Lord Greshh

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Becca Twilight

I hear the comm beeping, and I excuse myself to talk to Zar’kun privately. “My, it’s food to hear your voice. It’s been a long few days, but things are finally looking up... well, kinda.” I look back towards the landing pad where Jakito is talking to Imperious. Looming behind them is the Deshade, whom I assume to be the famed Shadow Killer, Khem Val. And also with them is their pilot, who after a moment I recognize as Vette. What was she doing here? Back to Zar’kun, I say, “Long story short, we’ve been rescued. But... not by who we would have expected. It was a fleet of Imperial Warships, led by Darth Imperious herself.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Jakito Twilight

The sight of an imperial shuttle landing at the compound was strange, and seeing a former Dark Council Member exit was even stranger. But seeing a Deshade accompanying her was the strangest. I do my best not to show my surprise and Becca and I walk up to greet her. “Darth Imperious. We are very grateful for your assistance.”

Becca Twilight

“Yes, we feared the Republic would stop at nothing to find us here. Your intervention was timely and efficient. I must admit though that you appearing with a small navy at your back raises more questions than answers.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Millu'ka'salga

"Of course, my lord." I turn again to Fixer 13. "Prepare Darth Imperious' shuttle for immediate departure. Everyone else, await further instruction."

Becca Twilight

"Hold on. We agreed to stay our weapons, but we never agreed to open our doors to Imperials. We've made alliances with Sith before, but we've never invited a Darth into our home." I give Lukas a look. "Don't answer as Cipher Nine. Answer as the man whose been an ally to us. As Luci's brother. Can we trust Imperious?"

Millu'ka'salga

I pause on a fraction of a moment, then say, "I never fully trust anyone, but Darth Imperious has no reason to deceive you. That is more than can be said about Xanthippe Naberrie. I'm told she deceived you all multiple times, yet up until a few days ago, she was a regular guest of yours."

Becca Twilight

Sighs. "That's a good point. Fine, she is welcome to land. But, please, ask her to at least obey our house rules. Zar'kun wouldn't be happy if he found our we let a famous Sith Lord wonder around unsupervised... again."

Millu'ka'salga

"I'm sure she will be more than respectful. Have no fear."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Millu'ka'salga

"Yes, my lord." I wave my hand towards another 'officer' nearby. "Fixer 13, patch me through to the Twilight Compound, would you? I believe you have the necessary codes frequency." Fixer 13, a Rutain Twi'lek in an ill fitting uniform, begins tying in the codes to contact the compound. A moment later, I am patched in. "Hello? This is Agent Millu'ka'salga, formerly of Republic SIS contacting the Sith Hunters. Do you read me?"

Jakito Twilight

An image of myself and Becca appears. "We read you, Lukas. I take it you're responsible for breaking the blockade?"

Millu'ka'salga

"That is not entirely accurate. There is, admittedly, a lot to explain, but suffice to say we are not your enemies today."

Becca Twilight

"Who is 'we' exactly? Those are Imperial warships. Who commands them?"

Millu'ka'salga

"Her excellency, Darth Imperious, supreme ruler of the New Empire, offers an alliance. This would not be the first time you have allied yourselves with Sith. She too wishes to see Jorg Sucal defeated, and as you can see, her excellency has the means to make that a reality."

Jakito Twilight

Becca and I exchange a wary look. We've been together so long, we don't even need to speak in order to know what the other is thinking. "Very well, Lukas. We accept the alliance. We'll turn our defenses to standby mode for the time being." I key in the buttons, and the turrets stop firing.

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Millu'ka'salga

I nod, then turn back to the holo. "Her supreme eminence, Darth Imperious, generously offers you one final warning: surrender now and vacate the system with your forces in toe, and she will spare what remains of your fleet. Her apprentice, the indomitable Lord Fraxus, is on his way with a battalion of Sith warriors and Imperial soldiers. You can not stand against his wrath. Surrender, and she will order him to stand down. Refuse, and you will be responsible for every life they take." I smile to myself. I have always been good with words.

Theron Shan

I look up at Jaxon through swollen eyelids. "Best do what he says, Colonel. He did ask nicely."

Jaxon

He paces back and forth, panic rising in him. Finally, as more bombers streak overhead, and it is clear that the tide has turned, he rushes back to Theron and speaks to the hologram. "Fine! I surrender! I'll give the order to stand down!" He presses his headset to activate comms to all his troopers. "This is Colonel Jaxon. Commander Fargus is dead. As highest ranking officer in the system, I order everyone to lay down their arms. The occupation is over. Repeat, lay down your arms. We're leaving."

____________________MEANWHILE____________________

Jakito Twilight

The Compound's auto turrets are engaged, and any fighter, Republic or New Imperial, that gets close is immediately blasted out of the sky. We aren't taking chances here. Until we get confirmation from a friendly face, the Compound is on high alert.

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

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?!"

Theron Shan

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

Jaxon

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

Theron Shan

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

Jaxon

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."

Theron Shan

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

Jaxon

"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?!"

Theron Shan

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.

Millu'ka'salga

"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."

Jaxon

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.

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

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.

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Cosen Greshh

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

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Ava Cadera

"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."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Ava Cadera

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."