Dawnbreaker Episode Split Destiny/Part 12

CHAPTER 34

Aboard the Strijela, Xanara's quarters...

The Acolyte woman was sitting cross-legged on the deck, engaged in her usual meditation session, to focus her Force energy and maintain her command over the ever-difficult to maintain mental equilibrium necessary to apply her advanced mental Force powers safely, without unwanted sideeffects on herself.

Suddenly, a comm terminal on her desk beeped with incoming call. Flicking the switch with the Force, she replied:

"Yes?" - in a slightly annoyed tone, because of the interruption to her meditative session.

"Apologies, Acolyte Xanara, but that girl... what's her name, Tay... is trying to contact you." - the voice of the ship's bridge communications officer came.

"Link her directly to me, Lieutenant." - Xanara replied.

"Understood, ma'am." - the officer signed off. A moment later, the indicator light on the intercom shifted in color, indicating an outer-frequency channel was active.

"Tay? I am here... I assume you want to resume our talk from two days ago?" - the SIth woman asked.

"Yah. I... uh... had some questions." Tay's nervous voice came through the speaker.

Xanara nodded to herself, before replying:

"I expected as much... the decision you're trying to make isn't a simple one, my dear. We should talk in person... I'll give you provisional access to the Strijela. Use the access code AW-Q12441 on the umbilical airlock hatch, and tell the guards you have my permission to come aboard. Ask them to be escorted to my quarters. I'll be expecting you." - before she suddenly added:

"Oh, make certain you don't walk around the ship unescorted - the RTSE military security procedures are very strict about civilians aboard."

"What does that mean?" Tay inquired worriedly.

"It means you will want to check in with the guards immediately after you're aboard, and ask them to escort you to my quarters. As long as you don't walk around alone, there is nothing to be concerned about. Alright?" - the Sith woman told her, in a reassuring voice.

"Okay..." Tay responded, the suggestion that she wasn't safe without escort unnerving her, "I'll see you in a moment."

After a few minutes, she had reached the accessway to the Sith ship and approached the two guards with the access code. She also made sure to ask for an escort to Xanara's room, not wanting to find out what could happen otherwise.

"ACCESS CODE... VERIFIED." - a computer voice intoned dispassionately, after one of the guards input the code Tay gave upon arrival.

"This way, civilian." - the trooper spoke in an officious tone, his voice distorted slightly by his helmet speaker, pointing the way down one of the corridors, toward the turbolift.

As Tay moved in the indicated direction, the trooper fell in step to the right and slightly behind her, blaster carbine held at the ready, but not aimed at Tay.

Tay kept her head on a swivel the whole time, wondering what could possibly be a threat on the Sith's own ship.

The turbolift stopped three decks below. Walking down the corridor, they passed by many other crewmen and troopers.

After a few minutes, the two arrived outside Xanara's quarters.

"Here we are. The Acolyte is waiting." - Tay's escort intoned, taking up position beside the door.

Just as Tay was about to press the door chime button, the doors opened by themselves, revealing a medium-sized quarters, poorly illuminated from a single violet glow panel on the ceiling. In the center of the room, Xanara's shadowy form could barely be seen, sitting cross-legged on the floor, facing away from the doors. A soft, darkly hypnotic music could be heard, and the air smelled faintly of inscense.

"Come in, my dear." - came a Force message to Tay's mind.

The teen slowly advanced into the room, feeling as though she shouldn't be here. Once she was part way into the room, she stopped and stood in silence for a moment, not sure what to say.

Still not moving from her cross-legged stance on the floor, Xanara intoned in a warm tone:

"Don't be nervous... come, sit next to me." - as the doors closed behind Tay.

Tay did so, while the Sith woman used the Force to amplify the light level in the room - somewhat. As the violet light increased, the Acolyte's whitish hair taking on a violet glow, her reddish gaze focused on Tay.

"You come with many questions in your mind, and in need of reassurance. Am I right? I will do my best to provide the answers you seek." - she stated.

Tay felt a little better as she began to speak:

"Uh... well first of all... you said it's a long-term commitment. Just how long?"

"Training to feel the Force is not a simple matter, you know. Once you enroll into one of our Academies on Korriban, it will take perhaps a month, perhaps less, depending on how hard you apply yourself, to learn the basics, and how to actually call upon the Force. But that is only the beginning." - Xanara replied.

"To reach my level, it will take anywhere from a year, to two, also depending on how determined and focused you are." - she added, then noticed the look of Tay's face, and added quickly, with a smile:

"Not to worry... most of the actual training happens outside the Academy, my dear! It is only a place where the basics are learned... but we Sith believe in field training. Your power in the Force will increase as you undertake various training missions for the RTSE. Our empire controls a massive number of worlds and assets, and there are always plenty of challenges for our Initiates to test themselves against!"

"You... uh... what sort of challenges?" the girl questioned, not sure what that could mean.

Xanara's voice hardened slightly, as she spoke.

"Listen... I will be honest. We may not be the sort of Sith you had probably expected us to be - but we ARE Sith! For us, the only way to learn effectively, is through duress, and hardship! Your first few days at the Academy will undoubtedly prove difficult, to say the least. You will have to prove your strength to the trainers, and demonstrate that you can endure pain. Do not display weakness, to anyone! Other Initiates will be quick to pick on you if you do, and you will lose respect in the trainers' eyes."

Then she added in a more amicable tone:

"Be strong, confident, and decisive, and you will go far, my dear."

"As for field missions... they will consist mostly of solving minor crises on any number of our worlds. Even within our borders, marauders, pirates, smugglers, and other elements of the fringe still exist, needing to be dealt with. So that's where you will come in. As an Initiate, however, you will never be without backup on a mission... at least until you have sufficient training to be able to fully rely on your abilities." - she finished.

"I'm not afraid of a challenge." Tay defended herself, "But I don't want to be hurting civilians... or even freedom-fighters that love their homeworld. Pirates, smugglers, slaves, criminals, terrorists... I could do that without a second thought. But there are some people I just don't think I could bring myself to harm."

"We do not harm civilians, Tay... we are the True Sith! Preying on the weak is an act of a coward. Have we harmed any of you here, in any way?" - Xanara countered, sounding annoyed that Ty would even imply such a thing, but she thought:

"No harm in stretching the truth slightly... in time, she will learn that there are very few rules in war! Sometimes, civilian casualties are necessary, and unavoidable."

"Well... I guess not..." Tay acknowledged, "I suppose what you did to Yenni and the Zabrak woman didn't hurt anyone..."

"No, it didn't. But like I told you then, that was simply one innocent example. I am capable of much more, Tay..."

"...and you could be as well, should you join us." - Xanara said, with a brief flash in her reddish gaze.

"Well... I want to; I want the challange... but..." Tay trailed off, "I'm still just a little unsure..."

Just as Xanara was about to reply, a muffled sound of an alarm klaxon sounded from behind the doors. A moment later, Vedran's voice came from the ship-wide wall intercom:

"All hands, standby alert! Multiple hyper-drop signatures detected on long-range sensors at the edge of the system!"

"The convoy isn't supposed to be back yet... It's gotta be those blasted pirates again!" Tay exclaimed as she leaped to her feet.

"Yes... they are." - Xanara muttered, abruptly standing up as well, the sense of imminent danger through the Force enough for her to be certain.

"We will continue this later, after we dispose of those insignificant pests, my dear!" - she remarked to Tay in a vicious voice, both of them exiting Xanara's room, where the trooper standing guard was no longer anywhere in sight, being called away.

"Can you find your way back to the umbilical, Tay? I must report to my station, for the captain will likely have specific instructions for all the Acolytes." - the Sith woman asked, turning to Tay.

"Yah, I can find the way." Tay replied, already looking in the direction she needed to go.

"Then go... And fight well, Tay!" - Xanara replied, already running in the opposite direction.

As Tay was making her way to the turbolift, the ship's tactical officer's steely professional voice came over the ship-wide intercom:

"Confirmed pirate contacts on approach, multiple inbound vectors! Alert status upgraded to full battlestations, the ship will be detaching from the station within 2 minutes!"

Tay, realizing she had to hurry if she were to reach the umbilical in time, before the Munja undocked, broke into a run. Managing to get off the Sith frigate only moments before it undocked, she was back on the station just under 2 minutes later.

CHAPTER 35

Meanwhile, back in the main station, alarms were blaring at full blast. The replacement pilots Drosk had hired to fly the new Razors were quick to respond and deploy, but there wasn't enough of them to fill the full squadron. Kam, Hadji and Yenni also got into the Razors and took off, leaving a handful of empty fighters behind. But several other employees with piloting ability were quickly recruited, not only to fill the Razors, but also the Z-95s as well. Fourteen total fighters were soon out in space.

Outside, the captain of the Carrack cruiser, a veteran of a local planetary security force, was directing the company's armed freighters into some semblence of a battle-line.

The pirate force had completely entered the range of the station's medium-range scanners, showing the size and composition of it in detail.

Two Marauders were the spearhead of one section of it, with Riion's own Queen's Revenge leading that pack. With them was the last remaining Corellian Corvette, and one of the Star Galleons. Two more modified Bulk Freighters, that were clearly the pirates' choice for mobile fighter hangars, were with them.

The freighters began deploying their payload - 2 full squadrons each. Two of the squadrons were again Pinooks, obviously the pirates' most numerous assets, the third one was comprised of the small and nimble T-Wings, while the last one proved a surprise - consisting of hard-shelled, yet agile, Supa Fighters. In addition, both Marauders were also equipped with a full squadron of Preybirds each in their own hangars, which joined the mass of fighters already out in space, bringing the total to 6 full squadrons.

However, there was a second pack of pirate ships, approaching from the opposite vector, with the clear intent of catching the station and it's defenders in the middle - led by Riion's prized Loronar Strike Cruiser. Behind the cruiser were three more Star Galleons, and a single modified Mobquet Transport - the armed, heavily shielded and ion-surge protected Suprosa type. The Strike Cruiser deployed its own complement of fighters, the same ones that were its complement when it was captured from the Empire in the first place... a squad of TIE Fighters, and a squad of lightningnly agile and deadly TIE Interceptors.

Curiously, the Suprosa started lagging behind the second group, then shifting vector, which would take it in a long parabolic arc, seemingly to fly past the station at a diagonal angle...

The Carrack's captain shifted nervously as he took in the armada lined up against his band of armed freighters and transports. Deciding to confer to someone with more experience in a large-scale engagement, he had comms raised with the Sith Munja.

"Captain Vedran," he addressed the Sith captain, whose name he had been informed of already, "this is Captain Borrell of the Carrack Cruiser Resistance. If we want to have any chance here, we'd better coordinate our ships together. Do you copy?"

At the same time, Tay finally arrived at the hangar, only to find that all the ships, save for a few unarmed transports and shuttles, had taken off without her. After checking with one of the mechanics to make sure, she grudgingly left the hangar and decided to find a viewport from which to watch the battle outside. Finally finding a viewport she liked, situated in the direction of the main pirate force, she felt sick that she couldn't be out to help her friends, who she could only guess were among the small group of Kalrich fighters going off into battle. She watched tensely as the rival forces moved closer together.

Before Vedran could reply, an aide brought him the datapad, saluting:

"Initial threat assessment compiled, sir." - before returning to his post.

Vedran gave the datapad a perfunctory glance, though most of the info there was something he was already aware of. Then he replied to Borrell, in a military-precise tone:

"Of course. The odds are quite severely slanted against us, and there will be no margin for error if we are to have any chance at all. First of all, your ship should focus on the secondary group, and that Strike Cruiser. Take a quartet of Modular Conveyors, the SPC, and all of the Muurians to assist you - the Muurians' will be highly effective against unshielded TIE craft, but keep them away from those Galleons! You yourself will have to keep that Strike Cruiser at bay... as best you can. The freighters and the SPC should stay together, harrassing the Galleons, and trying to spread out their group, then focus on one at a time. Do not have them engage the Galleons directly, under any circumstances, of course." - before adding:

"I want a pair of Xitiyars to stay close to the station - that Suprosa is behaving strangely... and I wouldn't be surprised if the pirates have something devious in mind for it. Keep an eye on it."

"Meanwhile, I will retain the rest of your force, and attack the main pirate group. Between the Strijela and your Gunship, those pirate fighters will be in a world of pain! The rest of the freighters will prove effective distraction for the Marauders, while attacking the Corellian Corvette and the Galleon directly, while we deal with the fighters. Your Razors and Z-95's will also focus on destroying the fighters first, and distracting the Marauders, then attack the Marauders directly, but stay away from the Corellian Corvette or the Galleon, unless they wish to be slaughtered."

"Are my instructions clear? Your casualties will be high, particularily for the freighters, but warfare always carries risk... and I'll be frank; this plan is far from certain, and I am not particularily optimistic of our chances. However, there can be no retreat, or surrender, against pirate scum. Only victory... or death!" - Vedran finished in a ruthless, low growl, already eager for battle.

"I understand." Borell responded, trying to retain the string of orders, "I'll make sure the rest of the force gets direct comms to you so you can relay orders directly to them."

Doing as he was told, Borell directed four of the Modulars, as well as SPC and Muurians, to follow his ship into battle against the Strike Cruiser and it's cadre. The rest of the ships were ceded to Vedran's direct command. Onboard the station, Kalrich, far from a military mind, had left command of the operation in the hands of people who knew what they were doing. He'd only watch... and hope...

Meanwhile, Sar'Eel was out in space, her Toscan joining Borrell's group, as she thought to herself:

"This will prove... interesting, to say the least! And who knows... maybe I could get my hands on one of those beautiful TIE Interceptors. Assuming I live long enough." - her expression beneath her helmet twitching into a smirk, which was her normal reaction to a near-impossible battle situation like this one.

At that moment, Overlord Riion's ragged, gloating voice, full of unspeakable malice, boomed over the main frequency, where it would reach everyone:

"Enjoy your last hour of life, puny insects! Because I will paint the walls of your station with your guts when this is over! And YOU, Sith bastards... I have something special planned for you! You will pay a thousand times for what you did to my mistress a year ago!"

Vedran's cold, contemptuous tone came back a moment later:

"Her death will seem easy, compared for what your fate will be, pirate vermin, for daring to challenge the RTSE in the first place!"

Then he turned to the communications officer:

"Set up a frequency for use only by us and our Kalrich allies. I don't want to listen to that pathetic idiot's voice again!" - he growled.

"Yes, sir!" - the officer nodded, bending to the task.

Inside one of the Razor fighters, Kam could only clinch his fist in anger. He then switched to a private channel with Hadji and Yenni.

"I'd love to knock that guy's teeth down his throat!" Kam declared furiously.

"Yah, well we're a long way off from that." Hadji tried to calm his comrade, "Just keep your head in the game and stick together. Did Tay ever get out?"

"She woulda told us if she did." Kam replied, "She must not have gotten to the hangar on time. At least she's safe..."

"Only if we keep these monsters away from the station!" Yenni exclaimed, "Get ready! We're about to get in range!"

Just as she said that, the first wave of pirate fighters was about to swarm upon the defenders...

...a lead squad of T-Wings, the fastest of the pirate fighters. However, they failed to take into account the Sith frigate's concussion missile batteries, as a staggered three-salvo of six each flashed toward them. The missiles claimed half the T-Wing squad, before the Kalrich fighters were upon them, the Strijela and its support ships still 3 units away, as were the pirate warships, from the other end.

As the Razors and Z-95's began dogfighting with the surviving T-Wings, the two squad of Preybirds were almost in range... before Vedran's voice came across all the Kalrich pilots' comm systems:

"Don't dogfight with them past the first pass, or you'll be overwhelmed by the rest of them! Lure them in toward us!"

On the second front, the captain of the pirate Strike Cruiser, the Massacre, barked over the pirate channel to his two squads of TIE's:

"Take out those Muurian tubs, and that traitorous schutta, while I crush that Carrack!"

"Charging in, chief! They're dead meat!" - the leader of the TIE Interceptor squad replied.

Detailing the TIE Fighters to attack the Muurians, and most of the rest of his squad, he and his wingman converged on Sar'Eel... while the Galleons were moving past, trying to get to the Modular Conveyors and the SPC backing them up. However, the freighter group was heeding Vedran's instructions, and refused to engage the Galleons head-on, trying to split them up first. One of the Galleons found itself over 2 units away from the other two... while the Resistance found itself in a difficult position, facing a superior Strike Cruiser, as they began a mid-range turbolaser contest.

Meanwhile, the two TIE Interceptors were almost on Sar'Eel's Toscan.

Switching to linked fire, she tried to bring her fighter's powerful array of cannons on the first Interceptor, but the agile fighter slipped aside, entering a barrel roll, her shot flashing past it, while the second one began firing on Sar'Eel.

"Blast... he's too fast! I can't get a lock..." - she thought in frustration, while snapping her Toscan out of the line of fire of the second Interceptor, before switching back to single fire, and spraying a fast barrage of shots at the second one, hoping one of them will reach the nimble TIE. At the end of the head-on pass, her shields took a few hits, reducing them to 63%, but two of her shots caught the second Interceptor, causing critical damage and disabling its sensors.

She swung around, to finish the damaged TIE off, as its response time was down, due to its destroyed sensors. Just as she settled on its tail, and began stitching it with a barrage of single shots, the leader's Interceptor settled on her own tail. She diverted some laser power to shields, just as the first quad-linked green burst caught her... at the same time as one of her shots finished off the second Interceptor. Then she began evasive maneuvers, but the much more agile TIE Interceptor was easily matching her comparatively clumsy Toscan's maneuvers, as another quad-shot connected with her shields.

As they dropped to 46%, and she diverted more laser power to them, the laser capacitors dropping below 50%, the pirate pilot's voice came over her private channel:

"Time to die, Zabrak! I was hoping for a long time to be the one to take you out, schutta..."

"You're welcome to try, pig!" - she snarled back, before cutting off the channel, diverting some laser and shield power to engines, and setting course for the Muurians, now engaged with the other TIE's, as she realized she couldn't outfly the much nimbler Interceptor, clearly helmed by an experienced pilot, and would need someone else to get it off her tail. The Interceptor stayed on her tail, most of its shots missing, due to Sar'Eel's constant evasive maneuvers, but enough were connecting for her to become worried.

"Oh... I REALLY want one of those!" - was her fleeting thought, despite the direness of the situation.

As she was getting closer to the Muurians, she switched to Advanced Protons, setting them to proximity fuse, and got a lock on one of the TIE fighters. While still 2 units out, she fired. Even though the torpedo had little chance of catching the fast TIE fighter directly, it's explosion in its immediate vicinity destroyed it, and another one of the Interceptors that happened to be nearby.

However, her shields were starting to buckle under the pursuing Interceptor's fire... now at 21%, as she transferred the last of her laser energy to them, bringing them back to 40%.

"Someone get this bastard off of me!" - she snarled in frustration into the channel, addressing the Muurians, only three of them remaining, still facing three surviving TIE fighters, and six Interceptors.

The closest Muurian changed course soon after, taking a slightly diagnal line toward Sar'Eel's ship and her pursuer, it's upper turret finishing off another TIE Fighter in the process. The Muurian pilot tried to get his gunners into a good angle to blast the TIE Interceptor chasing the Zabrak woman as they were about to pass.

The Carrack and Strike Cruiser were now exchanging fire, but Borrell only wanted to keep the pirate vessel occupied, not take it on fully. Getting his ship destroyed would hurt their chances drastically, so he made sure to keep at the edge of turbolaser range, so they could break off if their shields got dangerously low.

Meanwhile, on the first front, the Kalrich fighters headed Vedran's suggestion, turning around and heading back to the safety of the larger vessels. They lost a couple fighters in the process, since the T-Wings were considerably faster than any of their fighters. But T-Wings, as well the Preybirds right behind them, had played right into the Munja's hands, chasing the Kalrich fighters right into the firing line of the warships and freighters lying in wait.

Never knowing their own folly, the two squads of Preybirds, pursuing the Razors, plunged directly into the close-range killzone of the Munja and the Gunship. The massacre began, with pirate fighters being vaporized almost as soon as they entered the two warships' range, with the Razors only having to finish off the survivors.

As the hail of fire from the Muurian's turret began to track on his Interceptor, the pirate squad leader promptly veered off of Sar'Eel's tail, giving her some breathing room, one blast actually catching it, and bringing its hull integrity to yellow. Diverting some shield power back to her cannons, she came about, just as the Interceptor, having thrown off the Muurian's aim, was coming back around itself at her Toscan... directly into line of her six-way linked shot. Not quite aimed with maximum precision, the four lower lasers missed the TIE, only the two upper ion cannons actually catching it... and disabling it where it was.

"Well... looks like I got my wish!" - Sar'Eel smiled to herself, not finishing off the Interceptor, and screaming off in pursuit of more.

"I want this one for myself... nobody finish him off. Understood?" - she stated to the Muurians.

"Copy, we'll leave 'em be." one of the Muurians acknowledged Sar'Eel's wish.

The Muurian returned to dealing with the last of the TIEs, although now there were only two of the light transports left.

However, behind the Preybirds, the lagging squadron of deadly Supa Fighters had a surprise... as all of the fighters opened up with Heavy Rockets on both the Strijeal and the Gunship, beginning to divert much of their cannon fire - while the Pinooks took advantage of the distraction, and slipped into the fray. Between the fighters and the rockets, the Strijela's defenses were beginning to show strains, as a pair of rockets reached the Sith frigate, another one hitting the Gunship.

"Shields down to 74%, Captain!" - the Strijela's tactical officer exclaimed.

"Prioritize defensive fire on those rockets! NOW! We can't afford to lose too much shielding, when we have to deal with those Marauders!" - Vedran roared in turn.

By then, over half of the Preybirds were destroyed, however... but the Munja's shift in focus allowed the other fighters to concentrate more on the Razors and Z-95's. The Gunship was helping, but its own batteries were also quite taxed with stopping the heavy rockets.

Luckily, the odds weren't stacked as badly as they had been, and the Kalrich fighters, along with the few armed freighters, were able to at least keep the pirates at bay, although they were still outnumbered. The less experienced Kalrich Co. pilots began to get picked off, slowly but surely, and both Z-95s were destroyed before long.

Sar'Eel launched another Advanced Proton, the torpedos' explosion taking out the two Interceptors in its vicinity, as one of the Muurians finished off another TIE Fighter that had latched on her tail in the meantime, bringing the number down to a single TIE Fighter, and four Interceptors left.

Switching back to cannons, she brought the targeting reticle over another Interceptor, preoccupied with attacking one of the Muurians, the linked shot blasting it away in a flash. At that moment, another Interceptor settled on her tail, and several shots caught her, the last two actually breaking past her shields and damaging the Toscan directly, temporarily disabling her fire control for cannons.

"Blast it! Have to re-route... fast!" - she thought, diverting all power to engines and getting evasive, as she began flicking switches on the control board.

Meanwhile, the lone Suprosa was nearly to the station - still not opening fire.

With all the other vessels preoccupied, only the two Xiytiars directly guarding the station were available to oppose it. Both ships began to converge on the freighter from either side, hoping to at least drive it off before it could do whatever it was planning on doing.

By the time Sar'Eel was finished re-routing, the remaining 4 TIE's were destroyed, with one more Muurian falling to them, leaving only one left. She waited for a couple of minutes, long enough for her shield and laser power to build up to a reasonable degree, before again switching to Advanced Protons, noting that she still had five of them left, and setting a course for the Massacre.

At the same time, she opened a channel to the last Muurian:

"We're going in... Strike Cruisers don't fight small targets too well! But still, don't get too close to it."

With that, she aimed at the pirate warship manually, without locking the torpedoes, to limit the Cruiser's chance to shoot them down even more. Setting them to dual-fire, she launched all five torpedoes, in a 2-2-1 pattern, two seconds between each launch.

Five bluish trails streaked off toward the Massacre... and three of them reached the target, with only two shot down, dropping the warship's shields from 85 to 57%. Getting closer, she began harrassing the larger ship with cannons, the Muurian right behind her. With the Strike Cruiser's relatively small number of anti-fighter cannons, the ship being armed mainly with turbolasers, they had a chance. However, in the meantime, it had inflicted considerable damage on the weaker Carrack cruiser opposing it, it's own shields falling to 40%.

"Take us closer to that tub! And bring full broadside to bear!" - the Massacre's captain ordered his helmsman.

"With pleasure, boss!" the pirate replied.

The four Conveyors and the SPC, relying on the advanced tactics captain Vedran recommended, have fared reasonably well against the trio of Galleons, destroying one, and severely damaging the second, with only one Conveyor lost, and the SPC heavily damaged.

Just as the situation on the first front was beginning to turn grim, the Supa Fighters have exhausted their heavy rockets, joining the melee at close range, and allowing the Sith frigate and the Gunship, the latter sustaining heavy damage in the meantime, to focus fully on the fighters... just as the two Marauders entered turbolaser range of the Strijela, and vice versa.

The Sith warship's turbolasers converged on the two targets, but against two full-strength Marauders, and with diminished shields, the Munja was at a severe disadvantage...

...and the remaining Corellian Corvette and Star Galleon were approaching as well, even if several Supa fighters have already fallen prey to the Sith frigate's turrets, along with one entire Pinook squadron.

On the bridge of the Queen's Revenge, Riion's face was beginning to spread into a victorious grin.

"No escape for any of you, puny little insects! You will finally be avenged, my queen..." - he thought.

"Shields down to 54%, sir! Diverting power from the engines..." - the engineering officer exclaimed to Vedran, who studied the main tactical display, noting that neither Marauder's shields have yet dropped below 80%.

"From bad to worse... the situation will become untenable soon." - he thought, face set in hard lines, before opening a channel to the freighters in his group... three of them remaining:

"Converge on those Marauders and try to distract them as much as possible, force them to divide their fire! We can't hold against them alone! Also, two of the best fighter pilots to do the same... but STAY AWAY from the Corellian Corvette and the Star Galleon!" - while thinking:

"Still, when those two get in range, it won't matter one way or another... we'll be overwhelmed!"

The Strijela began launching concussion missiles at both Marauders as well, hoping to divert at least some of the turbolaser fire.

Meanwhile, the Suprosa suddenly opened fire on the station... but, to the surprise of the station's personnel, and the two Xitiyars, it was armed exclusively with ion cannons... and a warhead launcher, equipped with special Ion warheads, highly effective in weakening shields.

The Xiytiars finally got in range and opened fire, but the Suprosa had already knocked the station shields below 25% and were dropping it fast. A number of the security officers on that level realized what might be happening and tried to organize accordingly.

"Once the shields are down, we'll dock with the station and start sending over assault teams! And spare NO ONE!" - the Suprosa's captain announced over his ship-wide intercom, to over 500 pirate troops aboard.

While the Kalrich freighters on both fronts continued to do what they could, it was becoming obvious that they wouldn't hold out long against the superior durability and firepower of their opponents. While the agile and tough Supas were keeping the Kalrich Razors busy enough that it was difficult for any to break off and assist the freightors or Munja.

Just as another Modular Conveyor succumbed to turbolaser fire from the Queen's Revenge, a group of ships suddenly emerged from hyperspace seven clicks from the station. Quickly assessing its strength, Vedran realized it was the company's last convoy, returning a few hours ahead of schedule. A second Corellian Gunship, four more Xiytiars, and a full squadron of Razors could now join the fray.

"Did we get back at a bad time?" a voice, that of the Gunship captain, joked over the open channel.

From the container hangars being towed by the Cargo Tankers, the full squadron of Razors launched, these ships containing Kalrich Co.'s most crack pilots, including Gav Durgen. Half the squadron broke off to the help finish off the remaining pirate fighters, while the other half headed straight toward the Marauders.

"Auspicious timing indeed, captain!" - a military-precise tone replied to the Gunship captain, coming from the besieged Sith frigate.

The Strijela was already altering course, moving at full speed in the direction of the convoy, the remaining Razors and the two surviving freighters staying with it. The first Gunship, however, had been destroyed - but the remaining Supa fighters have been dispatched, as well.

With the Munja frigate's hallmark speed and agility for a ship of its size, the Strijela quickly gained lead on the much slower Marauders, getting out of their range, though its shields were now at less than 20%. The shields of the Queen's Revenge were still at 75%, while the second Marauder's have fallen to 64%.

The faster Corellian Corvette and Star Galleon could keep up, but with their much thinner shields and shorter-ranged weapons, they had decided not to take on the Munja without the support of the Marauders, instead staying in-formation with the slower ships. This was in fact advantageous, since they could also provide anti-fighter cover for the two Marauders, whose anti-fighter weaponry was virtually non-existent.

Once the Sith frigate caught up with the reinforcements, the convoy escorts pulled up alongside the Munja and the two other freighters, forming a new battle-line to oppose the approaching pirates. The Razors also all formed up together, waiting to resume the attack in strengthened numbers.

On the second front, things have deteriorated, with the Massacre destroying Borrell's Resistance... but also taking massive damage from it, it's hull now below 50%, and many of it's weapons out... giving Sar'Eel a chance to disable it. Switching to ion cannons, she began systematically taking out the ship's key systems, starting with the engines...

With their heaviest vessel destroyed, the surviving Kalrich ships began to shy away from their adversaries. However, the Muurian remained with Sar'Eel during her attack on the Strike Cruiser, using its turrets to its advantage by also targeting individual systems.

The Suprosa, in the meantime, had docked with the station, its ion fire disabling both of the Xitiyars while doing so, and began deploying pirate troops, who quickly overran the initial defense perimeter near the docking ports. The pirates were beginning to demonstrate their barbarism, as they slaughtered every living thing in their path, sparing no-one. Women, children, even any animals they came across... but the station's security was organizing to put up more of a stand.

"We've boarded, Overlord!" - the Suprosa captain's voice came across the Queen's Revenge bridge speakers.

"YES! KILL THEM ALL!!! EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM! I WANT THEIR BLOOD TO FLOW LIKE A RIVER THROUGHOUT THAT STATION!" - Riion replied in an exultant, ragged roar, his response heard on the open channel, by everyone in the area.

CHAPTER 36

Drosk Vorad himself had joined the security on the infiltrated level, donning his full Mandalorian Armor, which none of the Kalrich Co. employees had ever seen him in. After having some of his men retrieve several autoturrets from the armory, he began organizing a defensive position near the main hub on that level. The guards had redirected as many non-combatants to other levels as possible, but they couldn't save everyone, and the body count was growing quickly.

Despite his confidence in the competence of his security chief, Kalrich knew from the estimates he was getting that his security teams were grossly outnumbered by the pirates. He didn't have enough trained men, nor the weapons to arm enough other employees, to effectively stop the invaders. With no other choice, he contacted Vedran.

"Captain, we're being boarded! Our security officers are outnumbered and outgunned! We need help!" he pleaded.

"What are the estimated numbers of intruders aboard, Administrator?" - Vedran's voice came back.

"I'm getting estimates everywhere between four to six hundred." Karich replied, "Depending on the how much they packed that Suprosa. We've only got a couple hundred guards available, and we've already lost several dozen in the initial incursion."

"Prepare to receive reinforcements in approximately 10 minutes, Administrator. Until then, you will have to manage. Out." - Vedran signed off, then turned to the security chief of the Strijela:

"Have a full platoon of 96 troopers on standby to board all 4 assault shuttles within three minutes, Colonel. Also, four of our six Acolytes are to accompany them, one per shuttle. They are to depart for the station as soon as the shuttles are loaded." - he ordered.

Just as the security chief was about to reply, the tactical officer chimed in:

"With all due respect, Captain, we will have to drop shields to deploy the shuttles! Not a very wise idea in the middle of a battle. So I submit--" - as Vedran interrupted impatiently:

"Our shields are failing as it is, Lieutenant, and I have no doubt we will take some hull damage before those two Marauders are destroyed! Even with these reinforcements, we won't be able to win this without taking a few body hits. Now attend to your duties!"

The tactical officer nodded, while Vedran turned to the security chief:

"Carry out my orders."

"Yes, sir." - the chief saluted, before opening a channel to Ground Operations Control aboard, and started issuing the orders.

Minutes later, as the Munja and its support was already engaging the pirates again, the four RTSE assault shuttles, 24 troops and 1 Acolyte each, left the frigate's small hangar bay, and set course for the station.

However, the move didn't go unnoticed by Riion aboard the Queen's Revenge, as he contacted the sole remaining Pinook squadron, and the single Supa Fighter that was left:

"Looks like those Sith bastards are trying to stick their nose where it doesn't belong again! Burn off those shuttles before they get to the station! NOW!!!"

"On the way, boss!" - the squad leader replied.

The Pinooks veered off to an intercept course with the shuttles, with the Supa staying with them.

Of course, Vedran noticed that immediately, as he opened a channel to the Razors:

"I want four fighters to accompany my shuttles and provide escort until they dock. Immediately! The shuttles are quite well armed and shielded, so no more will be necessary, but they do need some support against 13 enemy fighters."

With the pirate fighter situation more under control this time, several Razors were able to break off and provide escort, Kam being among them. Several of the Pinooks were destroyed or disabled on the first pass and the Supa immediately moved to engage the Kalrich fighters. Although they didn't tie down the entire fighter force, they had neutralized or drawn the attention of over half of them, easing the pressure on the assault shuttles considerably.

On the second front, Sar'Eel had just finished disabling the Strike Cruiser. As the medium warship lay dead in space, she turned her attention to a single remaining enemy Star Galleon, and the SPC harrassing it, as all the Conveyors were destroyed in the meantime.

Onboard the station, Drosk and his men held their ground as the first band of pirates charged their line. The combination of auto-turrets and supressing fire forced them back, but several subsequent attacks, these times with the aid of grenades and other explosives were able to weaken the line. Finally the pirates broke through, charging into remaining guards and combating them at point-blank range. Drosk himself dispatched almost a dozen pirates with his dual vibroblades alone, but the rest of his men weren't trained for melee combat and were much more easily overpowered. With no way to hold the line any further, Drosk and the surviving men retreated back to a stairwell and tried to work their way to a higher level, hopefully to set up a second defense before the pirates could reach the command deck.

Only a level below the action, Tay had left her spot by the viewport and was trying to get to the turbolift to another level. But the station had locked down the lifts by now, not wanting to give the pirates easy access to all the levels of the station. She had just given up on the turbolift and was about to enter a stairwell when the first pirates coming down from the above level appeared, coming down that same stairwell. Eyes wide, Tay turned and ran back down the corridoor as pirates now spread into that level, again killing anyone unable to get out of their way.

One of the pirates, a burly, bearded man with a nasty scar over half his face, noticed Tay and pursued her down the corridor. His first incentive was to use his heavy blaster on her, but he thought better of it, deciding to rape her instead.

"Oohh... what a nice piece of ass! Think I'll have her before I kill her..." - just as Tay locked herself into one of the rooms.

The pirate easily blasted off the door control panel, and the doors slid open... to reveal Tay standing with her back to the far wall. Crossing the room in four steps, he grabbed her by the arm and pinned her to the wall, trying to tear off her clothes.

"Come here, schutta..." - he growled as she struggled, while another Kalrich crewman suddenly passed by the doorway.

"LEAVE HER ALONE, SCUM!!!" - the crewman roared, charging at the pirate... but had barely made it halfway there, before the pirate shot him dead, then turned his attention back to Tay...

Meanwhile, the shuttles have made it to the far side of the station, all four of them surviving the fighter onslaught, and actually taking down the rest of the Pinooks, though one of the shuttles has taken severe damage. The lead shuttle, with Xanara's detachment aboard, had chosen the airlock on the same level as Tay was at the moment.

"Point-disperse pattern, SU841... I sense a dozen pirates in the immediate vicinity!" - Xanara ordered the troop sergeant.

"Acknowledged." - came the electronically filtered response from SU841.

Force Domination - as the troops blew the airlock hatch, Xanara's power had already turned three of the pirates against their companions, providing a highly effective distraction. A dozen seconds later, none of the pirates were left alive, without the loss of a single RTSE trooper.

"Secure this level." - Xanara ordered SU841, as she stretched through the Force, sensing over forty other pirates on that level of the station, thinking, a vicious smile forming on her face:

"Yes... there are plenty that need killing here! Excellent. It has been quite some time since I've killed anyone!"

Giving an acknowledgement, the sergeant motioned the first six troops to advance into the main corridor on the level, another six to take up covering positions at the corner. The six lead troopers did as instructed, converging out into the corridor, then immediately dropping to one knee, and opening fire, taking four more pirates by surprise. The return fire from several more pirates took out two of the troops... before the next six troops took up positions at the corner, dispatching the remaining pirates.

"Advance." - SU841 ordered.

The lead squad proceeded down the corridor, while he took charge of the second squad, proceeding up one of the stairwells to the upper section of that level. Coming across a wall intercom, he addressed everyone on that level:

"This is RTSE Containment Unit 1-AA, to all Kalrich personnel. Retreat toward Airlock 221, where we have established a beachhead. You'll be safe here." - before moving on.

However, Xanara herself didn't accompany either of the squads, as she suddenly sensed Tay's predicament. Quickly, she sent Tay a Force message:

"Fight him off as best you can! I'm coming..." - taking off at a dead run down one of the auxilliary corridors, on the shortest route to the room Tay and her attacker were in.

On the way, she came across three more pirates, two of them dispatched by a Saber Throw, before they could bring their weapons to bear, while she killed the third one with her lethal Mind Shatter power, while he was still rushing to assist the first two. Turning a corner, she influenced another pirate to kill his companion, before slashing her saber across him, before moving on.

Other three shuttles have also docked, and the RTSE reinforcements were already beginning to make a difference throughout the station, setting up secure areas for the civilian employees to take refuge in, and driving back the pirates. One of the Acolytes and a sextet of RTSE troops have even made it as far as Drosk's current position.

"Damn, you don't know how good it is to see you people!" one of Drosk's remaining lieutenants exclaimed as the Sith troops came up to them.

"Not time for small talk." the Mandalorian snarled, silencing his subordinate and looking intently at the Sith reinforcements, "They've probably spread throughout the station via the stairwells by now, if they haven't already overridden the turbolift controls. How many men did you get onto the station?"

The battle outside had once again reached a fevered pitch, with the Munja's shields breached, and the hull falling to 69%. However, with the destruction of the Star Galleon and the significant damage inflicted to the Corellian Corvette supporting the two Marauders, the Kalrich fighters could now attack them directly. Likewise, Riion's second Marauder's shields have been breached as well, as the Strijela inflicted moderate damage on it, also leaving it open for an ion cannon attack by the Razors. In turn, the pirates have destroyed three more freighters, a pair of Razors, and slightly damaged the second Gunship.

On his bridge, however, Riion's cruel face had began taking on a concerned look, exacerbated by the fact that all his fighter squadrons have been destroyed, except a single remaining Supa Fighter, now on Kam's tail.

"No... I will not retreat! I can still win this!" - he thought to himself.

The two Bulk Freighters which were carrying pirate squadrons have already hypered out of the area, heading back to the pirate base, their presence now superfluous.

Knowing the Supa was slower than his Razor, Kam dumped his laser energy to his engines, keeping his shields and maintenance level and directing them to the rear. He lined toward the station itself, hoping to put a little distance between himself and the Supa, then use the station as an obstacle to allow him to gain the advantage.

Tay used the moment of distraction to reach over to a nearby crate and grab a wrench off the top. Just as the pirate was turning his face back at her, she swung the tool and smashed him across the lower jaw, knocking out a couple teeth and causing him to howl in pain. Xanara's force message arrived seconds later, but Tay had no time to take comfort in it, since the hulking pirate had already shrugged off the pain and was after her again. Just as he had managed to overpower her, forcing her to the floor and tearing off some of her clothes, his eyes suddenly rolled up into his skull, before he let out a horrible scream of pure horror, beginning to convulse...

...as Xanara's Mind Shatter power began to destroy his brain through pure psychic assault, this particular one deliberately focused to prolong his suffering before he died. The pirate rolled off of Tay, his face turning white, beginning to bleed from the corners of his eyes and convulse in seemingly intolerable pain.

A moment later, Acolyte Xanara walked into the room at a measured pace, lightsaber out and ignited, addressing the convulsing pirate.

"I can rape you mentally, just as easily as you intended to rape my friend physically, worm." - in a ruthless voice, reddish eyes blazing.

Tay could only watch in horror, as the hapless pirate suddenly let out a final, piercing shriek, grabbed his head with both hands, then died, sprawled on the floor next to her.

Shutting down the lightsaber, Xanara knelt next to Tay.

"I see I have arrived just in the nick of time, my dear! Are you alright?" - she remarked, taking in Tay's torn clothes, and scratches on her face and shoulder.

"Yah... I... I'm okay... I think." Tay managed to say in a shaky voice.

The girl was terrified beyond anything she had experienced before in her life. She was glad the pirate was dead, yet the gruesome way in which the deed was done had shaken her, as she had never seen such a thing happen to someone before.

"I... I'm glad you're on our side." she added, glancing at the pirate's corpse.

Before replying to Drosk, the Acolyte addressed his six troops:

"Three of you, keep an eye on the route we just took... they'll probably follow. When they do, blast them on sight! SU766, take your other two men and help them out!" - referring to the sounds of blaster fire coming from the end of the corridor they were in, where he could sense a dozen more pirates, clashing with Kalrich defenders.

"Acknowledged, sir." - came the precise reply from the sergeant, as the order was carried out.

Then the Acolyte turned back to Drosk:

"The captain has dispatched a full platoon of 96 troops to assist, with me and three more Acolytes to provide tactical support, Mandalorian. From what we could sense through the Force, the pirates haven't yet penetrated into the central sections of the station. Has the station been put under lockdown?" - he asked.

Just at that moment, before Drosk could reply, another pirate suddenly came into view from the opposite end of a corridor, took aim and fired... with his shot reflecting off the Acolyte's crimson saber blade, which was out and activated a quarter-second before the pirate pulled the trigger, reflecting the bolt back to the source, and killing the pirate.

"The turbolifts are, as well as the levels that we know have been infiltrated. But we don't want to impede our own people on the uncontested upper levels, so they're still functioning normally. For now..." Drosk replied, not at all surprised to the Acolyte's action, as he was well aware of what Force-users were capable of.

Xanara smiled at Tay.

"When it comes to dispatching those who are my, or the RTSE's, enemies, I show no mercy, or restraint. But you're my friend, Tay... I hope you view me in the same regard" - before adding:

"The Force has a powerful influence on the weak-minded, my dear."

Tay returned a slight smile.

"Yes. And... thank you." she said, adjusting her bra, which was all that was left of her upper-body clothes that wasn't torn apart.

"I guess I was wrong... they actually do care about people." she couldn't help but think.

"You finally realized that, hmm?" - Xanara asked a rhetorical question, sensing Tay thought, before she added in mock anger:

"Anyway, this is not the time to be taking a rest! Get changed, then you can join us in exterminating these pirate vermin..." - pointing to a half-opened locker in the room, containing several work-style jumpsuits.

"And get some direct battle and killing experience yourself! It will serve you well when you join us..." - she added a thought to herself, as Tay nodded and headed for the locker.

A minute later, she was changed, just as a pair of RTSE troops passed by the room's open doorway. Noticing Xanara, they came in an saluted:

"Acolyte, all pirate resistance on this level has been neutralized, and the level has been locked down! We have lost nine troops, opposed to their forty." - the electronically filtered voice intoned.

"Excellent. Where's Sergeant SU841?" - Xanara inquired.

"He was one of the casualties, ma'am. I'm the one in command of the detachment now. Corporal SU533." - the trooper replied dispassionately.

"Understood, Corporal. Tay here will be assisting us. Provide her a weapon and tactical commlink!" - Xanara intoned.

SU533 saluted, calling for another trooper to bring one of the ZR315A carbines of one of the fallen troops, as well as and RTSE earpiece commlink. Minutes later, the trooper arrived, and handed the items to Tay.

"Are you familiar with handling a blaster carbine?" - he asked her.

"I've shot blaster rifles before." Tay replied, "I'm not a great shot, but I know the basics of handling one."

The Acolyte nodded, than spoke to Drosk:

"Then we should use the upper levels to get around the pirates' positions, then trap them in a pincer, attacking from both in front and behind at the same time. Since you know the station better than we do, you should be the ones to slip behind them, while we keep their attention! I will join your advance team."

"The pirates have been repelled, sir!" - one of the RTSE troops assisting the defenders at the end of the corridor suddenly reported via commlink.

"Keep an eye out - more will come!" - he replied.

"Right then. Follow." Drosk stated simply, motioning for his men to take up step behind him, and for the Acolyte to follow.

The group made their way one level up, where the pirates had not yet reached, then traversed across the level to a maintainence stairwell on the other-side. The door was locked to all but authorized maintainence and security personnel, but Drosk easily accessed it since he possessed clearance of all restricted zones. As they made their way down the stairwell, they ran into a band of pirates heading up. The pirates, most likely having blown the door some levels below with explosives, opened fire immediately, killing one guard, but were forced to retreat around the corner in the face of return fire. Now they were also preventing the security men from advancing downward, as they could easily blast anyone who came around.

Drosk made a ready motion to his men as he pulled out a flashbang grenade and primed it. He tossed it around the corner and waited for a second. The loud explosion indicated detonation and Drosk was around the corner almost instantly. Most of the pirates had been so intently focused foward that the grenade had been successful in blinding them with its detonation flash. Drosk dispatched the most threatening raider with his blaster, while more of his men filed around the corner and joined him. The pirates barely managed any return shots and were mowed down. But the group would no doubt run into more of them as they proceeded.

"The ZR is not your typical blaster rifle, girl. It's way more powerful than those crude Imperial E-11 things, meaning more recoil if you use it without the stock. It can also be fired in full-auto, but I wouldn't recommend that with the stock retracted, unless you want to dislocate your arm doing it." - the trooper remarked, some amusement evident in his filtered voice, taking in Tay's delicate physique.

"Keep the stock out, and stick to semi-fire, and you'll be fine. The stock has a recoil suppressor that'll help." - he finished.

All throughout the recitation, Xanara looked disgusted, her general opinion of blaster weapons about the same as that held by most other Force users in general - that is to say, rock-bottom.

Tay somewhat clumsily flipped out the stock and tried the weapon on her shoulder. Satisfied with its fit, she lowered it and looked back at Xanara and the trooper.

"Okay. Let's go then." she said eagerly.

Now down the maintenance stairwell, and about to enter the same level they were on before, from behind, the Acolyte suddenly held up a hand for them to stop, sensing a large concentration of as many as 25 pirates in a wide cargo bay just ahead - no doubt used as a staging area for the pirates on that level. In such a wide area, flashbangs would have minimal effect, so he turned to Drosk:

"Much killing to be done in this next room, Mandalorian! I'll go in first and draw their fire... you follow with your men five seconds later, when their attention is away from the doors!" - he remarked in a bloodthirsty growl, eager for a real fight.

Not waiting for the reply, he activated his lightsaber and charged through the door.

"A Sithy! Kill him!" - one pirate shouted.

The pirates inside reacted quickly... but not before his Saber Throw took out the two nearest ones, the saber returning to the Acolyte's hand in time to deflect three more shots, two going wide, the third reflected back to the pirate who fired it, killing him. Then the Acolyte dropped into a roll, anticipating the flurry of shots that came half a second later, his roll ending behind one of the crates in the bay. Through the Force, he sensed one of the pirates' intent to throw a frag grenade behind his cover...

...as he stepped momentarily to the other side of the crate, as the grenade was already in midair, Force Pushing it back, to land in the midst of five more pirates, shredding them all.

Taking cover again, after dispatching one more pirate at close range, foolish enough to attack him with a vibroblade, the five seconds have elapsed, and Drosk moved in, with his men following, now facing only 16 remaining pirates, their attention solidly fixed on the Acolyte's cover, and away from the entrance.

The guards were given a very early advantage, able to pick off the most of the exposed pirates quickly. Now having to divide their attention, the handful of pirates remaining started to run for cover. Drosk had traversed the bay and taken up position behind a crate near one of the main doors. As he expected, several more pirates flooded in, intent on helping their comrades. As the apparent last man in the group was out of the doorway, Drosk semi-emerged from behind them and opened fire, killing the rear pirate first, so as not to alert the other pirates of his presence as early as he would have had he shot the lead man. The next to last pirate in the squad was first to react, but by the time he could turn around he also received a pair of blaster shots. Drosk had taken out four of the seven pirates from behind by the time they realized they had been ambushed and took cover.

But Drosk wasn't the only one doing ambushing. While is attention was on shooting the other pirates, another pirate had come up behind him, wielding a hefty sword, which he intended to use to sever the Mandalorian in two. A single minutely noticable movement of a shadow behind him was Drosk's only warning, as the pirate brought his sword crashing down. Drosk rolled to the side, the pirate's blade striking the armor on his arm, which was prevented the arm from being severed altogether. The attack had still drawn blood, but Vorad wasn't going to let that faze him. Dropping his blaster, the Mandalorian drew his dual vibroblades and parried an attempted follow-up by the pirate. Although brutishly strong, the pirate clearly lacked real skill with his blade, his only attacks being massive, slow, but easily predictable strikes.

The pirate swung again, a blow attempting cutting from the upper right and angled down. Drosk ducked backward easily, spinning in the process. The pirate had left himself wide open, practically allowing Vorad his choice of where to strike. One quick swipe of one of his blades and Drosk sent the pirate's head rolling across the floor.

Still, more pirates converged into the bay, in two groups of six, this time from both the main entrance the Acolyte used, and the other entrance near Drosk's current cover, behind the Mandalorian.

Baring his teeth in delight at the prospect of close combat, the Acolyte charged them directly, lightsaber blazing. He Force Pushed the lead pirate, sending him tumbling into the two behind him, throwing off their aim, while he deflected the remaining three shots, one of them killing one of the pirates, at which point all of the remaining pirates were already within reach of his saber, and the slaughter began.

At such point-blank range, he could easily anticipate their point of aim through the Force, and use the pirates themselves for cover, as he twisted, ducked and weaved, before his combo of lightsaber slashes ended, with six corpses littering the floor around him, though one shot did catch him in a rather deep graze across the left thigh.

Glancing back in Drosk's direction, the Acolyte could see that the pirates were attempting to outflank him, still 4 out of 6 remaining. Too far away to reach that side of the cargo bay in time to assist, especially with the pain in his thigh, he pulled one of his two smoke-cover grenades from the belt, and tossed it across, also using the Force to land it exactly at the spot where the smoke cover would be most effective in befuddling the pirates. Drosk, with his helmet visor which was capable of several vision modes, would be less affected by the smoke screen, giving him the edge.

Summoning most of the remaining troopers in her detachment to join, while leaving a few to guard the secured level, Xanara led the way to one the lower levels, using a maintenance stairwell. Tay was right behind her, with the eight troops bringing up the rear. As they emerged from the stairwell into the main corridor on that level, signs of pirate activity were more than evident, with over a dozen blasted corpses of civilians, some of them children young enough to be under the age of 10.

Tay looked slightly sick, while Xanara's expression didn't even flicker.

"Spread out and secure the level, Corporal. I sense over a dozen pirates in the general vicinity. You, stay with us and cover Tay." - she issued the orders.

The troops spread out, with the one remaining, taking flanking position next to Tay, as the trio advanced cautiously down the main corridor, Xanara in the lead, lightsaber ignited.

As they proceeded, the sound of screaming and a few scattered weapon discharges reached their ears. Following the sound, they came into the level cafeteria, where a handful of security officers lay dead at the entrance. The sounds of screaming, grunting and blunt objects smashing against things were clearly coming from inside the room.

Tay had her rifle shouldered and was waiting for Xanara to give the word. Just from the noises coming from the cafeteria, she could tell it wasn't going to be a pretty sight.