The fact that Laura was coming with me was unpleasant. Most likely, after the victory over Garyn, my alliance with PMC Luna would come to an end. The Hutts would try to recruit them... More precisely, the Hutts would try to absorb them. So what to do then? The logical option was to prevent the Hutts from being strengthened in this conflict. They were already powerful beyond all measure. That meant I needed to eliminate all the parties they could theoretically use to strengthen themselves. "Black Sun"I'll take care of that. Whether I leave Alexi alive or kill him and all his comrades doesn't matter. But what to do with Luna? My involvement in the conflict could leave Luna alone against the Hutts.
Jabba would take advantage of the situation, no doubt about it. Otherwise, he couldn't be the king of the underworld in Hutt Space. His kajidic was the most influential among all Hutt kajidics. All in all, I didn't want any remnants of "Black Sun" or Luna to fall to the Hutts. Although I fully understood that my wish was impossible. One way or another, they'd carve off a piece for themselves... But I needed to minimize that piece. Therefore, I intended to destroy them after Gaven—more precisely, to activate the virus's sabotage on the reactors. This action doesn't fit the definition of an alliance, but I can't prevent the Hutts' strengthening any other way.
All that's left is to deprive PMC Luna of all its officers, a significant number of sentients, and its fleet. And I can pull this off in one fell swoop. Right now, the virus files have spread throughout the PMC's databases, even reaching the base on the planet Roon. I just hope the organization's slicers don't find the uploaded virus. Yes, such an elimination certainly won't paint me in a good light. This is that kind of operation: "I'm sorry I'm such scum.".. Form an alliance, fight on the same side, and then abruptly betray that side. It sounds disgusting and unpleasant. But that's objective reality... Am I acting, roughly speaking, like a villain? Yes, I am. But you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs. I can't allow the Hutts to become stronger. So there's my decision.
Which, incidentally, doesn't contradict the Order's decision. The Order had taken a "relatively neutral position." More precisely, based on my report, they sent observers to Roon—this time not Tal, the obvious non-combatant, but a diplomat and observer. At least I was signaled that they'd sent Feemor, my former classmate, to handle the current events. As a Jedi, he was a Guardian-class and had participated in investigations against criminal syndicates. Usually, members of my clan became either Sentinels or Consuls, but Feemor was a very bright exception. However, the Jedi here could only act as saboteurs at best. Afterward, I recommended the Order consider eliminating PMC Luna, but no instructions came on that point. Which means I could either leave this group alone or destroy them on my own initiative.
What I chose is known. I didn't want to give anyone a chance in this situation at all. The only thing I was conflicted about was Alexi Garyn. He's a canonical character here, and his elimination might disrupt something. On the other hand, he was supposedly killed by Maul, on Sidius's orders, which had been ordered by Plagueis, who didn't like that Garyn had killed Kabru, the current boss of "Black Sun," who was a creature of the Sith in that organization. Well, more precisely, he operates within the paradigm of their plan. But again, I could send him to spy on "Black Sun," to get me proof of the existence of Plagueis and Sidius. That's a pretty good scenario, and a mission fit for him.
We arrived at Ryloth later than expected, just as I'd figured. Several "battered ships" with the signature of the Hutt organization were hanging in orbit. Apparently, a "demonstration battle" had taken place. Although Laura's fleet didn't find a single "Black Sun" ship in a damaged or destroyed state. While I was contemplating the "demonstration battle" scene, Laura contacted Gaven.
"It's just as you said," Gaven said. "Those bastards seem to have conspired. Dengo Hutt and Alexi Garyn," he clarified. "Jabba 'knows nothing about Dengo's actions,' but I'm sure he was in on it."
"Correct," I picked up the thread. "You didn't think the Hutts were capable of altruism and would save a 'PMC fighting for freedom from Black Sun' from destruction out of the goodness of their hearts, did you? The goodness of a Hutt's heart... Funny joke."
"I expected this outcome, but I didn't think it would happen exactly like this."
"Why not? You control an important transport hub for smugglers and slavers—the planet Roon in the Mantle of the Sith. Dengo is interested in this planet, as is Jabba's kajidic in general. It's unknown yet whether Jabba decided to betray you, or if it's Dengo Hutt's initiative; in any case, it doesn't matter for now. Right now, your main concern is surviving the 'Black Sun' attack. Have my tactical recommendations been followed?"
"We are your allies," came a gruff voice. It was the Lasat speaking. One of the commanders, Zelmen, I think... "Not your subordinates, Jedi."
"True, but which of you has planned a large-scale space battle before this moment? All of you, one way or another, have participated in skirmishes. But what awaits you is not a routine space skirmish, considering the forces you've amassed and what 'Black Sun' will throw against you. Let me enlighten you as to what this is called. This is a full-scale military conflict, a war... Not a special operation, or some routine skirmish... A special operation involving military forces is liberating a couple of buildings. This is an attack on a planet. You can't just fight your way out of it. You either competently organize your defense. Or even our rear strike won't fix the situation, and it'll quickly turn to shit if you don't use some coherent tactics, Gaven Hornly. If I wanted you to lose, I wouldn't insist. But I don't want that, so act as the situation demands, and as a sentient who has already planned a space battle demands, not as you're used to, playing around with Outer Rim merchants who sometimes can't even shoot back. Also, on our side, a Jedi Knight—Feemor—will participate in the battle. He'll arrive in his own fighter and help you in the war. I'm transmitting his fighter's signature—don't mistake him for an enemy," I said harshly. "Do you understand me?"
"Yes," Gaven said dryly, "I understand. But we'll return to this issue later."
"Oh, don't doubt it," I smiled, "I have something to tell you, but before that—don't die, otherwise you'll never come back to this issue. Is the jump ready?" I asked Laura's officer. The woman was standing next to me on the captain's bridge of her dreadnought, listening intently to the conversation.
"Y... Yes," he glanced at me, then at Laura.
"Good. Our forces should arrive simultaneously. Have you calculated when the light forces and small craft should jump, as well as the heavy forces, so we arrive on time?"
"The calculation is done. The small craft should jump about twenty minutes after our jump, the light forces ten minutes after."
"In that case—prepare for the jump," just before the connection with Gaven was cut, I addressed him again. "As for my actions—I'll inform you of everything when the time comes. Jumping," I commanded, cutting the connection.
"You really know how to piss people off," Laura said thoughtfully, watching the line of stars transform into a hyperspace corridor.
"Who was I supposed to have pissed off? Your big guy Zelmen? Well, let him forgive me—small raids on not-always-defended merchants aren't the same as a war involving heavy ships on both sides. He didn't understand that, his problem. I'm starting to like this company of yours less and less. It's some kind of gathering of misfits. Did you decide to fight 'Black Sun,' or did you just open a hobby club? This isn't a strategy game where you can use cheat codes. This is real life, and you either play professionally, with attention to detail, or you don't play at all. You understand yourself that this isn't child's play. This is a war where anything can happen at any time. Even my tactics, with all their advantages and thoughtfulness, can go sideways. But you're acting like you're out for a walk... Something tells me the scenario where the Hutts absorb you is the most likely. Your leader, if he even foresaw it, didn't consider it 'worthy of attention.'"
"Gaven is only human..."
"True, like all of us—just sentients with our own vices and weaknesses," I looked into Laura's crimson Chiss eyes, "but the one who commands anyone besides themselves should be better than the average sentient. Understand risks, calculate at least one step ahead. But I got the impression that Gaven's entire calculation is based on Roon being impregnable because it's in the Mantle of the Sith... And the current situation caught him by surprise. If he doesn't follow my recommendations, we'll very likely arrive too late."
"I'm sure we'll make it in time, and Gaven will hold..."
"You trust him too much," I said. "I don't know what bound you two together like that, but it could disappoint you more than you think. Do you still want to come with me, Lora?"
"Yes," she agreed. "I'll go with you, on your ship."
Well then, I might have to kill her myself. Or use her some other way… Honestly, I even felt a little sorry for her. Gaven Hornly did such dark things in the "Black Sun" that even Garyn himself, nicknamed "Executor," still had a long way to go to catch up. But maybe I should show Lora the evidence? Hmm… I'd have to think about that. In my opinion, Lora was the only commander in that organization who sided with Gaven more for the idea than for profit. She, being a mercenary, was capable of buying into someone's ideology. Surprising, considering most mercenaries only fight for whoever pays the most.
"There can be people of honor among mercenaries," Revan's voice reached me. He was sitting at the hyperspace exit control panel, watching the scurrying sentients. "You're wrong to think that mercenaries and criminals are nothing but scum who'd do anything for money."
"But didn't you say that criminals are scum?"
"I did," Revan agreed. "Statistically, yes. The vast majority of criminals are just scum who can't live by the law. But there are also those who ended up on this path for reasons beyond their control. Like bad fortune, poverty, devastation on their home planet, and so on. Though they're not the absolute majority either. That woman, Lora — the reason she became what she is right now is actually quite simple. She burned out too early. She got tired of being a simple mercenary, as a Mandalorian, and decided to find herself in something bigger. And Gaven Hornly offered her that something bigger."
I was communicating with Revan through telepathy so no one else would think I was crazy.
"Gaven Hornly is a real scumbag — I've seen his file. Torture, murder, hostage-taking, and kidnapping."
"And I won't argue that, Light," Revan said. "But Lora needed a platform when she burned out — let's call it that. And he gave her that platform. However, now the platform itself is crumbling. Doubts are eating away at her resolve, undermining her will. She's seen that Gaven isn't the genius he made himself out to be. And, for sure, she managed to find information about him — the very same information you have as a Shadow. She's following him now more out of inertia. And this is a favorable moment to sway her. You wouldn't want to kill her."
"Hmm, I like her as a person. A mercenary who bought into an idea… 'Justice for the Outer Rim'… That's a pretty interesting case. I've seen a mercenary once before who was also obsessed with an idea."
"You mean Dol Agid?" Revan asked. "Yes, he was obsessed with the triumph of the Sith. 'Order and submission to the strong.' People with a military mindset are always like that. They need a firm hand, a clearly defined path. They don't care about dreamers, democrats, or freedom. In the army, structure and subordination are always an order of magnitude higher. And that mercenary, Dol, apparently wanted the same for the galaxy. Lora is similar to him in that respect… And in some ways, you're like them right now."
"What do you mean?" I asked the man.
"In a very simple way. You're not even thinking about running anymore. Remember what you thought a long time ago, even when you were a Padawan? You told me that when you realized the future, you decided to run to the edge of the galaxy and keep a low profile…"
"That was a thing…" I sighed, which drew Lora's attention to me. "But since then, I've realized that the galaxy, the Force — they won't leave someone like me alone. And after that, I got drawn into all of this myself. Now I simply can't walk away…"
"Just like them, Light, just like them… Just as Dol Agid didn't back down when he ran into your Yoda, so Lora is still showing loyalty to Gaven Hornly, even if out of inertia. And you'll have to take advantage of all of this. Do what you must and what you've decided." He vanished again.
* * *
We arrived at the unfolding space battle. Alexi Garyn had already begun his attack on the forces gathered at Run. Judging by the positioning of Gaven Hornly's forces, he had taken my words to heart — that most likely allowed them to hold out until our arrival. Some ships with the "Luna" signatures were already missing, though they should have been there. Apparently, destroyed. But the "Black Sun" had taken a beating too. A call came in on the datapad. It was a call over a secure channel that Jedi could use. I was just heading to my ship, in the hangar. Lora was already shifting from foot to foot near my vessel. A Jedi contacted me over the secure line. Pressing the button on my wrist comm, I answered the call.
"Feemor," I smiled, seeing the face of my former clan-mate. "How's the situation?"
"Light," he greeted me with a nod of his head. "Shitty, to be honest," he put it bluntly. Feemor had become a Jedi Knight faster than anyone else in my graduating class. Largely because Qui-Gon Jinn, his mentor, was more interested in finding a "talented Padawan." Average Feemor was inferior in everything to the same Xanatos, whose training Jinn took on with much more enthusiasm than Feemor's. After bringing the latter up to the level of an average Jedi Knight, Qui-Gon recommended Feemor for the Trials, and as soon as Feemor passed them, Jinn immediately ran after Xanatos. I understand about the "Unifying Force," the "Living Force," and all that. But he acted as unpleasantly as possible, and on top of that, Qui-Gon completely failed with Xanatos. "These idiots first held formation as you ordered," judging by the flashes, he had just come under fire, "but discipline is for shit. The formation is already broken, no coordination of forces whatsoever…"
"And what did you expect?" I asked him. "Military training?"
"Well, at least some logic and common sense, Hutt take them! But no, they're behaving even worse than Drallig during puberty! He challenged a girl he liked to a duel back then…"
"Drallig?" I chuckled. "Well, he's capable of that. But would that help with making an acquaintance?"
"It didn't help him," Feemor agreed. "But anyway, that's not what we need to talk about now. I'm right in the thick of it here, and your arrival, by the way, stalled their advance. Are you commanding the reinforcements?"
"No," I shook my head. "We're passing that duty to Lora's assistant. The Mandalorian and I will head for Garyn's flagship."
"Taking advantage of your miracle ship's feature," he guessed. "Alexi's ship is hanging over the battle, staying out of the conflict. Apparently that coward doesn't want to participate directly in the fight."
"And he's right to do so," I said. "A commander's duty isn't to charge in with a saber drawn. In some situations, it's required, I won't argue, but right now, in Garyn's place, I would have done the same. The forces are roughly equal — barely. You don't need to rush into the thick of things here, but observe from the side, adjusting events. But I won't be doing that now. Lora's assistant has received orders not to fire on the flagship — pass that on to Gaven Hornly. Let him not focus on Garyn either. Leave him to me."
"Stuff it, bantha poodoo, focus on him? We have enough to deal with here! But I'll pass it on! By the way, Light, are you aware that our virus is loaded into the 'Luna' system?" He looked at me suspiciously.
"Yes," I nodded, activating something like a silencing barrier around myself during his question.
"You're going to destroy them?"
"Everything in this battle, Feemor, depends on the circumstances. So be ready for anything. Our mission is to bring benefit to the Republic, first and foremost. And as Jedi, we'll do whatever is required."
"I understand you," Feemor's hologram began to fade. "May the Force be with you, Light."
"May the Force be with you, Feemor," I replied, removing the anti-eavesdropping protection and rushing into the hangar. Lora's ship was coming to combat readiness; her crew, consisting of ordinary sentients and droids, were running to battle stations. Lora's small craft had already joined the fight, and the light forces and the Dreadnaught were just coming within firing range. In the upper hemisphere, about seventy units away, Garyn's ship was hovering — a "heavily modified Dreadnaught." Honestly, I don't even know what they've bolted into it. Dreadnaughts have a modular design, meaning you can strip out whatever you want and install whatever you wish. But it looked terrifying… Most likely, he'd installed enhanced kinetic weaponry on it.
"There you are, what took you so long?" Lora asked, standing by my ship. "Your droids won't let me on board," she complained.
"Observation: A female meat bag may only board the ship with the master — how I hate that word. Statement: If you wish, I can burn a hole through you with a blaster and carry your corpse aboard, if you're that eager to get on the ship."
"Oh shut up," she said, turning her attention to HK.
"Quiet, Lora," I hissed at her. "HK is an assassin droid from Revan's time — you'd better not joke with him."
"Proudly: Listen to my master, Chiss female meat bag!"
I sighed… What did I do to deserve this?
"BB, we're casting off," I said, walking up the ramp. "Lora stays with me, HK. We're going to dock with the 'Black Sun' syndicate ship. No restrictions, HK — show me everything you've got…"
"Joyfully: Master gives me freedom. Anticipation: Soon there will be plenty of meat bags with holes burned through them."
Lora looked at me with a strange expression.
"Is he really effective?"
"Hmm, yes. During the skirmish on Radnor, he was the one assisting me. Remember the sniper on our side?"
"I guess in the heat of battle I didn't notice some details."
"With disdain: Stupid Chiss female meat bag."
"He gets on my nerves," Lora admitted.
"He's supposed to," I shrugged as we finally reached the cockpit. "Dun Moch — you can never have too much of it."
"Dun Moch?"
"A special move that can be described with the words: 'Unsettle your enemy, for an enraged enemy is prone to mistakes.' Jedi use it. I like it a lot."
"Now I understand what you've been using against me," Lora said as I sat down in the pilot's seat. I planned to exit her ship's hangar without invisibility. By the way, in my opinion, hangars on Dreadnaughts are unnecessary. Considering Lora's life, I would have recommended she use this heavy cruiser as a battleship, for its intended purpose. Thankfully, the Z-95s and many other small craft in her group also have hyperdrives. Having brought the "Star Trek" out of the hangar, I began initiating the stealth mode.
"BB-7, let's begin," I said. "Disable sensors, leave minimum shields, remove power from weapons, and activate the mode."
BB-7, connected to the ship's terminal, obediently beeped in agreement. A moment later… the mode activated…
"And that's it?" Lora asked, looking puzzled at some of the darkened buttons and screens.
"What did you expect? Pew-pew special effects? Maybe a smokescreen in the vacuum of space, after which we'd disappear? No… This mode activates like a simple fact."
"Yeah, I've heard it's useful," she looked toward the sensors. "But even the sensors!"
"Yes, the sensors. Only the shields — and not even at maximum — the engines and the LSS (life support system). It's advisable for a Force-sensitive with good sensory perception to pilot a ship in this mode; otherwise, you'll end up as space debris."
For reference, I think a stealth ship appeared in the Clone Wars. The Republic used it in battle against the CIS and its admiral — Trench. That sentient seemed to me like a mini-version of Thrawn in terms of command. By the way, Trench figured out how to detect the ship. Garyn is definitely dumber than Trench. And he won't be looking for my ship in the heat of battle — though, if he's not a complete fool, he might have figured out what ship I'm flying, even if I'm using fake transponders. But erasing yourself and your traces completely is impossible. There's always a small detail that's incredibly hard to account for. And an inquisitive mind can latch onto it. Using my sensory perception, I guided the ship in an arc, bypassing the area where part of Lora's small craft clashed with Alexi Garyn's small craft. I didn't plan to help by participating in the space battle.
Approaching the Dreadnaught, I began studying its hull. Hmm… There it is… The area where the tractor beam projectors were located, or more precisely, where ships were guided in when captured by the projectors. Small ships were led into the hangar located at the rear of the vessel. Larger ships docked at special doors. My ship's docking port was at the rear — essentially the same exit I used, just transformable into an exit with a docking port. The implementation was a bit janky and crude. To dock with the "Black Sun" ship, I positioned my ship stern-first toward Alexi's vessel and brought it up to the docking port.
"As soon as we dock, they'll notice us immediately. Unfortunately, there's no other option. Even if we send BB to hack their computer, they'll still notice either the signature of an unknown astromech droid or the activation of their own airlock," I warned. "We needed stealth to get close to the ship, bypassing the guns. Now — there will be no stealth."
"Eagerly: This makes it even more interesting."
"Let me finish," I looked at HK and Lora. "Our target is Alexi Garyn. He's a weak Force-sensitive, as is his first assistant, Mighella. Alexi isn't a follower of any particular doctrine, but he's self-taught. That's what makes him dangerous to ordinary sentients. Mighella, on the other hand, is a Dathomirian witch. That's even several times more dangerous than Garyn in some ways. Because Garyn at most can shoot accurately or wield a vibro-sword. But Mighella is capable of witch magic. I'll deal with them. You'll handle anyone who tries to stop me."
"Won't we be conducting a sabotage on the ship's power plant?" Lora asked.
"You want to blow up this ship?" I asked her. "Maybe even kill Alexi and his people? But the point is, I need Alexi alive."
"What? Alive? You?"
"And what's wrong with that? We're equal allies. And since I'm the one who confronted Alexi, I get to decide his fate. He can tell me a lot of interesting things. So I'm taking him. I hope you don't particularly mind?"
"No," Lora pursed her lips.
"Wonderful," I smiled. "Wonderful."
We docked with the ship.
"The airlock has a breathable atmosphere," BB reported. "Gravity regulated."
Lora put on her helmet. HK took a blaster in its manipulators. I drew my lightsaber in my right hand. Meanwhile, BB managed to remotely connect to the door on their side and opened it. We jumped inside, immediately running into three soldiers from the "Black Sun." In an instant, I activated my lightsaber… The sentients had only just started to turn around when their heads fell at our feet. I brought up the ship's schematic.
"So, we need to get here," I pointed. "It's about three hundred and fifty meters, as the crow flies." The captain's bridge and the docking port were on the same level. Almost… Only in the final leg of the journey would we have to take an elevator, but not for long. "The crew of a standard Dreadnaught consists of sixteen thousand people — but you never use standard ones, do you?" The modular design of the ship allows you to strip out a lot of things the end user doesn't need. Plus, sentients can always be replaced with droids. So we'll encounter far fewer enemies. Well then, forward?"
* * *
Since we had already been detected, no one saw any point in hiding. We tried to take the enemy by surprise, using speed of advance and unique skills. I let the Force loose, no longer hiding it, and fought without restraint. Alexi's sentients and droids received my lightsaber strikes, as well as spheres of pyrokinesis; with telekinesis, people and droids flew in all directions. Lora was blasting everyone with the blasters she held in both hands. And HK-47 wasn't idle either, killing with single shots, mostly to the head, but sometimes he also landed shots to the heart. The most casualties were on my conscience… An unrestrained Force-sensitive, properly trained — I dare hope — inflicted several times more losses than Lora and HK. After clearing another compartment, where I bisected the last B1-series droid, Lora said in horror:
"I used to think you were just arrogant… But this —" she gestured at the carnage. "Are all Jedi such monsters?"
"Hmm. No," I shook my head. "Jedi have their own specializations, each one. And each develops their abilities differently. I, for example, focused on combat aspects. Swordsmanship and Force techniques aimed at causing harm, up to and including lethal."
Deflecting several shots that flew at us in the new compartment, I pulled several sentients toward me with the Force, immediately decapitating them and hurling their bodies at their comrades. Pyrokinesis… The clothes on the corpses ignited, and they collided with the living sentients. The fire spread to the living.
"Intriguingly: Good idea."
HK activated a bomb and hurled it at the burning sentients. I had to shield everyone from the resulting explosion. The slaughter continued. Because I was covering HK and Lora, they acted more freely and were also able to realize all their advantages. Finally, we reached Alexi Garyn, who was on the captain's bridge, surrounded by "Black Sun" warriors. He sat in a chair turned toward us, legs crossed. To his right stood Mighella, the Dathomirian witch.
(Author's Note — This is Garyn in the 30s BBY. I'm in 49-48 BBY.)
Garyn was a tall, fair-haired man with brown eyes. He was dressed in dark-colored clothes.
Mighella reminded me of Shilazh, but only partially. She wore slightly different clothes and was younger than Shilazh. She had chestnut hair and tattoos on her face. The irises of her eyes were yellow, from using the Dark Side of the Force.
"I guess I was hoping in vain that you could be stopped by ordinary means, Jedi," Garyn said.
I pulled a second lightsaber into my left hand, readying for battle.
"Spare me the need to fight the small fry, HK, Lora," I said, heading toward Garyn.
"Joyfully: I will put many holes in the meat bags!"
"Stop giving me orders!"