Star Wars: The Old Republic: Loose Threads/narrative

Chapter One:The Assignment
A man clad in black stood before the Dark Council with his master at his side. The man in black, Castol Dalgota, had been asked for specifically by Darth Howl. "What is the will of the Dark Council?" asked Castol's master. "Silence harpie! It is your fault that we are in this mess, you shall not even do so much as to breathe unless ordered to do so. Is that understood?" commanded Darth Marr. "How dare you!" shrieked Darth Thornax in response. Lightning shot from Darth Marr's fingertips only to be met by Darth Thornax's very own, the Dark Council and Castol did not intervine as it was the way of the Sith. "You may be the Emperor's apprentice but you lack a seat on the Dark Council, you have no authority, submit at once!" commanded Marr. "I will destroy you!" An ominous wave of energy separated the two combatants. "Enough! I grow weary of this, the two of you are detracting this meeting." ordered Darth Jadus. "Another time then, Thornax." "Castol Dalgota, you have been summoned here by the personal request of the Emperor. The Emperor has forseen that you are the best person to send after Condar Aftburner." Castol kneeled. "Where can I find Condar, counselor?" "We believe that Condar is heading to Ord Mantell where his ship was docked during his capture. We want Condar back alive." "As the Emperor wills, Lord Howl." "You are dismissed."

Chapter Two:Departure
Master and apprentice stood alone at one of Dromund Kaas's docking bays. "I can feel your fear seething out of you." "Yes, master. I am worried that I may not be able to track down Condar Aftburner." "You are right to be afraid then, I do not need to remind you that the Dark Council frowns upon failure. I believe that the darkside will be with you." "Why do you say that?" "Because the Emperor requested you, if you had any chance of failure he would not have. Just remember to feel, don't think use your instincts." The apprentice bowed to his master and walked up the loading ramp of his Imperial Interceptor. Darth Thornax watched as the Interceptor ascended the landing pad and smiled.

Chapter Three:Flight of the Flaming Dove
The light star cruiser sat right where it had been when Condar was arrested. Two bounty hunters stood guard in front of the Flaming Dove. One was a Rodian and the other was a Gammorean they had been sent by Nem'ro the Hutt to capture Condar and bring him before Nem'ro. "Come out with your hands up, I see you Condar." the Rodian commanded. Condar stepped out from behind one of the many stacks of crates in the docking bay with his hands in the air. Condar slowly stepped toward the Rodian. "You guys caught me, Nem'ro shall be pleased." "Yes, with us but not you Aftburner." spoke the Rodian. "Yes, I imagine he is still sore about his hanger. He should have paid me full price for the goods, I imagine that he is going to short you too, not that its any of my business." "Perhaps we should find a new employer, Celiq." Spoke the Gammorean. The Rodian discharged four shots from his blaster into the Gammorean's chest. "Stupid lugs, they are always so useless." said Celiq. Celiq turned to aim his blaster back at Condar, he was too late. Condar had already drawn his blaster and sent two shots into Celiq's skull. Condar smiled and walked up his ship's loading ramp. "Looks like I shot first." remarked Condar as he looked back at Celiq's corpse. Condar began to prep the Flaming Dove for take off when he noticed a cloaked figure enter the docking bay. "Dammit, just leave me alone Sith."

Chapter Four:Sith versus Smuggler
Castol Dalgota made his way toward the "Flaming Dove" as quickly as his legs would carry him. The ship's gun turrent pointed itself at Castol, causing him to weave his way out of the hailfire, this cost him precious time and he was aware of it. Castol quickly noticed containers scattered around the docking bay. The various containers in the docking bay were a blessing, they provided Castol with cover and took the majority of the shots, those that didn't hit the crates scorched the ground. The "Flaming Dove's" engines roared to life and the stands retracted when Castol was nearly within reach. "Scada!" Castol reached into his robe and pulled out a round tracking beacon, he leapt into the air and barely managed to plant it on the "Flaming Dove". Castol quickly sprinted out of the docking bay towards his own fighter.

Chapter Five:Pursuit
Pival Grismon sat in the cockpit of his Corellian Defender which was on standby aboard Impractical Peacemaker, a Republic Capital Cruiser. "The Flaming Dove has appeared on my radar, do I have permission to lauch General?" The Imperial Interceptor was now on radar as well. "This is General Garza, permission granted." The Defender flew from the hanger and towards the Flaming Dove and the Imperial Interceptor with astonishing speed. The Imperial Interceptor shot a barrage of laserfire toward the Dove only to have the Dove dodge. Pival swooped down in his Defender and began taking well placed shots at the Interceptor. One of them hit.

Chapter Six:Change in tactics
Castol Dalgota cursed under his breath when his shields began to take a beating, it wasn't over though and he knew it. As the Interceptor appeared to gain ground on the Dove multiple fighters launched from the Impractical Peacemaker. Castol howled in frustration and double checked the seals on his flight suit as the fighters began their approach. Castol set the Interceptor on auto pilot and climbed out of the hatch and onto the hull. As the Interceptor came up beside the Defender Castol leapt and managed to grab onto it. Castol watched as the approaching fighters disintergrated his Imperial Interceptor.

Chapter Seven:Reunion
Condar Aftburner sat in his pilot seat with his legs propped up on the Dove's console with a smug smile. "Thank you for the assistance. I would have been scorched without your help, I hate to impose but might I dock with the Impractical Peacemaker?" "This is General Garza of the Republic, permission has been granted. Please try to behave yourself, nephew." "Well I'll be a mire, Auntie Garza? What are the odds that you would be the one to save my hide!" "The odds are pretty high that I would be the one to save your hide, after all who else would?" Condar let out a hearty laugh. "I have some information of the utmost importance to give the Republic, would you kindly deliver me to Ando Prime?" The Flaming Dove came to a halt and landed in the hanger of Impractical Peacemaker. "Sure, I will meet you in the hanger shortly, we have much to discuss."

Chapter Eight:Infiltration
Unknown to Pival Grismon, Castol Dalgota was alive and clinging on to his ship. As soon as Pival landed his Defender in Impractical Peacermaker's hanger Castol leapt off and searched for Condar through the force. He was able to detect him on the bridge. Castol stealthfully made his way across the corridors of the Republic Cruiser. Castol now stood outside the bridge thinking up a course of action. "Freeze!" Castol turned around with his hands in the air and faced the source of the voice. The voice belonged to a lone Republic Trooper, this was going to be all to easy. Castol quickly clenched his right fist causing the trooper to levitate and drop his gun. The trooper reached for his neck, Castol stood watching the sandy haired trooper as he gasped for air, when the trooper expired Castol opened the door and boldly walked onto the bridge. All the troopers in the room pointed their guns at Castol, General Garza and Condar were standing at the other end of the bridge. "I have come for Condar Aftburner in the name of the Emperor, surrender him to me and your transgressions shall be overlooked and your lives spared." "Kill the sith!" ordered Garza as she and Condar fled through the exit on the other side of the bridge. Castol activated his lightsaber and sailed across the bridge while redirecting a maelstrom of blaster fire. Some blaster bolts deflected back to there origins causing numerous casualties. Castol knew that his target was Condar and not the troopers so he ignored the survivors and gave chase.

Chapter Nine:Together at last
"Keep going, I'll hold him back and meet you at the escape pods!" cried out Garza to her nephew. "No chance in hell, Aunt. You get to the pods, the Republic can't afford to lose you." The Sith was at the other end of the hall, Condar reached into his holsters and pulled out blaster pistols. Each blaster shot off 8 bolts per second. Condar moved backwards as he shot. Castol deflected the bolts with ease, while making his way to Condar. Condar holstered one of his blasters and pulled out a plasma grenade. Castol smiled as the grenade flew towards him; all he had to do was lob it back with Force. A blaster bolt struck the grenade causing it to detonate prematurely, the grenade caused part of the scaffolding to cave in, temporarily slowing Castol. Condar ran to the escape pods as fast as he could, Garza was waiting for him in an escape pod. "I was worried that you weren't going to make it." "There is something you should know, the Emperor, he is..." Castol's crimson lightsaber pierced Condar's heart. Condar let out a gasp and looked down at the blade in him, he then looked back up at his aunt. "No!" Garza launched her escape pod. Castol looked down at Condar's body, the Dark Council wasn't going to be happy about this. The door behind Castol opened and Castol swirled around to face the Jedi.

Chapter Ten:Secrets
"You shouldn't have done that." said Pival Grismon as he ignited his Green Lightsaber. "I could not allow the secrets of the Emperor to fall into anyone's hands." The two cloaked men locked blades, green and red glowed on the walls. "How did you survive our last encounter?" "That is for me to know and for you to never find out." The Kiffar pulled his blade back and broke away for the confrontation for a brief moment to channel his strength while his Sith opponent did the same. Castol leapt towards Pival, quickly bringing down his lightsaber. Pival rolled out of the lightsaber's path and swung his blade around at Castol. Castol stopped the blade with the force and brought his out of the ground, he swung toward Pival's head. Pival ducked causing the blade to miss his hood by centimeters, Pival regained control of his blade and attempted to impale Castol. Castol threw himself backwards, the blade grazed his robe. Castol let out a sigh and pushed forward towards Pival. The two enemies pushed each other away with the force, Pival flew into a wall and hit his head, Castol did a backflip and landed on his feet. "We are done, Sith." Pival arose and sprinted out of the room. Castol inspected himself and realized that the Kiffar had struck a blow and cut into his chest, he opened up an escape pod and climbed aboard.

Chapter Eleven:Hard landing
Castol launched his escape pod and watched as he drifted away from Impractical Peacemaker. One of the Republic Capital Cruiser's turbolasers fired and hit the escape pod, miraculously the escape pod managed to hold together. The escape pod's navigation systems went offline. "This is what I get for leaving survivors!?" The escape pod floated around for hours before a planet was in sight. Castol used the Force to help guide the pod towards the planet. The Sith let out a sigh of relief when the pod succeeded at making atmospheric re-entry. After the pod hit the ground Castol popped open the escape hatch. After making a quick survey of his surrounding Castol came to a grim realization. "I have seen this planet before in our holo's on Kaas. I have crash landed on Dantooine!"