Dawnbreaker Episode II: Shattered Worlds/Part 1

DAWNBREAKER, EPISODE II - SHATTERED WORLDS

CHAPTER 1

The Gatekeeper stood on the bridge of the Uberweapon, gazing at the stars out the window. "So I heard you have a bounty out on that pest, Julio." The Gatekeeper turned to see Ty294, a bounty hunter standing behind him. "I will gladly take up that offer so I have the money to replace the Corvette I lost during the battle." And the Empire is a little ticked at me for dragging them into the battle during which they suffered extreme losses... I may need cash to bribe the Admiral into not putting a price on MY head. The mercenary thought to himself.

"You know, Ty," Said the Gatekeeper "The Shadow Empire would make a strong ally. As it stands, I've been looking for one ever since the original Galactic Empire voted to integrate itself into the Shadow Empire. That left me with a lot of new toys to play with, many ships and units to upgrade to their maximum potential. That, and coupled with the fact that the Shadow Empire was originally a branch of the Trader Emergency Coalition WAY back in the beginning, thousands of galaxies away from here. The point I am getting to, is the Alliance would have been watching our battles very closely and would know that we are in a tough spot right now. If they decide to attack, the Empire would probably be able to fend them off, but your scattered remnant ships would be doomed. Why don't you start a Trade Alliance with us? You will get Credits, Metal, Crystal, other raw resources to build stronger ships? I could even make you a copy of the plans for the Argonev Star Base, to defend your key planets and to expand your trade network, as well as it's remote construction facilities AND firepower and hull equivalent to 5 ISD's? Think about it and let me know..." The Gatekeeper thought for a moment. "And, for your help in my battle, if you wish, I will help you jump-start your economy once again."

Ty294 replied "Well, I'm not actually a member of the Imperial Remnant, although I work very closely with them. The Remnant faction that participated in the recent battle was under command of Admiral Alexander Grage. I met Grage during my time with the Empire Reborn. Of course, after Kyle Katarn and Luke Skywalker screwed up the whole project," just before my scheduled artificial force empowerment... "We both went our seperate ways. I will gladly put you in contact with him and I'm sure he'll be more then willing to forge an alliance. Meanwhile, if you have any well-paying "work" to be done, I'll gladly do it."



Lord Darkon's permanently placed undercover agents intercept recent communiques between the Gatekeeper and his favourite mercenary.

"Hmmm... how intriguing." The Sith Lord said "The Trader Emergency Coalition, with highly advanced technology. I can only imagine how much more advanced their technology might have become since then. If my True Sith Empire could secure that technology for itself, I could launch a new invasion of the Gatekeeper and his puny Shadow Empire, with the required technological superiority. "

Through his tenure in the Gatekeeper's outer-dimensional plane, Lord Darkon knows exaclty which far away galaxy the TEC originates from. A large TSE(True Sith Empire) Expeditionary Task Force is dispatched to that distant galaxy, to secure samples of that advanced technology, and possibly even conquer the TEC. Equipped with the new Interphase Space-Folding transgalactic hyperdrive engines, the journey should take no more than a month at most.



The Gatekeeper continued, "Well, If you are interested in artificial force infusion, I can immensely help you there. Just name the side and the skillset, and it shall be done. In the meantime, I want you to take out- "
 * Incoming transmission: To: The Gatekeeper. From: TEC Section B-12.*

A voice throught the comm said: "Sir, our borderline scouts have detected a large hostile fleet with TSE markings making it's way toward our galaxy. Request permission to engage." "Permission granted, B-12. Where will they arrive?" "At the Akates Star System, at the star itself, Sir." "We have 4 Argonev Star Bases there, they don't stand a chance. Just in case, I'm sending you a Kol Battleship with all abilities integrated. ETA 5 minutes. In the meantime, use the production bays to whip up a fleet of Kodiak Heavy Cruisers and Javelis LRM Frigates, as well as a few Garda Flak Frigates." "Yes Sir!" *End transmission*

The Gatekeeper steps back from the console, "They're obviously after the TEC technology. Even if they get it, it is encrypted with a secret password that only I know of. Now, Ty, about those Force powers. Please continue."

CHAPTER 2

"Fleet Admiral Rajko, our advance scouts have reached the TEC galaxy. As Lord Darkon suspected, the TEC technology is formidable, but they are far from warriors. A coalition of traders, they have lived in peace for far too long for their own good. Though covert scans of the Akates border system indicate heavy defence presence. No mobile defenders, though they appear to be manufacturing several dozen medium sized ships in the nearby shipyard. They must expect an attack."

"Acknowledged. Battlegroup JZ2," Replied Fleet Admiral Rajko. "Proceed to attack the shipyard. Perform a quick hit-and-fade strike with your Munja class fast-attack cruisers, concentrate on their central manufacturing control. That will initiate a chain reaction to destroy all the vessels currently being built, than get out quickly."

"Support Group JH2, your Karas class heavy carriers will launch all strike bombers to engage the Argonev battlestations. Stay out of their heavy turbolaser range, and deploy your fighters to provide close point-defence if necessary."

"Battlegroup JZ1, our Kurgarin class reactive-armoured dreadnoughts will engage the battlestations directly, providing distraction as required. My instincts tell me their heavier vessels may be on the way..."

"Support Group JH1, Battlegroup JZ3, you shall wait in reserve, ready for a flanking maneuver if required."

"All forces, engage!" The enemy fleet comes out of hyperspace, and finds a massive fleet of literally hundreds of ships of unknown type, without any turbolasers, and in the back, churning out dozens more by the minute, are four Death Star size star bases. In the front is a massive ship that must be the Kol Battleship. The TSE Fleet, Not expecting such heavy resistance from mere traders, turns around, only to find a massive vessel, in the shape of a highly modified Star Destroyer, blocking out the sun! The Gatekeeper is about to give an order when an arm reaches from the shadows and twists his arms painfully while holding a blade to his throat with his other hand. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into." the unknown captor says "You and Darkon have kicked a rock that has started an avalanche, now it's my job to stop it before it gets any worse. In a moment you are going to hear a report from you friends telling you that the fleet they were battling has been destroyed, but that is just the beginning" *A voice buzzes through the Gatekeeper's com; "Darkon's strike team has been destroyed, do you copy?" "We have 72 hours." said the unknown voice. The Gatekeeper is about to respond when his comm says again: "I repeat, Lord Darkon's strike-team has been destroyed, do you copy?" "We will meet again...." "I repeat, Darkon's Strike team...." "You may want to answer that." The Gatekeeper spins around, bewildered, but whoever he was, he was gone now.



The fight rages on outside, "JZ2-A to Admiral Rajko. The shipyards are integrated with the battlestations, and are manufacturing far more vessels than anticipated. However, their weaponry and defences are inferior to ours. It seems, for all of their advanced technology, they have not invested in tactical systems. We have disabled their central control, and their assembly lines are destroyed. 5 out of 14 ships in the battlegroup lost. Moving out as instructed. Mission complete."

"Excellent, Captain. We are outnumbered 6 to 1 here, but you are correct, their armaments and battle tactics are inferior. I anticipate a complete victory within an hour. If this is the best example of vaunted TEC technology, perhaps our coming here was a waste of... WHAT?!?"

An enormous black superdestroyer reverts from hyperspace behind the assault fleet, its massive beam cannon already charging to fire. However, just as the weapon is about to discharge... nothing.

"The unknown vessel has suddenly depowered, Admiral. Strange."

"I can see that. All vessels, move into encirclement positions around the ship. Assault shuttles, launch! We shall capture this ship for Lord Darkon. But... something doesn't smell right..."

CHAPTER 3

Darkon is meditating in his flagship, when he senses something... rather, someone... He is about to turn around when the intruder grabs him by the throat with on hand and pokes a blade at his back with the other. "If I were you, I would tell your men to stay away from that ship, unless they wish to meet the same fate as the Gatekeeper's crewmen. You see, I need you and your army alive, for the time being. I would suggest calling your men back now, commander." Darkon spins around to see that the being had vanished. Annoyed, Darkon walks to the bridge.


 * Incoming Global Transmission: From: The Gatekeeper.*

The Gatekeeper appears in a hologram, still in his masked form. "It seems we have a new enemy, Lord Darkon. Just as the Uberweapon, under my direct command, was about to wipe out your pathetic invasion force, an unknown captor swooped in and stopped me. Now, if you check the battle, you will notice most of your fleet has been destroyed as a direct result of battle with my fleet AND my star bases, as well as your boarding shuttles destroyed BEFORE they could get to the SEALED hangars. If I were you, instead of stealing other people's technology, I would improve your own, as I have. Now, this is a direct order: Refrain from future attacks until I uncover the identity of my assailant. If you do not adhere to my demands, I will send my countless fleets to destroy ANY intruders to MY galaxy. As in, if I here of another ship of yours crossing the border, it will be destroyed. As for my assailant: Come out from the shadows and face me head on! You have 24 hours. If you do not, I will put 1,000,000,000,000,000 (One Quadrillion) credits on your head. Ty294 would like to have this kind of money, I am sure..." The message ends.

Suddenly, the Uberweapon exploded, destroying everything around it.

A voice comes through the Gatekeeper's comm: "As tempting as that may be, I have more important matters to deal with. I'll see you in 71 hours."

Darkon felt a massive disturbance in the force. "Return to TSE space, Admiral!" Darkon yelled as most of the fleet avoided the explosion. "We have a breach of internal security to deal with." The Sith said calmly. "Your fleet will redeploy to reinforce our border defences, while I use my Force permeator matrix to monitor this unknown enemy's movements. It seems the Gatekeeper has issued a direct challenge to him. That will distract him, giving me the advantage. If this situation develops as I predict it will, I shall kill two birds with one stone... Don't worry about his Uberweapon. Shortly after your fleet retreated, I sensed a massive disturbance in the Force as it exploded. It seems you did more damage than you thought, Admiral. Well done!"



A few minutes later, the Uberweapon reappears with the rest of the fleet, fully functional. "All systems operational, Sir. Seems the cloaking device fooled them all, and the explosion got the rest of Darkon's forces."

"Excellent." Said the Gatekeeper. "Return to base and proceed with repairs to the star bases. It would seem that Lord Darkon's as well as this mysterious Assailant's plans have been foiled. For now. As from this moment on, I will assume personal command of the Uberweapon. This kind of... stupidity... will not happen again. Preparations for the fleet commander's executions are well underway. Now, send someone to find 294. I want that Assailant dealt with. It is obvious he is too cowardly to fight me himself, so I'll send my best mercenary after him, as I am far too busy to deal with him myself, and he does not seem to be very much of a threat..."