NationStates Jolt Archive

The Nosferatu jumped from the Necrominus and hovered around what remains of Naboo. The planet has been blown in three parts, thanks to the lovely forces of Chaos. However, not all of the planet's buildings were destroyed it seems. According to Huntarian scout reports, there were several special items which weren’t destroyed when the Chronosians blew the planet apart.

Good, this will make the Lord pleased... Very very pleased. “Hey, check in with the Nosferatu, we found what we’re looking for.” The Sergeant walked forward, facing a Cylinder filled with liquid, and a body floating in the middle.

The Corporal nodded in agreement, “Landing party to the Nosferatu, we’ve found the package. Requesting immediate beam up and begin beaming down the Kirtir teams over.”

”Message received. Beginning beam down.”

The survey/scout team huddled together and waited for the retrieval team to beam down with the most feared Kirtir Lord in the Huntarian Empire: Lord Vorman. The main group dematerialized with a small squad of Kirtir Masters and Knights, each of which carried his or her own Lightsaber.

One of the Kirtir Masters, a male, walked up to the leading Sergeant. “Status on the clone chambers.”

“Master Malignous sir. Several of the cloning chambers are in place, but only two or so have the needed specimens we need to be able to complete our mission. Their vital signs appear to be normal.”

Master Malignous nodded his head, “just one would have sufficed. Place the TTD (Transporter Tracking Device) onto one of the tanks and beam it up to the Nosferatu and secure the second tank for retrieval as well.”

The Sergeant nodded, “Corporal, Private, you heard the man. Secure the other tank and let’s get out of here. I don’t like this place very much... There’s that very obvious evil presence hovering in the air. Almost like a stench.”

Master Malignous closed his eyes in a meditative status, “Naboo was the home world of our dearly departed. I can feel a bit of his presence in here, and I’m not talking about the clones.”

The Sergeant raised an eyebrow, “how can you be sure?”

”We Kirtir have enough training as it is to notice the distinct differences.” He picked up his comm device, “Malignous to Nosferatu, lock onto the TTD and beam the chamber aboard and quickly reconnect it to life support.” He pressed a button on the TTD, and then the familiar beaming hum was heard. Several moments passed.

“Nosferatu to Ground Party, transportation complete and tank is hooked up to life support. We’re ready to beam up the second tank.”

The sergeant nodded in acknowledgment, and signaled the Corporal and Private to get the tank ready when an explosion rocketed the surface.

“What was tha--- GAAAA” A bright red laser shot went through the Corporal. The Private turned around to face the enemy but was soon shot as well.

The Sergeant ran for cover behind one of the broken Clone tanks, and the Kirtir squad ignited their lightsabers. Master Malignous signaled the squad to spread out, deflecting the blaster bolts as they were being fired upon.

Master Malignous ducked for cover next to the Sergeant, “Imperial Storm Troopers! Where the hell did they come from?”

Master Malignous opened his mind to the force in an attempt to identify the origins of the Storm Troopers. “These aren’t any ordinary Clones Sarge...” His eyes narrowed with hate and he growled, “they’re Vader’s fist!” He shouted as he threw bolts of lightning toward the oncoming clones.

The Sergeant pressed a button on his belt to signal the ship above, “beam up that other chamber now!”

”Negative Sergeant! We’ve engaged enemy forces. We cannot engage our transporters at this time.”

The Sergeant swore loudly as a blaster bolt just barely grazed his armor and he returned fire. The Sergeant saw three of the troopers bring in several guns which appeared to be a laser chain gun of sorts and mounted them behind a row of storm troopers, and they let loose a salvo of lasers at the Kirtir Squad, instantly killing three of the Knights. Oh shit... The Sergeant had just enough time to jump out of the way of the spray of lasers and they hit his former cover spot, causing an explosion... Which hit the one surviving Clone tank.

Meanwhile, in space...

“Admiral, enemy contacts! They’re from the Galactic Empire.”

Admiral Xin glared at the screen as Imperial Star Destroyers appeared. “They’re probably here for the same thing we are, just for a different goal. Engage the Phase Cloak! Bring us about towards the enemy, and charge weapons!”

The Phantom Lord stormed into the Nosferatu’s bridge, his eyes glowing dangerously. His fists clamped onto his Lightstaff as he moved, eyes darting across the screen. ::They’re Vader’s people Admiral. And a correct assumption as to what they’re after. They’re not going to allow us to escape so long as one of the Cloning tanks are left intact.::

”Your orders sir?”

::Resume your present course of action.::

Silence filled the great mausoleum of Naboo as death gripped the broken shards of a shattered world. Stripped bare by the cannons of an emperors fury the once lush and green plains of a happy past were now ravaged by merciless solar winds.

The very rocks grimaced a charred blackness bearing their scars for eons to come. Dust remained settled, sound did not travel, and the wind did not blow in the vacuum of space. Only light could travel in this mighty necropolis but even that surrendered to the encroaching sunset.

Once more they heavy boots of imperial storm troopers thumped silently as the vanguard in secrecy crouched low to take their aim. Efficient, ruthless and committed the emperors fists trained their sights upon the enemy who had already attained their prize.

A hand rose into the void pointing towards the objective, and with nothing but a gentle flick battle returned to the dead. Red energy bolts were released with impunity releasing nothing but pain upon a tormented world.

Watching the unfolding situation stood Kresa Vant from her vantage point on high. Perched hauntingly against the backdrop of space, the warriors eyes were drawn upwards towards the broken sisters of Naboo. Three pieces of one world. Two looking down upon their own, weeping at the machinations of the force.

Kresa did not weep, instead she found strength in the sadness resolutely focusing upon these unknown intruders raiding her masters prize. It almost felt as though the force had conspired to bring the fists here at this very moment, its energy flowed with unusual concentration. Many viewed Naboo with little mercy or regret, it had caused nothing but sadness to a ravaged galaxy. Trillions wept at the name, many spat the vowels with contempt remembering what it had proudly produced. More death had flourished from Naboo than from any other world in history, Naboo the womb of darkness, the mother of Palpatine spoke in the night with whispers of destiny, Kresa rightly feared it.

These people whomever they were had stumbled upon something very dear to the emperor, something so important that he would dispatch his beloved fists to the frontier of nothingness. They were not simple intruders that much was clear from their ability to elude to the Exactor above, but here, on the ground they had no means of escape.

Kresa continued to watch patiently, as stormtroopers like a source of limitless ants scurried closer to their prize.

Malignous glared as more of the storm troopers continued onwards toward him and the Sergeant. He threw another bolt of lightning at the oncoming squad of stormtroopers and ducked behind some of the debris and met up with the two other remaining Kirtir Masters.

One of them sighed with anger, "we're surrounded Malignous. And it would appear that the Nosferatu has engaged their Phase Cloak and can't beam us up at the time. I sensed a change in their presence in the force."

"I'm aware of that fool!" Malignous snapped, "all right, Sergeant! You still have your MPI on your armor?" The Sergeant nodded his head, "then I want you to activate it, and charge straight to the center of the storm troopers before deactivating it. Drop several grenades and run back if you can."

"A suicide run sir?"

"No questions Sergeant! Do it!"

The Sergeant sighed, seeing that there was no way he can get out of this one. He activated the Molecular Phase Interverter and got up from his position. He then charged straight for the wall at the other end of the room, running through any object which was in the way...

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Space...

"Nav., how close are we to that Star Destroyer?"

"Close enough to use weapons I'll wager. But do we really wanna de-phase right now?"

Admiral Xin thought about it for a few moments, and glanced down at his command chair's tactical screen. "Point, but we can still remain cloaked using the other system. All right, activate the Sensor and Targeting Scramblers. Then I want you to switch to the Superior Cloak."

"Switching cloaks, HEWS is activated." The Nosferatu hummed with life as it switched cloaks, and with HEWS activated, it will be nigh impossible for the Imperials to detect... Except for the fact that even if they did fire while cloaked, there's still the fact that it leaves a brief image as to where the ship is for the Exactor's visual sensors to detect.

Admiral Xin brooded over what to do next. "Hmm... Load three Transphasic Torpedoes in the tubes, and be ready to fire upon my command. Target their engines."

"Engines targeted. Sir, may I remind you that the enemy will launch a full bombardment as soon as they see our image from the torpedo's light..."

"And we're just suppose to stay here like sitting ducks I'll wager!?" The Admiral barked, "just do it! Or I'll have Lord Vorman skin your hide and add it to his collection! Fire the damn torpedoes!" With the Admirals command, three shots were fired from the emptiness of space and sped for the Exactor's engines....

OOC: It wasn't blown apart. It was blasted clean with virus bombs! ^^

Kresa was a woman with simple tastes, she enjoyed a cool glass of water on a warm summer evening, she was happy with a small simple home, and she was content in whatever planet her orders dictated her to be on. Kresa was the biggest danger to the rebellions past, she was a new breed of human the third generation to be born into the empires caring arms. Too young to remember to the Republic, and not old enough to hold anger against the imperial throne this loyal servant was a true first fist of order.

Moving from her vantage point Kresa entered the ruined Naboo tower which at one point must have housed a clock somewhere. Inside the old features were still apparent with the gears to the time piece still ticking in parts gently working towards the next alarm. The stairwell was still lit by a soft orange glow of low level lighting which was probably being powered from some functioning capacitor somewhere.

Running her hand along the masonry Kresa felt the perfection of the smoothed surface through the thin transflex material of her glove, pausing for just a moment she took a deep breath of recycled air and stepped out into black. Instantly to link came alive as captain Tysis made contact, .”Commander we have surrounded the mercenaries and have established mortar positions for bombardment.”

Kresa acknowledged through the link, “have our scouts you found their ship yet?” A brief moment of static followed as she walked over a mound of rubble.

“Negative commander, no sign of any ship big enough to accommodate the number of personnel they have, they must be expecting air support.”

Kresa winced at the prospect. “contact the Exactor and have them dispatch Tie fighters.”

“Acknowledged.”

Kresa continued through the rubble until she met the thick line of troopers holding position around what once must have been a city square. As things looked it appeared that they would get the emperors prize after all. They were starting to get desperate enough to send runners out wrapped in grenades, another explosion engulfed a small building a few hundred meters away.

Turning to a mortar crew she tightened her fist twice ordering the attack. “Commander, the Exactor reports that she’s dead in space and are requesting reinforcements from Admiral Haei, they can’t spare any fighters at the moment.” Kresa frowned to herself and analysed the situation.

“Ready two companies for a charge, order the men to fix vibroblades, this has to end, now.”

The Sergeant continued to run straight towards the center of the Storm Trooper squad as they fired an endless spray of shots at him. No doubt that by now they would have noticed that with his MPI activated, their weapons were utterly useless. He stopped for a few seconds, looking around at his surroundings and the men in white armor. He grinned and deactivated the MPI. He then dropped his grenades beneath his feet and lifted his hands towards the sky, as he was shot by the surrounding troopers...

Meanwhile, Master Malignous crouched behind his debris while the other two Masters threw bolts of lightning at the enemy troopers. Apparnently, he came to a similar conclusion which Kresa came to, "that's it. We have to end this quickly now. Activate your lightsabers and teleport yourselves towards the enemy! Charge them with everything we got!"

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Space...

"Admiral! The enemy is dead in space! We got their engines."

"Good, move us towards the rear, so that their guns will have a more difficult time targeting our ship. Deactivate the cloak. Begin to bring the transporters online and beam up the survivors."

The Nosferatu decloaked, revealing itself to the enemy ship. An obvious Huntarian styled design, but it leaves no Empire marks, or standard Huntarian Empir signatures which will leave Vader's men only to guess at this point as to who these people are. The Nosferatu moved in towards the rear of the Exactor as it brought it's transporters back online...

The Exactor was dead in space, lingering helplessly while the troops on the surface saw to the grim task of educating these bandits. Offering a few broadsides before her target slipped towards the aft quarters, all the star destroyer and her crew could do was wait helplessly for fates next hand. . .

Kresa let the men she commanded move in first, she wasn’t about to ignore the first mantra of the Officers Academy “Grunts are only as strong as their officers, you die, then so do they.” Neither prospect really appealed to Kresa so she remained while two companies charged under the comforting light of the mortars.

Though there was no sound, the numerous purple flashes of the infantries artillery declared the carnage while link came alive with troopers shouting with fervent determination to the new order, demanding surrender, screaming revenge for those brothers who had fallen, it, it was beautiful.

This was truly music Kresa thought to herself. No one could possibly understand passion until they had heard a living being shout for ones life, and of course, with many you had a living choir of survival, a living orchestra of the force, or as the jedi would understand it, instruments that played the tune of the darkside.

Ironic that they were so proficient in its melodies during the days of the Old Republic forging the empires direct talent for the chorus. “Commander Kresa we have secured the left flank, you are free to advance.”

“Thank you commander.” The officer smiled and raised her hand towards an additional three companies ordering the advance forward.

“Where are they hiding commander?”

“We can see about twenty more of them holding out in the main square sir, they’re positioned around a large monument of one of Naboos queens, it’s making it rather difficult to take a shot with the equipment left intact. Your reports were correct sir, they have what appears to be two bacta tanks with them, we believe one of them to have been ruptured in the crossfire.”

Kresa’s upper lip twitched at the thought “Be sure the second is kept intact commander, for your sake.”

“Yes sir” The clone replied while his superior began the short walk towards the conflict zone. Clone officer CO555678B had never really known anyone apart from his own kind and to take orders from this woman never really inspired much confidence in him or his men.

Nonetheless he had a job to do, or rather the Sons and the Furies had a job to do. Ordering what was left of the two companies to charge in, the clone commanders chuckled at the sheer mindlessness of his brethren.

Naboo...

Master Malignous glared as more storm troopers arived on the scene. This is taking too damn long. "Malignous to bridge, where the hell is the transporters?" He leaps up from his hiding spot and throws more lightning bolts at the storm trooper onslaught.

"We've experienced a brief technical malfunction. It would appear that we can only beam one of you up at a time."

"Ignore the malfunction damn it! Just beam me up and leave everyone else behind! We don't have time." In an instant, he was surrounded by bright red light and was teleported from the scene. Malignous proceeded to the bridge and took the command seat. "Bring this ship up for orbital bombardment. Have the Drop Pods rigged for self destruct 20 second silent count down and fire them onto the planet."

"That will take ten minutes to prep sir!"

"You have two."

"Aye sir!"

One lone bacta tank disappeared from the cracks of Naboo in a blinding flash of light, only to reappear mere moments later within an isolated and sterile medical bay of the Huntarian Empire. Exceptionally similar to the Kaminoan’s Sparti cylinders this vessel, stolen from its tomb, was carrying a genetic legacy from the past, though it was far from Mandalorian.

Covered in a fine layer of dust and grime from the conflict below, slaves began working at the controls while others cleaned the viewing pane to peer at what trophy their lords had taken. The very fact that it was before their eyes, seemed to offer some kind of hollow vindication for their service, muted before the mighty calls of glory that their betters would surely cry with abundance.

The force vibrated with anticipation as each wipe of the cloth revealed the immortal cargo. Gasps from all around hushed what little chatter there had been revealing a dark terror of one who had deceived death so many times. Some fell to their knees, while others backed away too afraid to continue lest something go wrong.

Inside, floated what appeared to be a lifeless corpse being sustained through wires and tubes, entering the body from all quarters, but the fear, the fear of all those around echoed enticingly through the darkside of the force.

Eyes could not look away, all minds had been broken towards this prize, focused upon the cylinder as a burst of bubbles trickled through the clear tar inside. Within, two eyes opened, pale and yellow, and they stabbed into the hearts of all who watched.

The abomination had been awoken.

Lord Vorman awoke from his meditation position, and felt a change in the Force. Something new had awoken, and he knew that duty called. Not being one to ignore the Force, Vorman teleported from his chambers to the medical bay which the tank was being held. His glowing yellow eyes peered into it, seeing the body floating in the thick bacta liquid. ::Begin to drain the liquid from the tank. He's ready.::

"Yes master." The liquid slowly started to drain out from the tube, as the doctors rushed around to get proper medical instruments ready for the standard tests to see if the subject is ready.

Meanwhile, on the bridge, tension rose in the air as the crew waited for the Admiral's next command. Then, a blip appeared on the Nosferatu's sensors. "Sir! Multiple enemy contacts, Imperial reinforcements coming in! ETA 5 minutes!"

The Admiral turned his attention to the sensor station, and walked over, brooding over his next move. "Status of drop pods?"

"Armed and ready. Sir, if we're going to launch them, we should launch them now."

The Admiral then turned his attention to the viewing screen, which showed the devastated planet below, and the Exactor hovering in space, lifeless.

"Sir?"

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::ROBES! We need robes for this man!:: Vorman barked numerous orders ranging from clothing fetches, towels, medical equipment, and the like. The Bacta was now fully emptied, and the tube opened up.

Two Huntarian Royal Guards (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a172/Huntaer/stormrider.jpg?t=1169679414) marched up to the tube which had just opened, and grabbed the man by his arms and carried him off to a nearby bed. It had a pair of old, ancient black and brown robes which the man used to wear laid out. Lord Vorman hovered over to the bed, and his eyes fixed upon the figure. ::Lord Sidious, can you hear me?::

A pair of eyes opened...

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The tactical officer's finger lingered over the "activate" button for the drop pods, which were rigged to explode upon contact with the ground, effectively acting like a giant capital ship torpedo. "ADMIRAL!"

"...Launch all drop pods."

The sound of draining bacta engulfed Palpatine as the tank quickly emptied. Air, touching his skin for the first time felt cold and merciless as it sent a dull pain from head to toe. The force blinkered with fury as one who was not supposed to return dared to do so in defiance of the galaxies balance.

No prophecy had foretold this, no vision could have discerned this outcome, for it was an abomination to the force. It was evil incarnated, purely birthed by the darkside which emanated deeply within the shadows of space.

Grabbed by two officers, Palpatine was dragged to a medical slab unable to support his own weight. The room was spinning, tumbling as his eyes struggled to translate the confusing barrage of colours and tones that they now faced, while his ears could determine the faintest whisper.

For a moment, Palpatine believed he had the great strength of youth upon him, until the darkside grappled against his mortal means. Ravaging and tearing his face grew dark and withered as power corrupted his very being. To deceive the force earned its rewards and its punishments, though this was one cost Darth Sidious would gladly endure.

His robes were present, and the sensation of the Krslian silk graced his skin as they were placed over his shoulders, entertaining him with the dignity fitting of Lord of the Sith. Palpatine closed his eyes for a moments rest when he heard a voice clinging nervously from the side.

“Lord Sidious, can you hear me” Palpatine managed a smirk.

“Darth Vorman, you have done well.” With his spoken words, the lightside of the force cried out in pain, as two hundred lives were extinguished on the cracked surface of Naboo.

For once, the path to the future was relatively unknown to him. The future rolled out with some certainties, but for once, there was one path which he was treading on which cannot be read. This was one path which was clouded, difficult for even one of Vorman's stature to read.

::Lord Vorman will do for now, Kirtir ranking systems are slightly different from the Sith.:: Vorman then opened his mind up to the Admiral up in the bridge. ::Set a course for the Byss system Admiral. We shall receive some unexpected help there. Maximum speed. Guards.:: Vorman gestured to the guards who helped Palpatine up to the bed. ::Help this man get escorted to my meditation chambers. We will have to strengthen him up before we can reach Byss.::

"Yes sir."


The Nosferatu entered a newly formed cloud which erupted in front of her, and it flew inside. Byss, was going to receive a very unexpected guest.

Back in the Medical Lab, Vorman turned his attention back to the new guest, ::is there anything you need to do specifically before we make our trip to the Byss system?""

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Elsewhere...

Magriel sat in a meditative position while an Alliance shuttle carried them back to Alliance Space. Suddenly, his eyes lapsed backwards into his head and his eyelids began to shake and flutter violently. His body thrust forward, and he awoke with a loud gasp. His face was pale, sweating and he was shaking all over. He wearily got up from the floor, and slowly stumbled back to the cockpit of the shuttle. His apprentice was piloting the shuttle while the Councilor was meditating. Magriel stumbled to the second chair, breathing heavily. "Something very wrong has happened. Something which wasn't suppose to be. The Force is very angry at us. I have become blind to the future, the Force is moving very strangely, unpredictable now. And I fear the worst..."

Sidious stayed silent for a moment not knowing which answer to give. His first thought was to command the journey to Coruscant, the heart of his Empire and Galaxy, but doubtlessly the new master of that world would not welcome him with open arms. Palpatine paused for a few moments more, choosing to let his mind wander over the various events which had led to his third grapple with death.

His mind drew back to the last moments he could remember before the madness had gripped his heart. It seemed so long ago, and yet only seconds prior that he was walking through some unknown passageway in the depths of Asfaltum. He could remember that somehow what was left of the jedi knights had broken through the perimeter of his ground forces forcing him to retreat towards the surface.

Lightsabres clashed daringly in the background as he heard violent struggles to pursue him grow louder. Only Tarkin remained at his side, following loyally just a few steps behind to guard against whatever treachery came forward. He could remember nothing more, and the frustration stalked his consciousness as much as fear did. Whomever had killed him had almost stripped his link to the force, a worry which gnawed even in these safe surroundings.

“Byss” Palpatine said softly. “Take me to Byss.”

Vorman nods, ::we are already on the way. We should be there in a few moments. In the meanwhile, I suggest you use my meditation chambers to start the process of regaining your strength and connection with the Force.::

Hours later, the Nosferatu jumped from the Necrominus and entered the Byss system. The ship remained in orbit of the planet itself. "Admiral, we've entered the Byss system. No doubt that the Imperials would've been warned about our actions on Naboo and will have assumed that we're here for one of the Emperor's possessions. They probably have figured out we took Palpatine's tank for a reason."

The Admiral nodded, "the Imperials aren't as stupid as some are let on to believe." The admiral's communicator chimed, "yes?"

::Open up a direct communication with the Royal Guards and connect them to my private chambers. We have a revived guest on board they will want to talk to.::

"Yes my lord." The Admiral gave the signal to establish communications, and the link was made...