek.”