[center][h1][color=a0410d][u][b]TARAK[/b][/u][/color][/h1][/center] The unusual Sith vessel had made it out of the destroyed hangar of the [i]Resolute[/i], but where was it to go? One might think that the Zabrak in the pilot's chair would once again descend towards Coruscant, and he [i]might[/i], but that was not his immediate goal. He was not done with them yet. To ensure that the ship and crew itself would pay for their insolence, his fighter turned immediately back towards the ship. On the bridge, they had received the order to track the Sith's movements, and that was when the man on scanners reported the small ship turning to attack. The Commander on deck turned to face him with a look of confusion and irritation. [b]"What?" "He's making an attack run, sir!" "Increase deflectors and shoot him down!"[/b] These orders were carried out as the smaller ship fired its guns. What was he trying to prove? A single fighter might harrass a ship of this size, but he would have fighters on him in a matter of seconds if the ISD's batteries didn't swat him first. "Enemy ship headed for command tower!" The Commander frowned. He couldn't. He wouldn't! A suicide run on the tower?! Ram his ship right through, like what happened to the [i]Executor?![/i] No, it was impossible! [i]They[/i] had lost power, and though the [i]Resolute[/i] had taken damage in the hangar area, the power systems here were fine! So then, what? He repeated [b]"Shoot him DOWN!"[/b] as the Sith vessel came closer. He recalled now the report from the hangar, calling in that the pilot was a dangerous Force-user. Was he doing it now to avoid the shots? They couldn't hit him! The gunners were either not fast enough or HE was just too maneuverable. [b]"Where are our fighters?!" "TOO LATE!"[/b] The ship was right at the command tower, mere seconds from- He broke off, suddenly! For one second, the Commander felt relief that the man had been bluffing to throw them off for his escape, but that was when he heard a sound that shouldn't have been possible: The forward windows of the command tower exploding out into space... To be clear, it wasn't made of glass. You couldn't shatter it. It was more like it'd been blown from its moorings in the wall. The Commander got as far as shouting [b]"MAG-"[/b] before he and a bunch of staff from the pits were pulled out into hard vacuum! He'd been calling for an emergency magnetic shell to be put in place, something in which one of the further-away tactical officers did manage, after at least half the staff were dragged into the blackness of space by the sudden decompression. [i]That[/i] was what Darth Tarak intended. He had mad a faux attack run on the bridge and never attempted to breach the shields...with his ship. He simply reached past it, to the windows of the command tower and [i]pulled[/i]. Air pressure helped him, but it was his strength that managed it, for the most part. [i]Now[/i], with the [i]Resolute[/i] in chaos, it was time to leave, and he did so via the back of the ship, setting his Sith fighter to leap to hyperspace once he feigned an inability to get his engaged - as though it had been damaged in the hangar battle - and and shoot the pursuit before [i]really[/i] leaving. He would have to put down for repairs somewhere. This ship was hardly invincible. He'd deflected most of the shots in the hangar, but his ship was not without damage. [color=a0410d][i]Now...where to go? Ahh... I have an idea.[/i][/color] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [center][h1][color=ed1c24][u][b][i]Diabolus[/i][/b][/u][/color][/h1][/center] You would not think that a man of his abilities and particular temperments could seem so normal and without apparent feeling from the Force, but...mistakes of that nature had been made before. He was very good at concealing himself. Many long hours or days or [i]years[/i] mastering the expression - or lack thereof - the power, of the Force, were paying off right now, as they did on many numerous occasions. The man called Zaras organized and kept track and did people little favors and ensured the safety of people on Chandrila to the best of his mortal abilities with one hand, and with the other...he quietly sequestered certain resources and files and even people or animals away, covered the trail, and sent these things out innocently to be collected by either his subbordinates or hired fools who would deposit these things in a place of safety...or if they made it to the [i]Dread Adversary[/i], they would likely never leave with their lives or their [i]minds[/i]. Things were going well, at the moment. Simula had reported success on his ventures, though to be fair, they were not difficult acquisitions. Questions raised, but questions never truly answered. Now, he was in a park and enjoying his lunch, when...his holo-comm went off. The man looked around. Just a single person walking around, right now? Diabolus reached out and sent such shuddering terror through him that he convulsed and hit the ground where he stood. With that, he smiled slightly and answered the call, showing the face of one of his Apprentices. Feeling in a good mood, just this moment, he said [color=ed1c24]"Ah, Mr. Tarak... How do things proceed on your end, hmmm? Did you make it to Coruscant?"[/color]. The retrograde Zabrak seemed to growl in irritation. That did not bode well. [i][color=a0410d]-Not as such, no. I was neither able to stealth my way through, nor bluff through their checkpoint as an ordinary.-[/color][/i] He put on a more thoughtful expression now, going [color=ed1c24]"Mmm, I see. And did many suffer?"[/color]. Ah, yes... [i]That[/i] put a smile on the man's face. [i][color=a0410d]-Indeed, they did. While I did not [i]destroy[/i] the Imperial vessel, the damage and death toll will put that Star Destroyer down for a time.-[/color][/i] [color=ed1c24]"Good, good. Let them know the price of their arrogance."[/color] [i][color=a0410d]-And I have some information of use.-[/color][/i] [color=ed1c24]"Go on..."[/color] [color=a0410d][i]-An Imperial fleet appeared at Coruscant while I was fighting. Either they mean to conquer or they mean to join forces.-[/i][/color] [color=ed1c24]"We will assume, for the moment, that they will attempt to consolidate forces to create 'a solid Imperial wall for our troops to rally behind', with 'Long live the Empire!' and all that."[/color] He chuckled, slightly, at the thought. [color=ed1c24]"I will aid the Republic in [i]breaking[/i] them. In the meantime, you must continue the work. Have you had a chance to speak to Simula at all?"[/color] [i][color=a0410d]-I have been busy. If he wishes to find me, I will be on Corellia for repairs. I notice we have not yet found the means of delivery that we need. I was thinking there.-[/color][/i] [color=ed1c24]"A good thought. I will relay these facts."[/color] And from there, he released the man from his mental grip, followed by erasing his most recent memories, so he would have abolustely no idea where and how these sudden feelings of anxiety that he had [i]now[/i] came from. He would simply have them, without answer or understanding, forever.