Star Wars : The New Sith Crisis

Negotiations

Lev'rin Tarl'ya walked quickly down the stairs, hurrying to his secret shuttle. He was a captain in the Bothan Star Corps, but this mission was not on official duty. His crew would be assembled soon, and then they would board the Lood Subterfuge, straight on a mission that would make his career. It better he thought, After that Kessel disaster this is the only way to get out of the doghouse. It was the same doghouse every captain who had blind-jumped out of that mad house was in. But I'll be out of it first he thought with glee as he re-read the transmission he had intercepted.

To Aristocra Formbi of the Fifth Ruling family of the Chiss Ascendancy

Greetings, Aristocra. I have an urgent matter to talk to you about. I cannot trust more to these messages. Meet me at these coordinates. 1200, 23409,54912.

Gilad Pellaeon, Grand Admiral and Ruler of the Galactic Empire
Sev'rannce Tann, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces

I get those two and I'll be an admiral. He entered his ship, walking along the passagways, looking approvingly at al the men(well Bothans) in their battle positions. "That's right warriors, we have a job to do." He said aloud as he entered the bridge turbolift and headed upstairs. Walking onto the bridge, he sat down in his Admiral's chair and gave orders to his men. '"Prepare the ship for launch. Go to these coordinates" he said as he handed a datacard with the coordinates on it to his nac officer. As the nav officer input the coordinates, the captain radiod his ship. "Be ready for action. We have a tough tussle coming up. Starfighter pilots to your ships." He pulled the lever and the stars became starlines as the ship launched into hyperspace.

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On Csilla, Aristocra Formbri and his entourage launched into space on board the Grand Envoy. Already aboard, was High Emissary Terok. A meeting with the Empire's highest ranking officers required a high-ranking Chiss oficer, the council had decided. Aristocra just wouldn't cut muster. Thus Terok, the nost important Chiss diplomat, was to accmopany the mission. Formbri was included in the party mainly because the transmission had mentioned him by name. As they boarded the diplomatic vessel, it was evident the the High Emissary was alread on board. Moving to their appointed rooms, Formbri's entourage didn't even feel the gentle buckle as the Grand Envoy entered hyperspace.

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The Chimaera was already in flight when the other ships launched. The Destroyer had a longer way to travel from Bastion. Tann and Pellaeon sat at a small round table in one of the five meeting rooms ajoining the bridge. As they discussed various strategies for winning the Chiss over, in case the Bothans didn't snap at the bait, a single messenger droid entered the room. "Your excellency," it addressed Pellaeon by the formal title that the ruler of the Empire was required to be called(no matter how much he preferred a simple sir), "At the last nav-check we recieved a transmission from Admiral Kirkosh reporting that he was ready to luanch his expedition."
"Excellent. At the next nav-stop send him my orders to proceed." Pellaeon handed the droid a datadisc
"As you command, your excellency" The droid did an awkward mechanical bow and then exited the room.
"As we were saying, what if the Bothans don't show up?" Pellaeon asked. "I think we'll have to convince Formbri that this is important. That they are in imminent danger."
"No that won't work. the same thing that makes the Bothan idea work also makes it so the entire plan hinges on the Bothans. The Chiss will not break the rules of warfare but will whole-heartedly fight against anyone who does. Pre-emptive strikes like the one the Bothans will appear to have made are the cardinal sin of warfare."
"Then lets hope this works."
"It will. The Bothan ambitiona dn greed has never let us down before" Sev'rannce closed the meeting. With one hour left until realspace, both commanders retired o their quarters to prepare for the meeting.

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The Chimaera and the Grand Envoy dropped out of hyperspace at the same time. A quick glance at the transponders showed each captain that this was the ship he was meeting. Without a word, Terok, Formbri, and the twelve Chiss Diplomatic Guard soldiers boarded a shuttle and were escorted to the Chimaera by the half-squadron of Clawcraft that had come as an honor guard. The shuttle docked in the Chimaera's magnificent diplomatic hanger, reserved for special diplomatic meetings, and for the ships of superiors. Pellaeon's modified shuttle and Tann's Defender were both parked off to the side. A line of ten Imperial guardsmen, their red robes missing the black mourning stripe that they had carried for years, a symbol of the Empire passing beyond Palpatine under the wise rule of its Grand Admirals, faced a line of ten SithDroids, the choice bodyguards of Sev'rannce Tann, its supreme commander. Beyond them a double line of stormtroopers became a double line of Navy troops which became a double line of battle droids. The soldiers of the Empire on full display. As the shuttle opened, six Chiss soldiers entered, dressed in black, carrying thier charrics at full shoulder. Behind them came the High Emissary and his entourage, as well as the Aristocra and his entourage. Six more soldiers brought up the rear. Across the hangar, Tann and Pellaeon walked side by side. The black Sith Robes of Sev'rannce Tann flowed down from her shoulders, moving with her as she walked. Pellaeon wore the standard white of a Grand Admiral, with a gold trim that was reserved for special occasions. The ships officers followed them. The two parties drew near. The front six Chiss parted and the Grand Emmisasry stepped forward. he and Pellaeon shook hands as equals. So did Tann and Formbri. A Chiss herlad stepped forward. "High Emmisary Niste'ro'kelon of the Fifth Ruling Family."
The Imperial captain stepped forward and introduced his own leader. "His Excellency Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon of the Galactic Empire."
The Chiss herald announced his second leader, in the proper fashion. "Aristocra Formbri of the Fifth Ruling Family."
In like manner the Imperial Captain introduced his own second leader. "Supreme Commander Sev'rannce Tann, commander of the Imperial Armed Forces."
The heralds backed off behind the leaders as Terok broke the silence, his voice the proper gravity for meeting with an Imperial Grand Admiral. "You may call me Terok. You may call him," motioning to Formbri, "Formbri."
"Thank you, High Emissary. You may call me Pellaeon." and motioning to Tann, "you may call her Sev'rannce."
"Thank you, Grand Admiral." Terok answered him.
"This way, we have a quite important matter to discuss." Tann added in, motioning down the line of soldiers. They walked, Pellaeon and Terok in front, Tann and Formbri behind. The twelve honor guards took up their positions with after the Imperial Guard, in front of the SithDroids, as the Imperials had arranged. The line of Imperial soldiers extended all the way to the turbolift. Each rank marching smartly away as the dignitaries passed it. When the their turn to leave came, the Chiss had returned to the shuttle.

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The turbolift took the diplomatic party up to the bridge of the Chimaera. All the rows of officers and technicians were in perfect position as the four walked along. Pellaeon led the way into a small conference chamber off to the side of the bridge. The others followed him inside and sat down. Pellaeon and Terok sat at the ends of the table, with Tann and Formbri art the sides. Pellaeon addressed the Chiss Emissary. "High Emissary Terok of the Chiss Ascendancy. I have come personally on behalf of the Galactic Empire to warn of a growing force on your borders. Though they call themselves the beacons of hope, the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances is, at its core, a greedy, space-grabbing government that will stop at nothing until the whole Galaxy sits under its thumb. They are a weak regime, promising freedoms that they cannot deliver. Ever since their first uprising, they have brought chaos and disorder to a once-peaceful galaxy. I have come to formally request an alliance, between the Galactic Empire and the Chiss Ascendancy."
"What type of alliance?" After long years as a diplomat Terok was able to keep an pbjective view and not be swayed by his emotions.
"A full alliance. The Chiss and Empire working completely together." Pellaeon answered.
"Would we go to war alongside each other?" Terok asked
"Yes. We would protect each other from the Federation." Pellaeon responded.
"Well--------" Terok began when sudden;y klaxons started baying red alert. Lights flashed and a voice came over the comm. "Grand Admiral Pellaeon to the bridge. Repeat. Grand Admiral Pellaeon to the bridge."
Pellaeon immediately excused himself. Tann stood and spoke. "If your excellencies would like, I can arrange for temporary quarters and a guard for you until this is over."
"No." Terok said firmly. "I return to the Grand Envoy. We must conduct our own defense.
"Surely the captain--"
"I am the captain." Terok cut her off in mid-sentence. Aristocra Formbri will stay with you. I must go to my men."
He would take no arguemnts from Tann or from Formbri, but instead left the room. Radioing ahead he left the two seconds. Tann led Formbri to the bridge, where she took her seat at the side of Pellaeon. Formbri sat down in a chair at her side. Intently he watched the Imperial crew throughout the battle, mentally keeping track of everything.
Terok entered his shuttle and the clawcraft took off with the shuttle. The four ships headed for the Grand Envoy as a wave of X-wing, Y-wing, B-wing, and A-wing fighters came flying from the Bothan Assault Frigate.

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On board the frigate, captain Tarl'ya was in a fine mood. His fighters were already engaging the TIEs, and soon his frigsate would exact revenge for Kessel upon the Imperial flagship. "Squadron four, interecept that shuttle going to the Chiss ship. Y-wings, pummle that Chiss vessel into bits. Everyone else get the Imps!" he shouted out his orders. The fighters went about their business, A-wings and B-wings keeping teh TIEs so busy that they could not get even know that 12 X-wings were nearing 3 clawcraft and a shuttle.

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Terok saw that his shuttle wouldn't make it to the Grand Envoy before the X-wings cut it off. Activating deflectors, the shuttle and clawcraft prepared to make a fight of it. The X-wings came in sets of four, three groups of them. The clawcraft and shuttle faced the first group, both sides coming in a head-to-head pass. The shuttle fired two concussion missiles and the lead fighter burst into flames. The x-wings all unleashed proton torpedoes and two clawcraft were gone. The other clawcraft fired several heavy, vlose-range shots at the enemy and burned one into little bits of shrapnel. A torpedoe narrowly missed it. The shuttle tuirned its lasers on another X-wing which burst. The shutle and clawcraft played wingmates and took down two more X-wings before the clawcraft dissappeared under a barrage of lasers. "Chiss shuttle to Xwings. We protest this assault upon Chiss sovereighnty." Three proton torpedoes were the answer. They punched through the shields and lasers did the rst. High Emissary Terok of the Chiss Ascendancy was dead.
Formbri saw the shuttle wink out first. Immediately Tann felt the spike of grief and alarmf rom him and looked at the status board. Her worst nightmare had come true. The Chiss Emissary was dead. Jumping up from her seat, she took off for her fighter. "I need to be in that starbattle" she called as a guard moved to stop her. Her hood slipped down and her long black hairtrailed out behiond her as she ran. She jumped into her Defender and went out to join the fierce fight.

Posted by Jarlath Cadman at September 24, 2004 09:13 AM