CHAPTER ONE
General Hawk watched as all of the people pivotal to the Galactic Alliance's plan entered the command center on Coruscant. Comprised of beings of various species and roles, he could tell right off the bat that it wasn't going to start off well.
Perhaps it was the mysterious group that called themselves the Exiles, led by the shape-shifter Animus, that set him off. Maybe it was the large group of Jedi and Dark Jedi that had been recruited. Or maybe it was the even larger group of assorted Alliance and Imperial troopers. Whatever it was, he just knew that some of them were not going to get along well.
Once everyone was gathered at the large table in the command center's briefing room, Admiral Sien Sovv, who stood to Hawk's right, began to speak.
"I'm glad all of you could make it," he said. "As I'm sure you can tell by my presence, this is going to be a very important mission that you will be undertaking."
He pressed a panel underneath the table, conjuring up a huge holographic space map, depicting almost the entire galaxy.
"Thanks to information from our new allies, the Exiles," Sovv went on, "we finally have enough to go by to devise a plan that will help us defeat the Glorians."
He gestured to one of the Exiles, a male Siniteen dressed in a lab coat. "Zerev here shall explain."
With a nod, the Siniteen stepped up to the hologram and gestured at it with a baton. "To put it simply," he said, "we believe the Glorians are trying to rebuild the Star Forge, an ancient space station created by the Rakatan Infinite Empire and destroyed by the ancient Republic at the end of the Jedi Civil War."
He glanced at his audience and Hawk followed his gaze. Pretty much everyone except the other Exiles, Jedi Anakin Solo, and some of the troopers seemed to have no idea what he was talking about.
After a brief pause, Zerev went on. "From what we know of the original Star Forge, it was created in the Lehon system, which is located in the Unknown Regions. It was built to harness energy from Lehon's star, which was then used to build starships, even entire fleets."
His expression turned grim. "Imagine that sort of resource in the Glorians' hands. We could be facing Armageddon."
"So what do we do?" asked a Kaleesh stormtrooper in the crowd.
Admiral Sovv stepped up. "We will be sending three fleets to the Lehon system, using a secret trade route the Exiles have told us about. Each fleet will be comprised of both Alliance and Imperial ships and there will be equal command over any of the ships."
Hawk took his cue to speak. "The plan will be that, once you reach the Outer Rim-Wild Space boarder, the primary flagship, commanded by Admiral Gavin Darklighter, will dispatch a Corellian corvette and a few fighters to scout ahead and locate the Star Forge. Once the coast is clear, the fleets jump out of hyperspace and attack."
"And if the coast isn't clear?" asked a skeptical-sounding Sullustan trooper.
Hawk grimaced. "Then you will have to improvise."
He allowed the crowd to mull over his words before continuing. "So what do you say? Are we ready to go on a hunt?"
The crowd nodded assent, some more eager than others.
He smiled. "Then what are we waiting for?"
* * *
Sol Paun stood on the boarding ramp of the Forge Seeker, the CR90 corvette which would be serving as the ship sent out to scout the Lehon system. Since the corvette as well as the three flagships and other frigates would require large, diverse crews, Paun was one of the several Coruscant Security officers hired to serve as a security chief, him specifically for the Forge Seeker.
So far, he had checked off the two trooper squads and the two groups of Jedi which would be serving on board. He was a bit wary of the Dark Jedi group, but was then convinced by the 'light' Jedi that they would be all right.
It was with the volunteers that he had his field day.
Paun stared skeptically at the two Rodian brothers standing before him. "Weren't you two the same guys I arrested near the museum two years ago?"
Both of them rubbed the back of their necks awkwardly. "Er, yeah, I guess so," the taller one said. "But we've learned our lessons since then!"
Paun narrowed his eyes. "Why should I let you on board?"
"We're really good with computers!" the other one said. "We can break even the toughest of codes!"
He scowled at them. "Yeah, I should know. You're the ones who hacked into Senator Nek's social networking site."
The Rodians' expressions fell but Paun wasn't going to gall for their 'guilt ploy'; he had seen them pull it before.
Nonetheless, however, he sighed. "Fine. You can go. We need skilled technicians anyways."
Their faces lightened up. "Really?"
"Sure, but don't do anything that'll make me regret it." He glowered. "Or strangle you."
The Rodians exchanged panicked looks before hurrying onto the ship.
After waving off a shady-looking Phindian and allowing a smuggler and his Wookiee partner on board, whom he had been told took part in the Battle of Rhen Var and helped win it, he raised his gaze to a short Rybet with green skin, wide eyes, and an even wider grin.
"Oh, for the love of...." Paun sighed heavily as he glared at the frog-like being. "Hello, Cyclops...."
"Hey, how's it goin'?" the Rybet said loudly. "I hear there's an adventure going on!"
"No, there isn't," Paun said, averting his gaze back to his datapad. "Go away."
"Are you sure? I heard you were accepting volunteers to help on the ship!"
"Okay, there is an adventure, but it's incredibly boring. You wouldn't want to go on it."
"Yes, I would! Every adventure has to have some sort of excitement!"
"Death will probably be the only excitement you'll get," Paun muttered.
"Fine by me!" Cyclops exclaimed.
Paun gritted his teeth. "All right, get on board and make yourself useful."
Grinning widely, the Rybet hobbled up the boarding ramp, much to the clear disdain of the other volunteers waiting in line.
"Next!"
* * *
General Hawk watched as the Alliance ships prepared to take off. Once out of system, they would be joined by Imperial ships from Bastion at a rendezvous. From where, they would make their for the Unknown Regions.
Eventually.
"Did you tell the admirals about the Star Maps?" Jedi Master Xanus Baran asked as he walked up to stand beside him.
"Yes, I did." Hawk glanced at the Grand Master. "Why didn't you have Zerev tell them at the meeting?"
Baran sighed. "Because I first heard of them from the Revanchist leader when I spoke with him over comm after Tasen Denon's visit, shortly before Anakin and the others returned from Rhen Var."
"And you don't trust him?"
Baran shrugged, thought it could barely be seen. "He avoided all of my more pressing questions, saying that this war was more important than either him or his motives."
"Did your 'missing' Jedi have any answers when they returned from Dromund Kaas?"
Baran shook his head. "They said that they were never told anything, only that they were given the offer of joining the Dark Jedi."
Hawk bit his lip, nervous of the answer to his next question. "Are you going to speak with the Revanchist...in person?"
"You mean, go to Dromund Kaas?"
Hawk nodded.
"Then yes."
The general sighed. "I suppose I can't stop you, then. May the Force be with you, Grand Master."
"As always, my friend," Baran said as he began to leave. "As always."
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