[b] In the life of two Sith and their minions....[/b]

Gra'tua returned to the bridge, lost in thought, he had just ordered Talinna and Tihk to grab a hyperspace capable craft and head for the Tapani Sector to protect Azazel. As he got into his seat he did not notice Kashiir waiting for him with a raised eyebrow. When he heard him cough however he looked up and saw the questioning look on his face, letting out a snort he answered the unasked question. "Azazel... is expecting twins."

Kashiir blinked and did a double take... and then let out a groan. "Please tell me they are not going to be as much trouble as your other offspring, she was quite... vexing at times in her youth."

Gra'tua just sat back in his command throne. "We'll see, there are other matters that we need to accomplish however... contact Lena." At a gesture one of the communications officers established a link and once she accepted he nodded to her holographic representation. "We are nearly there, what is our approach? Considering the fact that you told me the CIS might be present."

Lena was going over the little data she had of Teth when Gra'tua called, "Patch him through Verat." She asked of her Givin commander and then listened to Gra'tua. "Hello to you as well, as for our approach. While I do not rule out combat, I would prefer if a... diplomatic solution can be arranged with whatever CIS presence is there in the system. So I suggest we do not show any aggressive behavior unless provoked."

He let out a sound of disdain but nodded, "Very well, I doubt the CIS will be cooperative however, if they truly believe some of the ancient Mando'Ade hid a superweapon here then I doubt they will go quietly, but we will try your way first." He then turned to Kashiir, "Get the secondary bridge prepared, just in case." The Chiss nodded and went ahead to do just that. "Once we reach Teth it's your show Lena, but I will be ready to start... aggressive negotiations when called upon."

Lena stared evenly at Gra'tua. "That's all I can ask for I suppose. Well then I suppose all we can do now is prepare and see what happens when we reach the system."

It didn't take much longer to reach the Teth System and for the vessels to drop out of hyperspace a safe distance away. Nothing was immediately revealed on sensors, but at the extreme ranges a number of sensor shadows could be estimated to be approaching the planet.

Gra'tua leaned back, he and his command crew had relocated to the secondary bridge. "Slow and steady as she goes Kashiir, we follow Lena's lead for the moment..."

"Well here we are, approach the planet, make sure weapons are powered down, we want to try diplomacy first after all." Lena said to herself as she kept a eye on the sensors.

The approach to the planet was not the fastest, but finally the advanced sensors of the two flagships finally began to pick out the shapes of a pair of Lucrehulks and a Recusant Light cruiser as well as one of the two moons of Teth.

Now that some of the shadows had been identified Lena nodded to Verat who told the communications officer to open a line towards the CIS presence, once it was established on sending she started to speak. "Greetings, this is Lena, owner of a private business conglomerate, requesting communication."

A droid's voice came back over the channel. "This is Lucrehulk Battleship Task Group 7043. You are entering restricted space by order of the CIS Senate. Turn back immediately. Security Provisions 559.186 Subsection 11 have been issued and this is declared an Active Zone of CIS National Security. Private craft are not welcome. Do not approach." The transmission cut off immediately following and sensors revealed both Lucrehulks launching a half dozen squadrons of Vultures each.

She gestured for Verat to hold their position and then resumed talking. "I disagree, I am here representing the interest of Mandalorian Clan Gra'tua, who have reason to believe you are here to disturb heirlooms that are part of his Mandalorian heritage and culture."

The voice came back, still completely droid in monotone. "Mandalorian Claims are not Recognized by the Conferacy of Independent Systems. Turn back immediately." Sensors revealed more craft launching.

She frowned, "I repeat again, my name is Lena and I have a friend in the offices of Chancellor Bonteri herself, we are not showing any aggressive behavior and wish to come to a peaceful resolution. We will defend ourselves however, if aggression is shown."

"Who you are friends with has no bearing on CIS Security Directives. Turn back now." More bombers were launched by the Lucrehulks and now the Recusant that could be seen was beginning to break orbit.

"We are not here to fight, we only came here because the Mandalorian clan I represent wishes to restore the mandalorian heritage back to its people, I would imagine a Mandalorian view of things would be helpful but perhaps not." She turned to Verat, "Turn the ship around we are leaving."

As the Shadows Regret begins its turn the alarm klaxons on the bridge go off as a large number of vessels suddenly drop out of Hyperspace on course for the planet in a wall formation.

Gra'tua looked at the sensors. "Well... this has turned to poodoo. Launch fighters." Gra'tua growled as Kashiir started shouting orders and the ship become combat ready. "Lena, if you can hear me, I think we are about to get in the middle of a space battle, I follow your lead but know this, I won't let my ship be shot at without repercussion."

She looked at the sensors and silently cursed. "We are getting out of the way, Verat launch fighters just in case and hail those republic vessels." She waited for a moment and when told to spoke up again. "Republic vessels this is the private vessel Regret accompanying Mandolorian Vessel Kandosii Naast, we are neutral and are getting out of the way."

The response came over short and curt. "Understood, and wise decision Regret." 

The response from the CIS was ... less ... polite. The Droid craft already flying redirected towards the Regret and Naast with orders to 'detain' the ships for questioning, the suspicious nature of the Droid Commander coupled with the Regret's republic shape and apparent willingness of the Republic Commander to consider them neutral caused it to correlate the data and assume the Regret had actually been some forward scout.

One of the Lucrehulks and all of the Recusants began heading for the Republic fleet. The other however took position over an area on the southern Hemisphere and began deploying its Landing craft.

She bit her lip and cursed again. "Steady as she goes, giving you input coordinates of a course." Once she gave them she saw Verat looking at her oddly but she had a look that booked no argument. With a sigh and silent muttering he gave the orders and the Regret started to move once more.
"What in the blazes is she thinking... just follow her, we'll see where this leads us."

The CIS Ships continued to make their run for the Republic Fleet as the Lucrehulk began spitting out squadrons intended for the Republic as the already launched craft continued on their attempt to stop the interlopers.

Lena looked warily at the approaching droid squadrons. "Pull the bombers back and send the interceptors to the fore... prepare anti-fighter weaponry. But only fire when fired upon or when sensors detect they are actively targetting us, we are not starting this. Make sure all data is recorded."

He about all but scoffed but relented, fine let the CIS make their move first, if they wanted a battle he would make sure to finish it by turning those droids into molten metal.

The CIS continues advancing when suddenly the Naast and Regret both being blaring with missile-lock alarms from the incoming squadrons. Meanwhile the Republic Fleet continues to advance up for a confrontation as the Lucrehulk continues to pour fighters into the fray.

She then looked at the sensors, rubbing her temples. "Open fire with spinal laser and concussion missile launcher at the enemy cruiser as well."

Gra'tua couldn't resist a chuckle, "Well here we go, Kashiir, the ship is yours." Gra'tua said, leaning back in the command throne.

Kashiir nodded, "Interceptors engage enemy fighters directly ahead, any anti-fighter weaponry open fire on targets, bombers and enemy missiles are priority targets. Open fire with spinal weaponry and proton torpedoes at enemy Recussant."

The laser fire from the Naast at the Vultures was less than impressive missing wildly before the battery overheated. And indeed, from both the strangers to their attacks fell short of their intended goals, the narrow form of the Recusant proving difficult to hit with their Spinal weapons at this range, only one squadron of Furies had any luck at all, and it managed to decimate one and a half squadrons worth of the Vultures as they concentrated on their attack run.

The Vultures turned their attention on the Interceptors as the Hyena's launched all their Concussion Missiles at the two interlopers as they moved to try and get behind and get a solution on the engines while the Recusant, having being attacked, returned the favour, its attention taken from the Republic ships for now.

The Vultures fire did little if anything of note other than maybe keeping enemy squadrons busy, as for the Hyena's they were more mixed. Two of the Squadrons struck the Naast with their missile salvos, but with its Hyper-Shield it barely even registered the hit. But one of the Hyena's missiles actually jammed.

The Recusants fire missing the Kandosii Naast.

"Starfighters attack enemy squadrons, move us closer and fire mass drivers and heavy weaponry." Lena ordered as she the battle progress.

Kashiir looked at the sitation with a calm demeanor, "Move us forward and open fire with all batteries at the Recussant, anti-fighter measures target isolated droid squadrons, have our bombers and Kad Fighters prepare bombing attack runs."

Suddenly there was a flash on both Capital Ships sensors. Observant men and women watching the Optical sensors would witness a massive ion pulse further away, the Republic testing some new anti-droid bomb?

The Regret's laser and flak weapons obliterated the Vulture Droid squadron leaving the second group of Fury squadrons expending energy at rapidly dissipating clouds of gas. One cheeky gunner firing a message to the squadron. "The Early Bird gets the worm." The third fury squadron managed to all but totally obliterate the Hyena's it was up against, though the Dark Wolfs had less success only killing two of them.

The Spinal laser of the Regret hammers into the shields of the Recusant, through them and directly into the weapon-well containing the Recusants own equivalent weapon trashing it as the Mass Drivers pounded against the armour allowing the Concussion Missile to bury itself deep in a starboard section blowing it out into space disabling another battery of the ships guns.

The Interceptors fail to get any real hits on target as their pilots fight to avoid being locked onto themselves but the much more numerous Droid Fighters, The Recusant didn't fare nearly as well with the Naast's Spinal Guns burrowing deep into the superstructure practically crippling the forward facing armament of the craft, though fortunately the rest of the Naast's armaments fell short of their aim.

The Recusant began to burn its engines hard as it aimed its prow for the Kandosii Naast, the damage turning out to be fairly close to terminal, the Droid Commander of the fleet seeing only one easy solution.

The Droid fighters and bombers however, had been redirected to the much more present danger of the Republics new Proton-Ion bomb.

 Kashiir, orders the helm to begin evasive maneuvers, however the officer on duty interprets it beyond badly as "play chicken" with the Recusant and aims the Kandosii Naast's prow straight at the oncoming suicide ship with expectedly disastrous results.

The Recusant ploughs into the Naast the Hypershield and shields of the Capital Ship failing like a burst soap bubble the feedback actually destroying two of the smaller generators before it ploughed into the ship. In the first few seconds it looked like the armour would hold before the Spinal Superheavies failed, while not destroy their barrels were rent apart like so much tissue paper and the forward fifty metres of the Naast was crushed into the bulkheads behind it and the Recusant blew apart destroying every forward-facing sensor the Naast had brought to bear and compromising the hull integrity of the ship, it would not be capable of atmospheric re-entry before the damage was suitably shored up.

One poor Kad fighter that had been flying Cap, it turned out, found himself between the two giants at the wrong time. "Well shit..." was the last thing his flight recorder would play if recovered.

On the Republic Flagship one Captain turned to his second in Command. "Lieutenant, can you explain to me why that ship just tried to play chicken with a droid?"

"No sir. No I can't." The man replied.

Kashiir turned to the helmsman. "What was that about?" He asked tight-lipped.

Before the helmsman could answer a lightsaber was ignited and stabbed through his head before the now lifeless corspe was hurled to the side with a force push. "You are relieved." Gra'tua all but growled.

The Droid Squadrons unknowing all this unleashed their Proton Torpedoes on the nearest Venator the successive explosions blowing it to pieces.

Lena looked aghast at what she was seeing, "Someone write this down, I owe Gra'tua a great deal of credits... relay our sensor data to his bridge assuming our readings are correct that his sensors are completely gone on the front, don't want him flying blind, head in front of his ship. Ordr the Fury squadrons to engage enemy droid squadrons battling the Republic forces, right now the elimination of the CIS here must be achieved." She sighed again.

Gra'tua didn't say a further word after the execution of his previosu helmsman, simply staring ahead while Kashiir was giving the orders. "Power down all weapons, I want as much power to be diverted into restoring shield strenght! Now!" He shouted across the bridge, he let out a shiver... if Gra'tua had not insisted on them relocating to the secondary bridge.... he shook his head to clear it. "What are you all waiting for! Recharge the shields, now!"

The Interceptors engaged the Hyena's as ordered though two of the groups failed to do much while the other group managed to kill all its targets removing one group of enemy squadrons from the board.

The Squadrons now moved up and were engaged with the Republic the swarms preparing to overwhelm the Republic defense. Entire Salvos of Discord Missiles slammed out towards the Republic and now the outcome didn't look quite as certain with the small Buzz Droids within swarming over the closest two Venators beyond a Victory used the improvised Mass Driver to throw another Proton-Ion Bomb into the midst of the Droid Fighters destroying another three squadrons.

She chewed the inside of her cheek, "Order bombers and starfighters to make bombing runs towards the lucrehulk, all available weaponry also fire, make it stop from launching more squadrons so aim for the hangar sections of the arms if possible."

Seeing what Lena was doing thanks to her sharing her sensor record Kashiir ordered their starfighters and bombers to do the same. While their interceptors also went to attack enemy bombers as well.

The Furies had their typical effect, the first group obliterating its target with the other two faffling around, though group 3 almost got itself destroyed by flying near into the fire of a Vulture group. The Starfighters however didn't perform very well despite both Bomber groups pummeling the Lucrehulk with their guided munitions the shots smashing into the outer hull after punching a weakness into the shield on that side allowing the heavier concussion missile through to cripple the starboard launch bay.

The Interceptors carve a hole through the enemy Hyenas like a hot knive through butter actually obliterating two groups as they lead the charge on the hangars or expressed a desire to. But the Kad fighters made the most difference. Their torpedoes ripped into the guts of the Lucrehulk with incredible efficiency and secondary explosions began to ripple through the vessel as the core ship detached from its ring hoping to contain the destruction, a measure that saved the Core-ship, but that was all that could be said in their favour.

The CIS and Republic fleets meanwhile continued to pound one another, though the newly orphaned Core Ship began a long run to try and reach a safe distance to hyperspace out.

Lena clacked her tongue, "Very well, have our bombers and starfighters head for the lucrehulk in orbit of the planet, inform the Furies to resume their target practice but concentrate on the enemy bombers, I don't want them getting outnumbered and encircled by the enemy squadrons."

Kashiir looked at his master who just nods, "Interceptors resume attacking enemy fighters, Bombers and Starfighters, prepare attack runs on enemy recussant."

The first furies group does what it does best by now, the main Squadron Commander Emile Hastaven guiding her unit flawlessly in its destruction of another group of Hyena bombers before that Gra'tua's grubby animals could threaten her kill-streak. The other furies however seemed determined to just get in one another road and failed to achieve much at all.

The Kad Fighters and Bombers attempted to engage the trailing recusant with torpedo fire and while the Kad Fighters salvo was accurate, the Recusants laser defenses scythed apart more than three quarters of the salvo before the remained ploughed into its shields threatening to overwhelm them, but the bomber group failed to capitalist on their attack leaving it intact.

Massive bursts of proton-ion bombs light up space annihilating more of the droid ships as the Victories fired about them, still nobody had launched any fighters, but the Bombers that were out of range engaged the Victory class Star Destroyers.

Their fire was devastating and one of the Victory's flanks burned from repeated torpedo strikes, though the other blasted its aftmost attacker with punitive effort. Meanwhile the Recusants blasted apart another Venator though one lost its own life as a Venator pounded the one weakened by Gra'tua's fighters to scrap.

At the planet, the Lucrehulk seeing which way the battle was going began to break orbit and flee.

She frowned at the Lucrehulk escaping, "Target the hyperdrive of that vessel." She commanded quickly in the channel opened with the bombers and starfighters."

The crippled Kandosii Naast continued merrily on it's way while the starfighters did their thing.

The Hyena's had exhausted their missile loadout on the Republic ships now and turned viciously on the Furies that had been harrying them but neither they, nor the furies, could manage to get on target this time both groups pecking away at one another fruitlessly. The Recusant firing at the incoming salvo of fire with slaving... ineffectiveness, little of the incoming salvo could be stopped before they slammed into the Light Cruiser crippling one of its engines and most of its port-side battery.

The weight of fire on the heavily damaged Victory finally proved too much with the Vultures and Hyenas strafing the damaged sections over and over the ship finally blasting apart damaging its neighbour, but the death eliminated well over half the attackers. The furies attacking the Bombers noticed at the last moment the way the Victory seemed to shake and hitting max thust to get out of the blast.

Both of the surviving Republic ships opened up with everything they had on the Recusant and pounded it to nothing more than scrap now outside of the vessels main weapons ability to fire back and its port-side armaments already crippled by the Kad Fighters torpedo salvo. With a burst of light it died.

But now...

Now the Droid Starfighters adopted collision courses.

The Dark Wolf squadrons broke off and went for a torpedo run on the fleeing center of the first lucrehulk before they would regroup with the bombers.

The Mandalorian starfighters turned and went to see if they could shoot down some kamikaze droid fighters while the bombers went for the fleeing lucrehulk center.

Once more Emile lead her squadron into the breach and combined with Fury Group 3 the last of the Hyena Bombers were cleaned up with almost a clinical perfection thanks to her beyond masterful flying and energising effect on her squadmates. Meanwhile the Dark Wolf Squadrons blasted apart the escaping Core ship before it could make good its getaway.

The Attempted ramming by the Hyenas fell short as they were cut apart by lasers or impacted harmlessly on the shields, but it wasn't over yet with two squadrons still on a collision course as the last Lucrehulk uses the moon to slingshot around for a higher velocity, it was only a few short minutes from escape.

The Dark Wolf squadrons went to catch up but the squadron leadrs of the Hornets decided to overclock their engines and speed up to catch their errant prey.

The fury squadrons meanwhile were getting barked on by squadron leader Emile to destroy the last remaining droid fighters before they became a threat.

Meanwhile the chatter of the Mandalorian squadrons was filled with exclamations how the hell some non-mandos were stealing all the kills and glory.

The Mandalorians it seemed were intent on proving that they were just as capable with the Interceptors and one Kad fighter group mopping up the last of the suicidal Droid Fighters. A message went out from the surviving Victory Class Star Destroyer. "Many thanks chaps. We thought that they might have made us spill our fresh pot of tea."

Meanwhile the Lucrehulk continued its high velocity escape vector.

Lena watched sensor readings. "Recall the interceptors." She murmured quietly and then focused on the bombers, willing them to succeed.

Gra'tua finally spoke up after minutes of silence. "Recall the squadrons, they did their duty... How are my shields... what is left of them Kashiir."

"Sufficient my lord." The Chiss replied after conferring with the shield operators.

"Good, bring power back to weapons and continue on as you were."

The Missiles screamed out, on group failing to achieve any lock of meaning and the other managing to achieve their lockon well enough. But the vast number of laser batteries on the Lucrehulk lit up the void with enough fire to swat every single missile from the void as it continued on its escape vector.

And with a flash of incandescent light, it engaged its Hyperdrive.

*Some time later...*

The Battle was over and the remaining Republic Forces were while relatively undamaged, they had not emerged unscathed, four Venators obliterated and one of the precious Victory class. 

"Those CIS Chaps didn't seem keen to let you be neutral in that fight Regret." The Republic Commander transmitted. "Care to explain?"

Lena sighed and closed her eyes, calming down for a moment first, before she replied. "It probably doesn't help that I... have one of the first Victory prototypes thanks to some contacts I happen to have with Kuat stardrives, they must have assumed, in combination with your arrival that we were some kind of advance republic scout. I merely defended myself... and my Mandalorian companion... though I think eh rather enjoyed the fight, before the CIS vessel rammed him. Does that explanation satisfy you, commander?"

Kashiir had a moment of thought and instead of recalling the fighters, looking apologetic towards his lord, ordered the fighters to make sensor runs of the debris of the Lucrehulk ring and Recussant wrecks, for any salvageable systems, weapons or other scrap.

"Eminently my dear. My Second in Command James Curiosity is most happy with that response, the man lives up to his name all too often. In any case. We will continue our patrol of the system and an in-depth scan of the planet. Feel free to conduct your business, your aid was invaluable, when I find the imbecile at HQ that felt that it was a good idea to deploy an experimental squadron without their fighter and bomber complements i'll have the bastard up on charges." Without further ado the Communication ceased the Victory taking course to the wreckage of its sister-ship while the Venator continued its course to scan the planet.

Lena was relieved that this was not going to be a second battle and resumed her communications with Gra'tua, "I suggest we scan the planet's surface for the supposed Mandalorian Ruins."

Gra'tua let out a snort, "Already on it, with whatever sensors I have left... I am having Kashiir trying to find the locations of the CIS forces, that escaped vessel had plenty of time to launch landing craft..."

The scans for scrap yielded nothing worthy of the name scrap, though with the sensor damage they couldn't be 100% certain as the ships moved into orbit. As they began their scans Gra'tua couldn't help but hear the occasional curse from the sensor pit as the crew struggled to do their job with a crippled sensor suite, but the Regret managed to locate four of the CIS Landing ships deployed around an old dilapidated complex.

Lena looked at the data and mad sure to share it with Gra'tua, giving him a moment to go over with before asking her question. "Well, you are more versed in these kind of situations, what do you suggest?"

"Load up whatever troops you wish to bring along... I am going to do the same, with my starfighters and bombers leading ahead, possibly destroying some ground targets before we disembark the troops on the surface, with my most accurate weapons neutralised for planetary bombardment I feel that is the best course of action." He turned to Kashiir, "Inform Andrieke to load up all her men in the transport craft." After a moment of thought he added something else, "Ready the Basilisks for launch... including Goreamas."

"You heard the Mandalorian clan leader, Verat inform the Sigil troopers to prepare, tell the noghri to do the same." Lena responded after hearing Gra'tua out. "Also, if you don't mind me saying this Gra'tua, your sensors are somewhat... damaged so that is probably why you did not suggest it, but I will also commence planetary bombardment of the CIS transports and any troop concentrations we can detect on the ground."

He let out a dry chuckle and just gestured as if to indicate the planet below. "By all means." He then turned to Kashiir, "Set maintenance and repair crews to do preliminary work."

The preliminary shots screamed down into the atmosphere blasting apart three of the CIS Transports, the last missing by very little, showering it with dirt obscuring it from an easy second shot.

Gra'tua observed the sensor telemetry forwarded by Lena's vessel and had to grudgingly admit that her people were quite competent. "Well that's settled..." He turned to Lena's holographic face and then smirked and activated a command key that would connect him to the hangar where Andrieke and her troops were boarding dropships. "Begin landing your troops..."

[i]End of part 1...[/i]