Chapter 9
Different sounding beeps travel throughout the bridge as Commander Veruna interacts with the foreign console. A few commandos stand nearby, looking around the immediate area for threats. Anhiel walks slowly back and forth, carrying the unlit hilts of her sabers in her hands in preparation of an attack. She glances towards the young commander working on the console, “How are we doing, Commander?” The tone is even, masking the concern she felt that a counter attack was coming. Sun responds after wiping her brow, “Ma’am, this is unlike anything I have seen before. I am having trouble even accessing basic information.” The Admiral’s response was curt, potentially tinged with irritation “Padawan, focus. You may have only just started your training but the force has been your ally for your whole life, whether you knew it or not. Open yourself to it and focus on your task.” Blaster fire echoes through the hallway, causing Sun to look towards the hall. Anhiel strides past, waving a hand towards the Padawan, “You had best hurry, Padawan. I sense our time here is coming to an end very soon.” Sun turns back to the console, her eyes opened wide as she struggles with what exactly she is supposed to do.
Far down the hall, Rend and Athin hunker behind a wall as blaster fire fills the hallway with lightsabers lit. Rend’s voice can be heard over the combat as he yells into his comm, “Master Anhiel, it appears that the enemy held the bulk of their forces in reserve. We are going to be cut off from the transports if we don’t start moving back now.” The Knight groans as he hears the response, shaking his head before calling out to Athin and Captain Jov’aine, “The Admiral has indicated we are to secure the path back to the transports. They are not done on the bridge. She is sending most of their platoon to assist.” Athin turns his face towards Rend, addressing the younger Jedi with a mildly joking tone as he readies his saber, “Well, we better get to it. Master Anhiel does not tolerate failure.” Without waiting for response, Athin steps into the hallway, deflecting a blaster bolt before dashing forward. Rend steels himself before following the Miraluka into the fray. Combat in the hallways was difficult due to the limited space for maneuvering. Commandos fired carefully, ensuring they did not hit the two Jedi pressing forward into the enemy. The blue and golden blades whip through the air as the Jedi begin engaging the next group of soldiers. They are again arranged in a phalanx formation, using the narrow hallways and large shields to their advantage. Athin initiates the attack, knocking away the spear thrust towards him before battering the shield before him with heavy blows. Rend hesitates before following suit, covering the Miraluka’s right flank as the column shifts forward. Behind them, the commandos move up to the split off hallway that heads back towards the hangar. Captain Jov’aine signals the commandos forward, “Move out. There is a large supply room near the hangar. Once it is secured, move any available cover into a defensive position. We must hold the line to the transports until the Admiral arrives.” The commandos nod and begin running down the hallway, leaving the Captain to look back at the pair of Jedi. To his surprise, they had nearly dispatched the small group in that short period of time before following the rest of his men.
On the bridge, Sun approaches the Admiral, drenched in sweat from exertion as she speaks heavily “Ma’am, I have what data I could pull before the system was wiped. The source originated from an unknown location. The coding on this ship is far beyond anything I have ever seen. I am not sure if we will be able to even crack any of it.” Anhiel appraises the younger woman, taking the datapad from her before speaking to two nearby commandos sharply, “You two, support Commander Sun. She is about to lose consciousness.” Sun’s face radiates confusion at the statement as the two commandos move towards her. Within a few moments, her vision begins to darken rapidly as her body begins to fall towards the floor. The soldiers catch her before she collides with the deck, each supporting one arm before the larger of the two picks the woman up in his arms. Another soldier approaches, addressing the Admiral quickly “Ma’am, Captain Jov’aine has secured the supply room near the hangar and is holding the position. General Rend and Jedi Athin are holding an advanced position with what remains of your company. They encountered a surprise attack by droids and soldiers on the way to link up with the others and sustained heavy losses.” The soldier swallows before continuing in a more solemn tone, “Additional soldiers are attacking the advanced position but the General and Jedi Athin refuse to fall back until you arrive.” Deep yellow begins to form amongst the pristine blue of the Admiral’s eyes as a low growl fills the bridge “Get Commander Sun back to the transports. I will rendezvous with General Rend.” Without waiting, the woman bounds from the room heading in the direction of the sounds of combat. The five remaining soldiers look at each for several long moments before one states, “If the bulk of the enemy forces have moved to engage in the main pathway, we can take the alternate route with minimal combat.” As he finishes, he looks over the unconscious Commander. The rest of the squad nods as the one holding Sun shifts her slightly in his arms. With that, the squad sets out, carefully following the alternate path towards the transport while doing their best to avoid unnecessary combat.
Multiple groups of armor-clad enemies slowly encroached upon Rend and Athin’s position several hundred meters from the supply room. Their position is growing untenable as the squads approach from three separate hallways intersecting with the forward position. The few remaining commandos split fire upon each squad in an attempt to slow their approach while Athin and Rend hunker down in cover to regain some energy. Athin turns his face to the younger man, going to speak before something pulls his attention. He looks up quickly, gazing vaguely in the direction of the bridge as a heavy and dangerous feeling permeates the Force. Rend also looks up as he also senses the approaching presence, looking in time to see the dead body of one of the armored soldiers fly through the air, colliding with the nearest formation of enemies. The sound of metal on metal overpowers the slight beeping of the thermal detonator attached to the thrown corpse. A deafening explosion rips through the air as the detonator explodes, annihilating the front rows of the enemy formation and causing the rest to stumble as they recover from the sound and shockwave. Purple blades flash through the air as a slender figure flies past Rend and Athin’s position. The clash of sabers sounds loudly in the immediate area, followed by the screams of the first soldiers to be dismembered by the assault. Athin and Rend rise quickly to enter the fray in time to see the blue and green lightning storm that assaulted the remaining few enemies in the squad. They both hesitate at the sight, Rend remaining still for longer than the older Jedi who had started moving towards the next nearest squad. However, a feral growl halts the Miraluka’s movements as the lightning storm ceases. A purple saber whips through the air, decapitating the last standing enemy. Smoke rises from many of the corpses strewn about as Anhiel turns around revealing yellow eyes with small portions of blue breaking through. Rend freezes as her gaze lands on him, causing him to nearly miss her words to him. “What are you still doing here? Move out and see to your Padawan.” His continued hesitation elicited a follow up that was not loud, but the power of the command radiated through the force, “Now, General”. Bewildered by her words and startled by the force of the command Rend nods, moving down the hallway towards the supply room. As he moves, he waves to the last few commandos, ordering them to fall back as well.
Athin glances around the corner, looking for the next approaching squad only to find the hallway deserted. Before he could ponder the reason for the enemy’s retreat, Anhiel confidently walks by him, radiating a seething energy about her and seemingly undisturbed by the carnage. The Miraluka followed quietly as they jogged down the long hallway to the supply room where some soldiers remained, including Captain Jov’aine. “Ma’am, everyone else is aboard the transports.” Anhiel nods curtly, “Well done, Captain. Take off immediately and get me a link to the Shadow Redeemer.” The Captain salutes and the group moves rapidly to the hangar, boarding the last transport as the others depart the hangar. As the ship lifts off the deck, a commlink opens and the Admiral speaks shortly. “Shadow Redeemer, we are clear. Commence bombardment of the enemy vessel and prepare to jump to the following coordinates upon its destruction.” Turbolasers light up space as the bombardment commences. Large bolts of light slam into the motionless dreadnought, tearing into the silver metal as the transports skirt the edge on the way to the hangar. As the last ship crosses the barrier and begins positioning to land, a chain of explosions begins to shred the dreadnaught apart. The Shadow Redeemer and cruiser begin to pull back away from the exploding ship, their large engines beginning to brighten before they and the remainder of the task force disappear into hyperspace.
Light from stars stretched in hyperspace illuminates Anhiel’s face and hair as she gazes out of the large viewports on the Bridge. A nearby specialist looks up from a console and addresses the woman, “Ma’am, We are approaching the coordinates you provided.” The Admiral nodded, “Thank you, Specialist. Communicate the following coordinates to the rest of the fleet once we exit hyperspace. Reposition and begin the next jump as soon as able.” The Specialist acknowledges the instructions before setting to their tasks as the door to the bridge slides open. An exhausted Rend strides in, not noticing the guards that had jumped to attention upon his entrance. He strides to where the Admiral stood, coming to a stop just behind her right shoulder. The woman’s voice is cool as she addresses Rend, “How is Padawan Veruna recovering?” Rend begins to look out the viewports as well before responding, “She is resting, Master. Although, I do not understand what happened. I do not sense any physical injuries.” Outside the bridge, stars snap into place as the fleet drops out of hyperspace. “She called upon the Force to accomplish her task but the exertion was too much for her body and mind to handle as a result of her limited training.” Before Rend could respond, the Specialist calls out “Updated route has been calculated, Admiral. Commencing jump in 30 seconds.” Anhiel nods in response while Rend queries her with a tone of confusion, “We are jumping again? Where are we going?” The Admiral exhales a deep breath, “We are going somewhere that can give us more time to regroup and try to understand our enemy.” The woman pauses, looking back at Rend over her shoulder as she continues, “It is a place you have been before. Or have you forgotten your time spent on Belloth?” A memory flashed into the Knight’s mind at the mention of the name and understanding filled his eyes as his communicator beeps. Anhiel returns her gaze forward as Rend keys on the communicator and listens to the voice on the other end, “General, Commander Veruna is awake.” Rend acknowledges the word shortly, “Thank you. I will be there shortly.” Before he could continue the discussion Anhiel states simply, “Go, Rend. It will take a few days to reach Belloth. I need to take stock of our losses in the meantime.” Rend bows before turning and striding quickly from the bridge.