CHAPTER ONE
"Reports are coming in that many worlds in the further parts of the Outer Rim have fallen," General Hawk said to the Sullustan admiral sitting before him. "Among these worlds are Belkadan, Seoul Five, and Alzoc Three."
Sien Sovv, Supreme Commander of the Galactic Alliance Defense Force, let out a heavy sigh and tapped his pudgy fingers on his desk. "Sometimes, general, I wonder if you're just making this up to make me feel bad."
"I wish I was," Hawk said. "It seems like the Glorians are coming from the Unknown Regions, judging by the location of the planets that have fallen."
"I doubt that we'll ever be able to confirm that," Sovv said. "Because if you're right, there are surely to be Glorian ships blockading that region."
Hawk nodded. "Right...which would mean they'd be surrounding the entire galaxy from the Outer Rim to the Core."
Sovv frowned as he considered that prospect. "That is...rather unsettling."
"More so than the fact that our Jedi friends keep disappearing?"
"Now you're just making it worse."
Hawk shrugged. "So, what are we going to do?"
Sovv shook his head. "I suppose we can send fleets to the trade routes those planets are on. But then again, there's still that ongoing campaign at Agamar..."
After a moment of quiet contemplation, the Sullustan admiral finally said, "I'll send Admiral Darklighter and his fleet to the Sujimis sector. If the Glorians have seized Alzoc Three, it's very likely that they'll make their way to Orto Plutonia and Pantora, which are members of the Galactic Senate."
Hawk nodded. "Shall I have a ground force accompany them?"
Sovv shook his head again. "The Glorians seem to prefer staying in their lofty flagships. No, I'm sure any battle that happens at Pantora will primarily occur in orbit of it."
"If you say so," Hawk said as he turned to leave the office. Quietly to himself, he added, "Though I'm not sure our losses would say anything about your tactics."
* * *
Keyan Farlander ignored the beads of sweat that trickled down his forehead as he led his rather mismatched team of Jedi and Alliance troopers through the humid forests of Agamar. Creatures native to the planet, such as the amphibious mugruebes, lurked behind the wall of trees, their solid black eyes watching their every movement. In the sky above, he could see the ongoing fight between Admiral Bwua'tu's fleet and the Glorians', having already reached a near draw five days ago when the battle had started.
Arrogant as always, that Bwua'tu, Keyan thought. The Bothan admiral had initially declined Admiral Sovv's suggestion of sending a small team to sneak through the Glorians' forces and arrive on Agamar. However, when the enemy showed what they were capable of after decimating another planet in the Mirgoshir system, Bwua'tu finally agreed to the proposition.
Although Keyan had agreed to lead the team to Agamar, considering that the planet had been his home for so long, and because of his talents as a military strategist, he was still doubtful that they would be able to reach Agamar without being spotted. Much to his surprise though, the Glorians had actually placed their fleet enough parsecs away for the team's ship to go under their notice.
But as Keyan thought about it, he realized it wasn't that surprising after all. Agamar, like most worlds secluded in the Outer Rim, was considered to be a backwater world by many and thus had little to no value to the galaxy. That still didn't explain why the Glorians were willing to fight on for five days over it though...
"Samakalii, are you getting anything on your scanner that suggests a Glorian camp is nearby?"
"None whatsoever," the Dressellian muttered as he and the members of Mynock Squad followed Keyan and his Jedi team. "I'm beginning to doubt that there are any ground forces down here at all."
"Which is strange," said the Verpine lieutenant Zix. "If they don't care about Agamar enough to send down ground forces to seize it, why attack it at all?"
"Want to go up there and ask them?" Sanso Shu asked, a smirk crawling up on his pale-skinned face. "I'm sure they'd be kind enough to answer a few questions."
"Zip your trap, Shu," hissed the Chagrian commander Drokk, Mynock Squad's leader. "You'll be as good as dead if you keep wasting your breath."
"Calm yourself, commander," said the Zabrak Jedi Donhran Remker. "If you continue to speak to your soldiers like that, they might not wish to follow you."
Drokk glared at the Jedi Knight. "They have no choice. If they don't like how I command, then they're free to live jobless in Coruscant's slums."
Remker opened his mouth to reply but Keyan raised a hand to silence them. "That's enough from both of you. We'll get more accomplished the less you guys bicker."
"If there's anything to accomplish," said the young woman Jasel, who was a transfer from Rancor Squad along with her friend Reeda. "I mean, if the Glorians don't have any ground forces down here, then...why are we still here?"
"While you do have a good point," Keyan said, "we should still stay here regardless. You never know what kind of trick these Glorians may have up their sleeve."
"Yeah," Sanso said quietly. "Like make the whole planet disappear."
* * *
"Their persistence is admirable."
Standing on the bridge of his flagship, General Valkor observed the ongoing battle over Agamar from afar, watching Alliance and Imperial fighters become swamped by Glorian forces. For five days now had the battle been like this and yet still the enemy fought on.
"Either they really want Agamar," Valkor mused out loud, "or they simply despise the prospect of defeat."
Standing beside him, Valkor's short and squat aide looked up from her datapad and said, "You have a message from General Starka."
"Do I?" Valkor smiled beneath his uniquely-shaped, red-colored helmet. "What does he say?"
"He says that you should cease the attack on Agamar."
Valkor's stance stiffened and he turned to face his aide, his emerald eyes glowing. "Pardon? Say that again?"
"General Starka wants you to cease the attack on Aga-"
"Cease!" Valkor barked, following it up with a sharp laugh that echoed throughout the bridge. "Does Starka not know who I am? Does he not know that once I start something, I refuse to leave it unfinished?"
His aide stared at him, her expression blank and her stance unwavering. "He said that it was an order."
Valkor snorted with disdain. "Every thing that spews from his wretched mouth is an order, and I shall be defying this one."
Although the aide's features remained emotionless, her voice became colder. "To defy the Supreme Commander's orders is to court with Death."
"Then I shall take 'Death' to the Jeka Amphitheater as a treat." Valkor waved to the bridge's crew. "Continue with the battle. I shall see this day to the end."
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