A Hostile Invasion

[Bardok]

The captain ran up to Titus. " What the hell was that?" he shouted at Titus.
" We had a terentatek problem," Titus said, staring at the battling monsters. The spiders crawled mercilessely all over the great beast, biting it and injecting their terrible venom into its body. But the terentatek was not easily defeated. It too bit at the spiders. It grabbed them with its massive clawed hands and literally tore them into pieces. It grabbed one that crawled too close to its mouth with its jaws. It crushed the spider, a sickening crunching noise sounded throughout the air.
"Now we have no terentatek problem," Titus finished. He turned to look at Jack. " And captain?" Titus walked up to Jack. He towered over the soldier, his massive form obscuring the grotesque battle raging behind him. His bright, blood red eyes glowed in the dark shadows of his hood. " Watch yourself. Do not forget that you are speaking to a sith general. I dont give a damn if you dont like me, you will show me the proper respect I am due." His eyes narrowed as he said this.
The captain glared back at Titus with a burning hatred. That was good. Hatred was a driving force, one that would give courage to the fearful, strength to the weak.
Jack finally stood straight at attention and replied, " Yes sir." Titus walked past the soldier and disappeared into the trees. Jack took one last look at the fighting beasts, sighed, and followed after his commanding officer.
He couldnt help but wonder though, just what had happened to Xeones.

[Bardok]

Titus himself couldnt help but wonder just what it had been that had caught his attention back at the clearing. It had looked like someone in armor. Titus couldnt be sure, but he knew that he would have to keep up his guard and remain aware.
A small static noise interrupted his thoughts.
"zzzt-repe-zzzzt-repeat-zzzzzzt-i repeat, general Titus-zzzzzt-copy, over?-zzzzt"
Titus spoke into his com. " This is general Titus, I am currently three clicks north of your position and on approach. "
" Copy that sir. We have the package sir."
" Copy. Hold your position until I arrive there." Titus clicked his comm off and addressed Jack. " We need to move faster captain. I have an informant guest that we must not keep waiting."
" Yes sir." Jack watched as the sith sprinted ahead, and he followed suit to keep pace.

[Jack Starbuck]

When Titus and Jack reached the other troopers and the wookie Jack was surprised to see his other troops. "Des? what the hell are you guys doing here?" He walked up to Des " You shouldn't be out here." Tarkin gestured to the Sith "His idea" Jack glanced back to Tidus then gave a stressful sigh. "Whatever." He then walked up to Titus. "My lord I don't know what your doing with my men, but I suggest if you have the time we find that Jedi enclave so we can get off this forsaken rock." He then gestured to the south. "If I am correct the temple should be 3 clicks south from here........sir." He unslung his missile launcher then gave it to Des then gestured to the Sith "After you."

[Bardok]

Titus saw the brief exchange between the captain and sergent dessel. He watched as Jack handed over his rpg and gestured at the sith.
Fine. If that's the way he was going to play the game, then Titus would show no mercy. He would crush Jack when the time came.
But right now, he had something else to accomplish. He turned to the wookie and walked toward it. It stood tall, its thick muscular arms chained together at the front. Its dark brown hair waved as it turned its head to look at Titus.
" Now," Titus said to the wookie, "you're going to tell me what I need to know."

[Xeones]

"I need Command immediatly,"
"Roger, patching you through."
"Command here what do you need Xeones?"
"You know the rumors about that rouge sith?"
"Yes, why?"
"Send everything you have to Kashyyk, he's here."
"Understood, use your training Xeones, if hes a low level than you can hold off his mental prying, just hold out untill we get there, do not let him know where coming."
"Wilco."
"General Graff out."
The helmet had been so easy to steal from Starbuck, what an idiot. Xeones tossed it to the ground carelessly, as if it had just been knocked off in the fight.If there was anything the Empire feared more than jedi, it was a rouge sith. Especialy this one, tricking a Captain in order to complete his own agenda. They would be coming back soon, to look for him. Xeones removed his arm plating. He took out his knife and made an incision in his arm. He then smeared the blood all over his head. He replaced the armour and then threw his own helmet several feet away. He laid down as if he had been struck in the head. This sleemo sith wasn't going to get far.

[Jack Starbuck]

When Titus ignored Jacks recent suggestion Des walked up and whispered in his ear "Is it me, or does this Sith seem a little...different."
Jack turned to him "Yes he is, a lot actually."
He paused to turn to look at the sith and the wookie still talking then back to Des "With what I've come to learn about how the Sith operate this man does the exact opposite."
"How so sir?"
"... Arrogance"
"Sir?"
"I'm beginning to believe that this one is trying to show he is more powerful than he actually is."
He paused to reflect his short days at the Sith Academy and how panicked the sith looked when he ordered him to follow the beast, he could tell the difference between a high level sith and an apprentice.
"Someone at his level should still be in training at the academy... and not out here doing the emperors bidding."
"Unless the Empire is just that desperate."
Jack paused
"Well let's just hope for our sakes its not."

[Bardok]

Titus walked up to the imprisoned wookie. The wookie stood straight and tall. He was only an inch or two taller than Titus was. He had black, beady eyes, and two canines protruded from the upper lip of his short, doglike muzzle. His body was matted with a very dark brown fur that was thick and hung in tangles. He wore a thick leather vest, which appeared to be stocked with several explosives as well as ammunition cartridges for his now confiscated bow gun.
But before Titus could utter a single word, the wookie suddenly dropped to his knees. He began to speak in his native tongue as he bowed his head.
" I thank you, brave warrior, for saving my life. If not for your valiant efforts, I would have been killed by that merciless beast. You shielded me with your own life, and for that I am eternally indebted to you. I offer my services to you. I will follow you wherever you may go, I will shield you from what ever enemy that means you harm, and I will repay the debt between us with my own life if need be." The wookie looked up into Titus' eyes. " I ask you brave warrior, do you accept my offering of payment?"
Titus looked back down into the beady eyes of his captive. He couldnt quite believe what he'd just heard. But, a smile soon appeared on his face. The smile grew ever larger until eventually he couldnt hold in the mighty laugh anymore. He laughed his deep, cruel laugh, and one of the soldiers holding the wookie shuddered noticeably.
Titus drew his light saber, activated it, and slashed the cuffs off of the wookies wrists. They fell to the earth, there thuds muffled by the thick wet grass. The wookie rubbed his wrists, and stood.
" Tell me wookie, what is it the name that you are called?" Titus asked.
The wookie responded, " My name is Kantur Set, Son of Morsangru."
Titus smiled again. " I accept your offer, Kantur Set."

[Bardok]

This was all too perfect. Titus had heard before of the wookie life debt, but he had never imagined that his own selfish actions would help him obtain such a bond. He now had created for himself the perfect agent, loyal only to him, to do his bidding when he himself could not directly handle what might need tending to.
Wookies were known for their fierce loyalties, and when one had the desire to give there lives in service to another, the bond was under no circumstances broken.
There was something else too, something Titus hadnt realized until now. The terentatek that had attacked the wookie had been no different from any other terentatek: it like all others, wanted the blood of force sensitives. True it had killed two soldiers, both of which had no force capabilities whatsoever, but, it had immediately diverted its attention from the soldiers to get to the wookie.
Titus' cruel, wicked smile played havoc across his face. Kantur Set was capable of using the force, though how extensive his ability might be Titus had no way of knowing at this time. When the chance was given, Titus would test the wookie's abilities to find out just how strong he could be.
And the last thing Titus realized, was that, when the terentatek had chased Titus through the forest, it had stopped its pursuit of him to chase Jack. It seems the captain had some capabilities in force wielding as well. Titus knew he would have to tread carefully. He would have to do all in his power to keep the fools into thinking he was a sith general.
Secrecy and subtlety were his sword and shield....

[Jack Starbuck]

"Holy kriff, did you just see that captain?"
"Unfortunately I did yea." Jack paused then whispered to Des "He may have just found our replacement so be on your guard, cause that wookie seems willing to do anything for him more so than us."
"Yes sir"
Jack put on the most courteous tone he could muster then walked up to Titus "My lord we shouldn't delay the Jedi enclave should not be to far in this direction if you will follow me." Jack really wished he had his helmet as it could hide angry face from the Zabarak, in all honesty he had no idea where it went, it must have fallen off when the terentatek chased him.
He then tapped Des on the shoulder to designate him point
"and sergeant, keep your eye on the lookout for a recon guy, I was traveling with one earlier and we got separated, he could still be a huge asset if we can find him." Des replied with a "Roger" and the slapping of a new energy cell in his blaster. Jack did the same to his proton carbine and marched forward.

[Bardok]

Titus could feel the anger, the hatred in the air around the captain. For whatever reason he had taken an immediate disliking to Titus from the start. It mattered little to Titus, such petty quarrels. He would just watch carefully over the captain, and his men were more loyal to him than they would ever be to Titus.
Titus knew that the end of this encounter with the young captain Jack Starbuck would end in some sort of confrontation. The Jack was about ready to snap. When he did, Titus would be waiting....

[Bardok]

Titus' thoughts on what he had seen in the clearing when he went after the terentatek had been confirmed. He HAD seen another armored soldier. And if the captain was telling the truth then this man would be empirial recon. He would be trained and trained well in the art of stealth and precision marksmenship. Titus did not know who this man was or might be, but he knew he would have to watch for him as well.If the man had befriended the captain, then he would be just as sympathetic towards the sith as Jack.
Titus smiled. This day was getting more challenging by the second. Titus reveled in it. Fine. He would take them on. All of them. The whole kriffing empire if he had to.
He would win.
As he, Kantur Set, and the squad of gloomwalkers made their way to the temple, Titus' thoughts returned to the day that had changed his fate forever....

[Jack Starbuck]

As Jack trudged along he turned back to see the Zabarak deep in thought and his huge wookie friend marching proudly beside him. The calm moment gave Jack sometime to reflect on why he hated the sith, why he envied them.

[Jack Starbuck]

He was breathing heavily and his dark tunic was drenched in his own sweat. It didn't matter, Jack was focused on his training saber in front of him and that of his rival, Murric Tur, Murric was a Togruta and a fellow Sith initiate just like Jack. At this time he was 10 and Murric was 8. Though two years ahead, Jack was unable to control the force like the others of his age so he was withheld from his class to train with those younger than him.
Murric stood calmly across the ring from him, he was tired but no where near Jack's fatigue, he had the force on his side, and unfortunately Jack did not. Jack had to rely on brute force while the others depended on their newly learned abilities. The training session was 30 min in and Jack could hardly breathe.
Murric raised his lightsaber with a grin, for him along with every other student at the academy knew of Jack's weakness. He charged forward to meet him.
Jack closed his eyes to focus on the force around him, nothing, he tried pulling it from his anger and still, nothing. "come on, please, work with me" he whispered to himself. Finally Murric was right in front of him swinging to his side. Jack opened his eyes and blocked it instantly, it was reflex. Murric broke it off and struck above, Jack blocked it again as reflex. Murric used what physical strength he had to try to over-power Jack in the overhand strike but it was not good, Jack still stood. Jack gritted his teeth as his sweat went into his eyes causing them to sting. If Jack had one thing it was willpower. However Murric gathered the force to him and with lightning speed swung the saber down to slash across Jacks right leg. "AAGH!"
The training sabers weren't powerful enough to cut, but they had a numbing affect when struck against any part of the body.
Jack fell on his knee, as Murric gave a small laugh of victory and prepared for another overhand strike, Jack saw it in time and jumped up ramming the top of his head into the Togrutas jaw. Murric squealed and flew back, as Jack regained his posture, ignoring the pain in his leg.
Murric yelled angrily at Jack with blood spurting out. "I will end you!" Jack felt Murric gather the force around him. "Oh kriff." quickly Jack dropped his saber to grasp his neck. 'how! how did a small 8 year old boy learn to do the force choke, how!?' Jack fell to his knees gasping for breath, the fact that his heart was racing from the battle wasn't helping either. He then saw a dark figure approach his side "You've learned the techniques Jack, use it to break free, you know how." Jack closed his eyes to feel the force around him, holding his breath he searched and searched but the force did nothing but get farther away from him. "No-o-o" was the only that came out of his mouth. He refused to ask for help, he'd done it far too many times. He focused again this time feeling more light headed than ever. He opened his eyes in astonishment, he found it! whatever it was he felt something go through him and it was beautiful. Unfortunately Murric saw this and tightened his grip harder than ever, and as quickly as it came the power was gone. "AAAAAGGGHHHH!!!" Jack strained and clawed at his throat to no avail.
The dark figure beside him then said in dismay, "Alright Murric let him go." instantly Jack felt air flow back into his lungs but at a devastating cost, he couldn't hold it. Jack then vomited on the floor with tears running down his cheeks. "Look at him! he's not even worthy to be in the same ring as me master!" Murric chuckled, and the dark figure only nodded and replied "You are right young one, for I feel that this one is truly lost." These were the last words Jack heard before he blacked out and fell face first into his own vomit.

Jack came out of his train of thought gritting his teeth. He looked back to see the Sith still pondering over something. 'Why him, why does he have this gift, I worked so hard to understand it and use it and still he has it when I could obtain none'. Jack knew it was to late to go back to the academy, but he still tried tricking himself into the possibility of them letting him back in.
Jack was filled with this hate every-time he saw a Sith, 'I can't let this get to me' he thought 'It's affecting my ability to get these guys out of here, and the sooner I can get away from him the better' He closed his eyes one last time to a hesitated exhale 'why?'

[Jack Starbuck]

The trees were starting to be more tight together, this was good. The enclave had to be somewhere hidden in the trees. "Okay" Jack halted the squad, he tapped Des on the shoulder and pointed forward, he then turned back to Titus "Were gonna take a leader's recon." He allowed for a pause "Don't worry we'll be back."
He and Des moved quietly through the trees staying 10 meters apart in case a well placed grenade landed between them it would not kill them both. After moving about 500 meters he saw it. "Holy kriff sir...is that it?" Jack looked up to see a fortress within the trees. "Yep, thats it." Jack was surprised by how well it was hidden. The structures were made by the wood from the trees so in a way it was camouflaged. He motioned them to go prone "Alright, were gonna have to find a way up there now sir" "When we flew by here on our last mission, I saw a stone structure that didn't look natural, there should be one here nearby, if we can find it, thats out ticket in." Des replied with a playful "Oh Joy"
Jack took out a spare radio out of his pack since his helmet was missing with his main mic.
"This is Commander Raditz go ahead Captain Starbuck."
"Sir, we found the enclave, we are directly underneath it."
"Underneath it captain?"
"Sir, its... in the trees."
there was a pause
"Riiiiiight, well good work Captain, we will pinpoint your location then send in the troops."
"Troops sir?"
"Yes, is there a problem Captain."
"Well, no sir but would it not be better to have an air raid? Rather then sending in our boys to die?
"Captain you well know that every Jedi and wookie giving them support is a traitor to the empire, and they will be treated as traitors. Sending in a air strike will probably kill them all and we need to use them as a prime example of what happens to those who disobey."
"What exactly will we do with them sir?"
"Simple, they will be executed, but with the public watching, so that all will know what happens to those who rise up against the emperor."
Jack was silent, he didn't like what they were doing but he had no choice
"Yes sir we will do what we can."
"Excellent Captain, get back to your squad and wait for the first wave of attack to begin, then you may join in if you wish."
"Yes sir, this is Starbuck out"
Jack then turned to Des "Look through your thermal scope and try to spot that rock formation, when you do put your laser on it."
"Roger." after a minute "Got it." Jack looked over to see Deses beam go toward the south.
"Alright command, were sending you the location of the entrance, that is where you want to send your guys."
"Got it Captain thanks"
He tapped Des "Okay lets get back to the group and give them the 'good news'"
Both crawled back 50 meters then got back up and moved back to the group.
Jack ran up to the Sith "Alright my Lord, everything checks out, you can have your fun after the first wave attacks."

[Xeones]

Tired of waiting, Xeones picked up his helmet and followed Starbuck and another soldier. "How could he possibly not see me?" When Starbuck approached the sith, Xeones stood in the backround, he gave a small cough. The blood was still thick on his head, he looked the part.

[Maximus]

Maximus crouched low in the bush, careful not to make any sudden movements. He gripped his spear tightly in his hand, holding it at the ready, waiting to strike. The bantha grazed lazily and unaware of the danger lurking nearby....
A loud explosion sounded all through the forest. The bantha looked up and sprinted off deeper into the forest. Maximus didnt even think about the explosions, or the fact that his dinner had just run off. He turned around and sprinted off to find his home in the trees....

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack spun around quickly with his rifle up only to see a blood covered image of Xeones "Xeones? kriff! get him over here." Des and the other solder ran over and picked up Xeones and carried him over to the group "What the hell happened soldier?"

[Darth Jeluvitas]

(FAIL! I REVOKE FIVE POSTS FROM BOTH OF YOUR ACCOUNTS FOR NOT INFORMING THE ADMINS OF YOUR DUAL ACCOUNTS.)

[Bardok]

Titus watched Jack emerge from the trees, with Des trailing right behind him. The captain walked up to him and began talking, but Titus was not listening. His attention was focused on the soldier emerging from the trees behind them.
"Captain, who is our new guest?"

[Xeones]

"Xeones Alden, 2nd Fleet, Recon, we must be in deep kriff if they sent us you sir."