CHAPTER TWO
Commander Ivan dropped down and rolled as an AT-AT walker went down in flames, having been torn apart by Glorian gunships. Quickly getting back to his feet, he signaled nearby anti-aircraft weapons to fire at the ships, though he knew their efforts would bear no fruit.
What does it take to beat these guys? he wondered. Even the Acclamator-class Star Destroyers were falling to the wrath of mere starfighters.
As two TIE Crawlers rolled up behind him, Ivan gestured for them to stop.
"Fall back and regroup," he instructed the pilots. "We need a new strategy."
The two tanks did as ordered while Ivan sent the same message to the rest of his soldiers. As they began to retreat, he started to wonder what made this battle different than the one at Rhen Var, which saw victory for the Alliance and Remnant. Perhaps the Glorians were better prepared. Perhaps they had better strategies.
Either way, things were not looking good for either the Alliance or the Remnant....
* * *
"How goes the Battle of Denon?"
Shimmering before the Supreme Commander in holographic form, General Creno said, "The Imperial Remnant forces are easily being crushed. It is only a matter of time before they either retreat or surrender."
"And if they do neither?" General Starka asked.
Creno's eyes seemed to gleam with smugness. "Then I will at least respect them for fighting to the last man."
Starka nodded and turned to another one of the six generals surrounding him. "And Kooriva?"
"We have successfully subjugated Kooriva," General Sogi said haughtily. "Shall my forces go to assist Tomar's at Manaan?"
"Yes, we must guard the contents of the Star Map there at all costs." Starka pressed his fingers together. "Especially considering that the Tatooine Star Map has already been... tampered with."
General Benag snorted. "I told you that the Snatchers would be no use. Besides, it should no longer matter; we are growing closer and closer to Coruscant each day. If the enemy were to discover the Star Forge by that time, it would be too late."
"As much as I would like to agree," Starka said, "I shall not let arrogance blind us like many other great military minds. I want you and your fleet to return to the Lehon system and ensure security there."
Benag glared at him but did not dare argue with the Supreme Commander.
"Will that be all then?" Creno asked.
Starka nodded. "Yes. You are all dismissed."
Once the six holograms had vanished, Starka pressed a control panel on his chair's armrest. A seventh hologram shimmered alive and the Supreme Commander bowed before it.
"My liege," he said to the Glorian Emperor. "I take it you have heard of the... Tatooine incident."
"Information travels quickly throughout the Empire, general," the Emperor growled. "It would be a surprise if I hadn't heard of it right away."
"I instructed Agent Eclipse in placing a saboteur on board. I trust that he has things under control."
"I do hope so, general, for your sake." The Emperor's face contorted into a snarl. "We are too close to victory for you to ruin things."
"I assure you, my liege," Starka murmured. "Everything shall go as you planned."
"Yes, general. As I planned."
With that, the hologram disappeared, leaving Starka alone to brood on his words.
* * *
Anakin gritted his teeth as Captain Jaon performed evasive maneuvers to avoid the firepower now coming from the Trucemaker and the Glorian warships.
"This is going to be close!" Jaon shouted as the Forge Seeker shook heavily. "Rex, find a system that we can jump off to quickly!"
The RX-Series pilot droid did so and hastily announced a report. "The only clear one I can see is Ryloth on the Old Corellian Run."
Jaon shook his head. "That's too popular a trade route. They probably have an artificial gravity well in place. Can we make a wild jump?"
Rex searched the navigation grid again. "To the Naos system, perhaps. However, I doubt our chances are-"
"Don't bore me with the details," Jaon snapped as he narrowly evaded a powerful attack from one of the warships. "Set in the coordinates, and hurry!"
The droid quickly punched in the numbers into the navigation computer and then gave Jaon a thumb's up.
"Hold on tight," the captain cried as he pulled the hyperdrive switch.
At first, nothing happened. Anakin bit his lower lip, sensing the enemy ships closing in on them. Then, at the last minute, the stars began to blur before them as the CR90 corvette launched into hyperspace.
* * *
The captain of the Trucemaker frowned as the Forge Seeker vanished into the darkness of space. He had no idea where it had jumped off to, but he could tell that it was not on any of the public trade routes.
Before he could figure out where they had gone, his comlink chimed.
The captain cursed under his breath as he answered the call. "Agent Ghost, here."
"Agent Eclipse. Report."
Ghost hesitated before speaking. "I have succeeded in taking command of the Trucemaker. Admiral Darklighter is currently incapacitated."
"And the Forge Seeker?"
Ghost sighed. "They have... gotten away."
The silence on the other end was the worst reprimand Ghost had ever received.
"I had faith in you," Eclipse finally said, his tone bitter. "We agents have a, how should I say, track record of success. The Watcher does not take failure well."
Ghost found it hard to swallow. "I... understand. I take it that the punishment will be death?"
"In most cases, yes. However, in yours, we may have further use for you...."
A chill suddenly ran sharply down the agent's back as he felt the unmistakable breath of a Syren on the back of his neck.
"How...?"
"A spy always needs their own shadow," Eclipse said. "Otherwise, to whom do we turn to trust?"
As the ghoulish create wrapped its arms around Ghost's waist, pulling him into its fatal embrace, he let out the last sound he would ever make.
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