Republic-class Star Destroyer Final Way
Sepros Orbit, Orian Space, Orian System

The Special Operations Division and the limited ships still operational from the Dlarit Navy’s two main defence lines had been in wait over Sepros for nearly five days. Fleet Admiral Araic Simonetti’s response as soon as Colonel Kal Septka got the word out had been prompt. The DSOG battlegroup had rushed back from its routine patrol of the Orian Pipeline to a massacre.

The withdrawal of the Yuuzhan Vong task force that had sacked Sepros itself had only been the start of the problems. The demand from Admiral Yashais dei Izvoshra of the Peace Brigade force that still held orbit over the key colonies throughout the system had forced Araic to hold fire and wait for the Dark Jedi on the ground to get the job done.

A bitter smile crossed the fleet admiral’s lips.

The fuzzy blue image of Sergeant Skye hissed for a second with static.

‘The fleet is good to engage,’ the young woman said, the fire in her voice echoing her flame coloured hair. ‘Show those kriffing scarhead huggers not to mess with us, Admiral.’

Araic’s lip twitched as he suppressed a smirk. ‘Good job, sergeant. All of you.’

The admiral switched his attention from the hologram to the bridge crew.

‘Men, the planetary defence networks are back up. Commence the attack.’ He turned back to the hologram. ‘Sergeant, have your teams rendezvous with the Final Way.’

‘Understood, Admiral,’ Dyrra said, then the hologram faded out.

Araic turned back to the viewport as space shifted for a few moments into starlines, then almost immediately shifted back again and was replaced with the purple orb of Amphor. The Peace Brigade battlesphere hung in orbit like a miniature Death Star.

‘All hands to battle stations. Let’s send these chuff-sucking sons of banthas packing!’

Lucrehulk-class Battlesphere Patriot’s Fist
Amphor Orbit, Orian System, Orian Space

Sirens exploded as all of a sudden the tranquil purple sea vanished as a green starburst lanced up from the sky city directly below to engulf the forward viewport on the Fist’s bridge. The reptoids spun their heads round to Yashais, their startled faces looking as confused as he was.

He reached forward to the nearest railing and held on to prevent being hurled across the bridge with the next impact. ‘Shields at maximum!’ The blue envelope shimmered outside right in time for the next barrage from San Korinar’s defences.

‘Report!’ Yashais screamed. ‘How are their defences back online!?’

‘Activation signals originated from Vega Mine and Obsidian Station,’ a Chazrach answered. Outside, the sky city drowned the Peace Brigade ships in a rainbow display of heavy firepower. The other Brigade ships were pulling back.

A minute later, the Chazrach added, ‘The Dlarit fleet is breaking off from Sepros.’

The tactical display confirmed it. The same scene was unfolding over Aeotheran and Tarthos, the Dlarit fleet was springing into formation. Yashais cursed.

‘Pull back,’ he ordered. ‘Pull back!’

There was no other choice. The battlesphere was too old to stand up in a fair fight.

His eyes switched back and forth between the red and orange explosions outside and the running total on the tactical display—one ship gone, then two, three . . .

They needed Varesh, but the Warmaster had withdrawn straight after sacking Sepros.

There was only one way they were getting out of this.

‘Issue the retreat,’ he said, the words tasting foul on his tongue. He was never one to give up. Until now. ‘All ships to withdraw to the Pipeline and proceed to the rallying point.’

A footstep echoed behind him.

‘Belay that order,’ Nen Muyel interrupted. ‘The fleet is to hold here.’

Yashais spun round to the Nightsister-cum-Slayer. ‘You dare issue orders on my ship?’

He turned back to the reptoids. ‘Continue with the withdrawal.’

The Chazrach didn’t move.

‘I said continue!’

The Nightsister chuckled. ‘They won’t listen to you.’ Yashais heard a sword unsheathe behind him. When he looked back at the woman again, she had two of her swords pointed in his direction. ‘I’m relieving you of command, Admiral.’

It took a moment to register what was happening. The diamond shapes on the tactical display were closing in around the Brigade fleets across the system, trapping them between the planetary batteries on the ground and the Star Destroyers in space.

Yashais realised he’d been set up. The Vong had never meant for him to escape.

He and his fleet had only been a means to an end.

And now Varesh had what he came for.

‘The Mistress cannot allow you to lead them back to the worldship,’ Nen continued. ‘You shall not interfere. The Light will be revealed.’

Yashais stood for a minute as he tried to digest what he was hearing.

He reached for the vibrosword at his waist.

The human Slayer cocked an eyebrow. ‘You can’t possibly think you can beat me.’

He shot her a half-smirk. ‘Try me.’

Republic-class Star Destroyer Final Way
Amphor Orbit, Orian System, Orian Space

‘They’re withdrawing! Orders, Admiral?’

The call came from one of the ensigns at the tactical station. The display showed the Brigade vessels pulling back one by one throughout the star system. Araic narrowed his eyes. One minute they had been withdrawing, then they’d retrenched themselves again, but now it looked as if they really were withdrawing. He shook his head. Classic confusion; their command was clearly in tatters.

‘Maintain firing. I don’t want a single ship to escape.’

The battle was all over a few minutes later. Some of the Jedi battleteams had already rendezvoused in orbit and taken command of the XJ squadrons to clear out the enemy fighters; the others were en route from either Aeotheran or Tarthos. Colonel Septka had sent what survivors he could to regroup with them in Amphor orbit.

A quarter sized image of the man known only as Raven appeared on the bridge.

‘Admiral,’ the Tetrarch greeted with a slight edge of fatigue. ‘There was no information on the Vong’s staging post in the Tarthos base.’ The sorcerer paused a moment, inclining his head to speak to someone off camera, then the hologram turned back to the admiral. ‘I’m informed by Sergeant Graves our teams on Aeotheran had no success either.’

Araic studied the Krath as he considered their options. They needed to go after the Vong, that much was certain. This was only the start. If they didn’t strike back now, they may not get another chance. Araic looked back at the tactical display, then out the viewport to the battlesphere which was still soaking up fire from the Final Way . . .

‘I have an idea,’ the fleet admiral mused, turning back to the hologram. ‘Have your and Commander Pepoi’s squads rendezvous with the Final Way within the hour.’ Araic smirked. ‘We’re going to play a little game a cat and mouse.’

Raven frowned for a moment, then shook his head and just nodded. ‘As you suggest, Admiral. Hawks and Raptors will be with you within the hour.’

As the hologram disappeared, Araic looked down at the chief gunnery officer in the databanks below the main walkway that spanned the bridge. ‘Master Chief, hold fire on the Patriot’s Fist.’ The gunnery officer frowned but Araic smiled. ‘Let’s see how far down the rabbit hole we can follow him. And someone patch me through to Gamuslag.’

‘Gamuslag, Admiral?’

He nodded. How many times had he chastised that crazy alchemist in the past? The scene at Antei six months earlier had been stomach retching. But there was no other way. This was their only option. And with the Governor-General MIA, that made it his call.

Araic closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

‘It’s time we finished this. I’m initiating Operation Rancor.

‘Get me the Violator Gas Bomb.’