CHAPTER NINE
The AT-AT moved slowly towards the Rhen Var Harbor, firing its heavy laser cannons at turrets and stationary weapons place throughout the harbor. At its feet, AAC-1 hovertanks and Saber-class fighter tanks rode into the enemy's territory, all weapons ablaze.
Troopers- of both Alliance and Imperial types- marched alongside the vehicles, firing their blaster rifles and rocket launchers as weapons establishments missed by the AT-AT. Meanwhile, airborne troopers equipped with jet packs bombarded enemy forces with mortar launchers and fully-charged thermal detonators.
On the front lines, Anakin Solo deflected enemy fire with his lightsaber. At his side was Animus, who had taken on the form of some vicious feline creature, lunging and clawing at Glorians who dare to come too close. Nearby, Kalvin was assisting the munitions expert Ulen Valsar in directing the assault troopers; Sev, Tesara, and Vex were amongst their respective trooper teams; and Jast Kyjar and Lumpy were piloting a hovertank, though the former's piloting skills left a lot to be desired.
All of this, yet no sign of Lysira.
When they had left the base, Anakin thought he had seen her amongst everyone else, but now he had lost sight of her and could not feel her presence through the Force. Of course, she could have been masking her presence. But for what purpose?
Anakin shook his head, clearing his thoughts. There wasn't any time to ponder, only to focus on the battle and hope to win it.
* * *
In all his life, Vral Chaar never thought it would come to this.
As bridge officers ran to-and-fro in panic, Chaar simply stared out the viewport, forlorn as flames started to surround it. This must have been what his ancestor had witnessed moments before his own demise, only without the feeling of despair welling up inside of him.
The Vurk hung his head dejectedly. He had hoped to make his family proud. And now he was going to die in a blaze of anything but glory....
* * *
"We've lost Rogue Eight!"
Jaina Solo bit her lip as Jer Topaz's X-wing fighter went up in flames. Shadow Leader's plan had been a very complex and fool-proof one, which involved distracting the Glorians and diverting their firepower away from the Jan Dodonna.
Clearly, the Glorians were not falling for it. Nearly half of Shadow Squadron had been destroyed almost immediately, their leader among the casualties, and Rogue Squadron were already beginning to get shot down like flies, with Topaz and Celcia Halis being the first.
To Jaina, it was looking like the Battle of Rhen Var was going to end the same as Kaal and Agamar; with the Glorian Empire's victory.
Her solemn musing was interrupted by the crackling of her intercom. She braced herself for whatever piece of bad news was going to come through it.
"I have an idea."
Her brief feeling of relief was replaced by her surprised at who said those words. "Soos?"
Out of all of the members of Rogue Squadron, Soos Marko was the most pessimistic, displaying grim and dismal utterances whenever hope seemed lost. Out of everyone, he was the last person Jaina expected to come up with an idea to achieve victory.
"What's your plan?" she heard Kral Nevil ask.
"You really want to know?" the Phuii pilot asked. "It's...kind of stupid-"
"Just spit it out!" Shyra Jaaz snapped. "I've got a Glorian on my tail!"
"All right, here it goes. But believe me, you're not going to like it..."
* * *
General Dalax watched the AT-AT storm into the harbor, its turbolasers firing. Rockets from the AAC hovertanks flew in all possible directions, a good majority of them striking their targets and sending a number of Glorians flying off to their demises.
This just didn't make sense, Dalax thought. From what he could tell from his monitor, which showed the space battle over Rhen Var, things were going well for the Glorian Empire. But down here....
It just didn't make sense. His entire army- both ground and space forces- were using the exact same complicated tactics and strategies. Even if the enemy did have an AT-AT or not, his forces should still have the upper hand.
"It's such a pity to see such great minds fall to their arrogance."
Dalax stiffened, his heart beating faster than it should have been. He had thought himself alone in the command room, all of his subordinates having left to carry out their orders throughout the harbor.
Knowing that he would regret it, the general turned around to see a fairly young human woman standing before him. She was dressed in a black robe, with crimson armor worn over it. Her eyes, as dark as her hair, seemed to be as black as the void.
Dalax tilted his head, his fear subsided by his wonder at the woman's vaguely familiar appearance. Cautiously, he said, "Who, may I ask, are you?"
The woman smiled, though it was not a warming one. "If you have to ask, you needn't know."
"Fair enough," Dalax muttered, eying her carefully. "Do you happen to know why my forces are...faltering."
"Why do you assume that I do?"
"Perhaps it's because of what you said, about 'great minds' falling to arrogance."
She laughed mirthlessly. "Ah, yes. I'm sure you could tell that I was referring to you."
Dalax blinked, momentarily confused. "I...I beg your pardon?"
"Oh, please." She walked past him and up to the structure's doorway through which the ongoing battle could be seen. "You were so confident in your schemes and calculated chances that you failed to prepare yourself for this union between the Imperial Remnant and the Galactic Alliance."
Dalax scoffed. "Their association means nothing. It would be no different if the Alliance had called in for reinforcements from Coruscant.
"Ah, but you forget." The woman turned to face him and a ray of sunlight leaking from a crevice in the ceiling created a disturbing gleam in her eyes. "The Imperial Remnant was once an empire, not unlike your own. They still know how an empire works. They know what its people are like, how its military operates. And they know now how to exploit its faults, especially after witnessing the fall of two- technically three- different empires.
"And, more often than not, arrogance is one of those faults."
Dalax stared at her in bewilderment. "Where are you going with this?"
She smiled. To him, it felt like an ice sickle was being stabbed through his heart. "I thought it was quite clear, general. You have lost this battle."
He shook his head. "No, we shall prove victorious! Our ground forces may fall, but my fleet will cripple the enemy and see to the rest of them down here."
The woman shook her head. "No, I don't think they will."
Before Dalax could reply, he felt his throat tighten, putting pressure on his windpipe. As he gagged for air, he watched as the female raised a black hood over his head.
"As I was saying, it's a pity." She reached into a pouch hanging around her waist and brought out what appeared to be a mask. "People like you have had so much potential, and yet you waste it when you become overconfident and arrogant."
She donned the mask...and realization dawned on Dalax.
The Revanchist, slayer of many Glorians, unveiled a lightsaber hilt from her robe and ignited its scarlet blade.
"Before I kill you," she whispered, "take pride in the fact that you were at least able to witness a part of your invasion before your death."
She raised the blade, poised to bisect him. "Some of your friends can't say the same."
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