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?!"

[center][h2] Theron Shan [/h2][/center]

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

[center][h2] Jaxon [/h2][/center]

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

[center][h2] Theron Shan [/h2][/center]

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

[center][h2] Jaxon [/h2][/center]

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."

[center][h2] Theron Shan [/h2][/center]

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

[center][h2] Jaxon [/h2][/center]

"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?!"

[center][h2] Theron Shan [/h2][/center]

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.

[center][h2] Millu'ka'salga [/h2][/center]

"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."

[center][h2] Jaxon [/h2][/center]

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.