I sigh and shake my head. "Well, I guess its lucky we have two of them then. Mand'alor wants to speak to this one in her private quarters. I can escort her myself, or if you wish I can take over guard duty while you bring the her up."

"I will take her. In the meantime, see what can be done for the other. If his sister doesn't want to talk, perhaps he will." Ensuring the measures were in place, I deactivate one side of the cage and step in, securing Cosen with Force cuffs before leading her out. "Let's go."

I sit in my quarters, staring down at my chronometer. Every minute that passe brings us closer to Coruscant, the planet that will either be our glory or our death. It all fell upon my leadership skills to decide which it will be. If I find that frightening or intimidating, I would never express it. Not here among the Mandalorians, at least. Perhaps HJ would have understood, but it was too late to call him. Besides, talking to him now would only weaken me. I needed to focus on the battle, and keep my blood hot. Even hearing HJ's voice would instantly calm me, and that was not something I wanted.

I hear the door chime, and I jump to my feet, taking on the posture of a strong leader. "Enter!"

Opening the door, I push Cosen in ahead of me before stepping in and bowing my head respectfully. "You asked to speak with the prisoner, Manda'lor?"

"Yes. Thank you, Ba'buir Temari." I walk towards them, eyeing Cosen like a predator. "I never get tired of this view. Seeing you in cuffs... the Taung had a word for that: Tor. You know what that means?"



"I don't really care."



I resist the urge to sock her in the stomach. "It means you got what was coming to you! I'm here," I point to my shiny Mand'alor armor, "And you are there!" I point to her dirty robes and hand cuffs. "Justice, ge'tal troan." I am, admittedly, enjoying myself a little too much. This wasn't how a Mand'alor acted, but I didn't really care. After everything between us, I figure I've earned this."



I sneer. "Is there something you wanted, or am I just hear to listen to you gloat?"



I do not resist the urge this time. I bury my armored fist into her abdomen, and Cosen crumbles to her knees. "Actually, I did bring you here for a reason. I have some questions for you." I kneel down in front of her. "Firstly, when was the last time you were in contact with the Revolution?"



I cough a few times into the deck. That punch knocked the wind out of me. "Wh... what? What does that have to do...?"



"Answer me!"



"You're wasting your time! The Revolution doesn't even exist anymore! Not truly. It's just a bunch of mercenaries now. My father hired them as enforcers... and then Sucal offered them more and they jumped sides."



"So, they weren't always a bunch of mercs? Tell me to truth!"



"N...no! The Revolution existed long before my father came along. They started off as a collection of disgruntled workers, impoverish citizens from the lower levels. People the Senate and the Chancellor ignored. They weren't militant or anything, just a bunch of protesters. It was my father who armed them. He wanted to use the Republic's own citizens against them."



"So he brought in the mercenaries to teach them to fight. Had the commoners steal weapons and supplies from Republic warehouses and supply shipments." I glance up at Temari. "And from Mandalorian camps."

Deleted

That was bold on your father's part, sending those chakaar after our supplies." I come around to face Cosen, kneeling down. "We run thin on patience chakaaryc. Talk faster."

"Yeah, so you already know everything about them! So what are you asking me for? The Revolution is gone."



"The mercenary army your father foolishly trusted is gone, and the fallen Jedi that also made up it's ranks are either dead or unwittingly serving Sucal. But the people, the disgruntled workers, impoverish citizens from the lower levels, the people who were ignored, they still exist, and I bet they are just as mad as they've ever been."



"So what if they do? They aren't a threat to you!"



"Oh, I know. Especially without a leader... and that is where you come in." I mean in close. "In case you haven't guest it, we're headed to Coruscant. We are going to invade the planet and take Galactic City for ourselves. But a siege could take weeks, maybe even months, and Coruscant has more than enough provisions to last. If I want to take the planet, I need the cooperation of the people, and I think the Revolution would do just the trick."



My eyes widen. "You... you want me to rally the Revolution to your side!? That's insane! Not only will your army be crushed by the Republic, but the common people who originally formed the Revolution have likely either been imprisoned, killed, or run off into hiding. Even if I could rally them, there is no way they would follow an invader like you!"

My foot catches Cosen in the side of her head and I growl. "INVADER?! The Taung, the race that built the Mando'ade into who they are, owned that world long before the Nations of Zhell grew bold enough to attack them. We are not invaders, but liberators, if anything." I step back. "What about the boy that was reported to be Hayden Twilight's chosen? This Gendry. Where did he come from?"

I cough some more. "We...we found him! We found him!" I clutch my side. "The Empire was conducting some experiment on Obroa-skai. Gathering up the orphaned children there for gods know what. Gendry was one of them."



"And your father liberated the place?"



I narrow my eyes. "My father destroyed the placed. There were no children left to save by the time he arrived. The things that remained in their place did not live long. My mother was the one who found Gendry." I look sad as I think about the memory. "He was the only one left, locked away in a cell all by himself. Gavin and I were only about 8 or 9 years old at the time, and Gendry was even younger. He was so alone and afraid... mom insisted on taking him home." I look up, my exression hardening once again. "He wasn't the monster he is today! I don't know what happened! He was more level headed than me or Gavin. Mischievous, but... not sadistic. Then, last year when all of this started, he changed."



"Spare me the sob story. I care little for who Gendry was. He's a feral creature now, and we'll put him down the first chance we get. Consider that Tor gra'tua for your father." I turn and walk back towards a metal cabinet and start searching inside.



I sit up, defiance in my face. "You think its that easy? Just like you think taking Coruscant will be easy?" I spit blood onto the floor. "I wish you luck. Truly, I do. You'll need it."



I turn around, catching Temari's eye and silently ordering her not to strike Cosen again. I had this handled. To Cosen, I ask, "Have you ever heard the concept of a Mandalorian Battle Slave? In wars past, Mando'ade would take captives from all worlds they conquered. Typically, the slaves were used to carry weapons and armor, spare ammo packs, rations... basically anything that needed carrying. Other slaves were used as sport; forced to fight each other, or sent out into the woods to be hunted." I find what I was looking for in the cabinet. "But a Battle Slave was a very special type. In certain circumstances, when it was deemed a situation was too dangerous to risk an Mando'ade life on, they would arm their slave with weapons and send them instead." I walk over to Cosen and show her what I'm holding; a slave collar. "So, here is what I'm going to do. I'm going to strap this onto you, and maybe onto your brother if he ever regains his strength, and I'm going to send the both of you in as part of the vanguard."



I straighten. "You can't be serious."



"Ori'haat. Deathly serious." I unclasp the collar and hold it close to Cosen's face. "You know, I've heard your mother is quite familiar with these. Good thing you inherited her slender neck." I clip the collar around her neck. "Now, there is the plan. When we reach Coruscant, Temari here is going to take you down to the surface. You are going to find your Revolution buddies, and you are going to rally them against their Republic oppressors. Start riots in the streets, break window, tip over speeders. Sow chaos for me, and make the people understand that Mandalore the Risen has come to liberate them at last." I tap her on the nose, and say in a mockingly sweet voice. "Do that, and I'll consider being nicer. Do exactly as I say, and you won't have to sleep in a cell. You can even see your brother again if you really do a good job." I drop the sweetness and say the next words as a threatening growl. "But, if you even think about defying me... Temari is going to press the red button. And let me assure you, once its pressed, there will be no second chances. She presses the button... and I'll have to settle for your brother."



I give her a horrified look. "What does HJ even see in you?"



"He sees a woman who can get stuff done." I stand up and look to Temari. "I'm done with her. Take her back to her cell until we reach Coruscant." I hand her a remote control for the collar, the voltage cranked to maximum. A lethal shock is only a press away. "I trust your judgement."

Taking the controller, I nod as I pick the Twi'lek up off the ground. "Will we be returning her lightsaber to her on the ground as well? Or standard Battle Slave armament?"

I tap my chin thoughtfully. "Standard armament first, but keep the lightsaber with you. If you feel she has earned the right to carry her Jetii'kad again, return it to her."

I salute with my free hand. "It will be as you wish, Manda'lor. How long til we arrive in the Corusanti system?"

"Us along with Dxun group will arrive within the hour. The clans scattered to the far corners of the galaxy will take longer to arrive, but I am confident we can hold out until then." I think a moment. "I've also made special arrangement to have the Greshh brother sent to Coruscant's paradise moon. Kamari Ordo will take him there. Hopefully, he can be healed there and put to proper use."

"One of the medics tending him suggested his ailment could be caused by some strange use of the Force. If any allies on that moon can use it, perhaps contact them to check him. I will prepare his sister in the mean time. Akaanir'ijaat, Manda'lor." And with that, we were on our way out of her personal quarters. "You would do well to mentally prepare yourself, because it's going to be fantastic battle soon enough."

For the first time, I decide to keep my mouth shut. This was not going well. I offered to help, but not like this! The Mandalorians has gone completely insane, or at least Ava had. Coruscant was too heavily defended to be invaded. If she attacked head on, she’d be smashed to pieces. And I would be crushed in the middle.

END OF SCENE

Becca Twilight

I sit in Synclair’s room, cradling Rosalie while her mother sleeps. It certainly was a sight to see; Synclair rocketing through the tunnel towards the compound, a squad of speeder mounted troopers on her tail. Jakito was luckily able to time his button pressing right so that the tunnel flooded just as Syn escaped, trapping the troopers in a watery grave.

I worried for Theron though. He still haven’t returned from the mainland, and the possibility of him being captured or dead was growing more and more real my the minute. Jakito wanted to go and look for him, but we agreed it was too risky. We just had to hope he escaped.

We needed to get off Dantooine, and soon. The Republic occupation was getting worse and worse. It would only be a matter of time before they did to us what Darth Malak did to Taris all those years ago. But, unless we could find a way to break through the blockade, we weren’t going anywhere.

I paced the bridge of the Harrower-Class dreadnaught that I had claimed as my flagship for this mission, christened the Seething Shadow. The crew had been painstakingly chosen after Lord Fraxus's rallying speech back on Nar Shaddaa. Gathering everyone in the Onderron System had been simple once they had been rallied and then there was simply the matter of arming, armoring and assigning everyone to ships and roles. Outside the bridge, a trio of blood red armor clad Sith Troopers walked by while patrolling.

The sight brought a smile to my face as I stopped my pacing to look out the viewport at the blue streaks of hyperspace. New armor, for a new Empire, at least that's what I needed them to believe until I had found Malori and her laboratory. However, as I begin to imagine the future that would open up with her work in my hands, an Ensign speaks up from one of the crew pits. "My lord, we're exiting hyperspace in the Dantooine system now." Nodding, I look up as the six dreadnaughts with their escort ships dropped into real space, the Republic blockade woefully unaware of what was about to happen. "Open fire, focus on the Valor-Class ships primarily, but I want the fighters and bombers dealing with the Thranta-Class at the same time and at least one gun deck from all ships assisting in handling the Thranta-Class."

"Yes my lords" echoed across the bridge and shortly after, emerald green lasers lanced towards the Republic fleet as a swarm of fighters headed towards them as well, bombers hidden amidst them to increase their chances of success.

Down on the planet, in the back room of a shop the Republic 'commandeered', Colonel Jaxon, leader of the Republic ground forces, punches Theron Shan across the face. The former SIS agent is tied to a chair, and badly bruised. Jaxon leans close and says, "I'll ask you again, traitor... Where is the Sith Hunter compound?!"



Spits blood off to the side. "Go... suck.... an exhaust port."



"Wrong!" Punches Theron again. "You know... this is getting very tiresome."



"I'm willing to stop... if you're too tired." Smiles with red teeth.



Grabs Theron by the jaw. "Oh, this is just a warm up. Keep smiling like that, and I'll pull every tooth out of your pretty head."



"Awwww! You think I'm pretty?" Bats eyelashes.



"Not for much longer." He cocks his arm back to deliver another hook, but then his headset beeps with an incoming call. A moment later, a panicked voice screams into his ear that a fleet of Imperial warships has just entered the system. "What? How can that be?!"



I feel a buzz on my left eyebrow, indicating I'm getting a transmission too. "Mind if I take this real quick?" I squint my eye and activate the holo projector for the Colonel to see. It shows a life size image of a tall Chiss, dressed in an old Imperial Intelligence uniform.



"Attention Colonel Jaxon, this is Cipher Nine of New Imperial Intelligence. Our ships are currently laying waste to your Commander and his blockade. Within moments, you will be the ranking officer on this mission. I kindly request that you release Strategic Information Service Agent Theron Shan, and command all your ground forces to lay down their arms immediately. If you refuse, we will be forced to end the lives of yourself and your men."



Eyes widen. "Wh...what!? You can't just..." Runs to a nearby shuttered window. He throws it open and looks up, awestruck at the space battle overhead. From below, it looks like little more than flashing lights. But up in space, the Republic blockade is crumbling under the surprise attack.

Meanwhile, while Darth Imperious lead the battle in space, sending their ships to deliver crippling blows to the ships in front of them, the Wookie, Arri'ahab, now known as Lord Fraxus, was aboard one of dozens of assault shuttles heading for the ground. Cipher Nine should have made contact with the ground forces commander by now, but the Sith Lord wasn't counting on the Republic's troops being ready to surrender peacefully. All around him, red robed Sith and red armored Sith Troopers stood ready to flow out and into battle and as soon as the ramp lowered, that's what they did, crimson and viridian sabers springing to life to block the blaster bolts of the republic troopers who'd set up defenses.



My bronze lightsaber had lead the charge as I used the Force to augment my strength as I bashed through a defensive barrier, sending the men behind it flying. Clearly the Republic hadn't been anticipating an attack of this magnitude as even their ground forces were unprepared for battle.



I grinned as the Republic's blockade crumbled before us and I turned to where Cipher Nine was attempting to get the ground forces to surrender, though I was sure my apprentice and the forces under his command had already landed. "Cipher, tell him that if he surrenders now and vacates the system with what men he'll have left, I won't destroy the entirety of the fleet before us and I'll even call off my apprentice before it's too late."