Eye Of The Storm

[Trenton Vinh]

"It has been three days since the Kylantha's Jewel exited Hyperspace just outside of Coruscant's atmosphere. Within hours, the civilians aboard had been removed and for the next twenty-four hours, remained in captivity for questioning, and so specialists could keep an eye on them. Dozens were reported to have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, several with worse conditions. One passenger committed suicide, the deaths of his family too much for him to take. Millions of citizens from across the Galaxy have joined the Military in the hopes of defending their planets from this new threat, and training has begun on dozens of planets.

The Jedi and Mandalorians that had led the rescue mission were watched as well. But after a quick debriefing, they were released.
The Jedi Order received a comprehensive report of the events of the mission from its Jedi.

In orbit, a half-dozen Republic vessels are now laying a carefully calculated mine-field around the Coruscant. The mines will eventually surround the entire planet, at an angle just steep enough to keep the mines bouncing off the planet's atmosphere, effectively keeping them in from crashing down onto the cities.
The security measures have been activated due to the new threat, which has been filling every page of the Holonets. The Senate has considered the events aboard the Kylantha's Jewel and the ensuing space battle, to be an act of war.
Representing the Jedi Order, Aundria Fenix has just reported the events on a Jedi Mission to Belkadan to the senate, and the outcry was furious.
Several planets have cried for an immediate military response, but they were voted down for a more cautious approach.
The Galaxy is now under preparations for war, but the New Republic will not act before being positive of the invaders' purposes. If war is inevitable, we will be ready.

Famed Jedi Master Trenton Vinh was spotted today, followed by an entourage of reporters as he headed to a special meeting with the Supreme Chancellor. The meeting has been called for unknown purposes. Supreme Chancellor Winger will no doubt thank the Jedi, as there is no doubt that the Jedi Order and Mandalorians involved in the events of the last few days are heroes.
The events, now being referred to as 'First Contact' left thousands of New Republic Military and Mandalorian forces dead. Reports show that over a thousand civilians were executed on board the Kylantha's Jewel.
There are rumors of another attack on the planet Dantooine, but no reports have been made. The Jedi have dispatched a number of their own to investigate.

There are rumors that the Jedi have also captured a Yuuzhan Vong 'shaper'. These shapers are rumored to be the scientists of their race, responsible for creating the biological technology that the Yuuzhan Vong employ.

Now, with the New Republic scrambling to ready its military, and scientists struggling to understand the weapons and technology this new threat employs, all we can do is wait, and hope that the situation is resolved before an all out war begins."


Jonathan Rohaeus suppressed a groan as the report on Galactic Affairs ended. He looked up at Aeolan Kicka, his wingmate and co-leader of Vortex Squadron.
Aeolan shrugged wordlessly. Both were thinking the same thing, and both didn't want to say it aloud.
War is coming.
They could both feel it. Hell, the whole Galaxy could feel it. But at least Chancellor Winger had been smart enough to not try to hide the fact. Had he decided to try and conceal the threat, he would no doubt have had many larger problems on hand.
But Jon wasn't in the mood to discuss politics. He had to find Ghev Dralin, and ask the man some info about his missing ship.
Jon had missed the communication earlier on, shortly before the beginning of the battle, but Ghev had asked for his help.
Jon and Aeolan were known for their piloting skills, and investigations were a specialty of theirs as well. Ghev no doubt had something difficult for them, and they wouldn't expect any less from a Mandalorian.

The Corellian pair strode down a few hallways inside the Jedi Temple, where Ghev and his Mandalorians had been granted a special temporary housing unit. Jon hadn't heard much about what was going on with the Mando's, but from what he understood, there had been some kind of mutiny during the fight, that resulted in almost doubling the amount of Mandalorian casualties.
Jon was saddened to hear such news. He had always hoped the best for Ghev Dralin, and it looked like the Galaxy just kept throwing more and more flak at him, in an effort to see how much he could handle.

Aeolan asked quietly, "What are we going to do with Vortex?" as they rode the turbolift up towards the level the Mandalorians were housed in.
Both men had been thinking over that question for days now. ever since it was nearly wiped out by the Vong.
Jon didn't like the answer, but it was the best decision, for now,
"We will suspend all of Vortex's activities for now. The others can work with the Jedi or Mandalorians if Ghev will allow them. Or they can go home, whatever they wish. You and I, however, will be taking the Repletion to wherever Ghev needs us to be. The guy needs someone to give him a helping hand, and we may as well be the ones to do it."
As he spoke, his hand gently brushed the hilt of the sword Ghev had given him. He hadn't used it often in the years he had owned it, but when he had used it, it had saved his life.
He remembered when he had first found a use for it, on board the Death Star Prototype. A genetically-modified Dark Trooper had cornered him in a hallway, and proceeded to beat Jon to a pulp for a while. After a bit of a skirmish, Jon had found the discarded blade and plunged it into the eye socket of the Dark Trooper.
He had then dragged himself back to the ship and unceremoniously passed out.
He smiled at the memory. Things had always seemed simpler back then. Vortex had been an invincible force. It had been that battle that proved them to be as mortal as the rest, when a friendly-fire incident had caused the death of one of their own.
Kriffing Galaxy. Can't be happy to have peace for a while. Every couple years of peace and it throws another war in our face, this one worse than the last. It has barely even started and our entire squadron was nearly wiped out. What's next?
He shuddered as the turbolift came to a halt, and the doors slid open.
Ghev would be here somewhere. Jon and Aeolan would find him, and head off in search of his missing people as soon as they could.

[Ghev Dralin]

Ghev sat alone, wearing what he liked to call 'civvies'. Black pants and boots, with a green vest beneath an open black leather jacket. His armour lay to one side, repainted in it's former colours; black, with red sigils and a white trim.
He'd decided that for security purposes, the colour-rank system should be abandoned. A Mandalorian on Coruscant would still draw attention, but if Tracyn had spies here, they'd be looking for Ghev's military coding.

He finished sharpening his bes'kad, and held the flat blade up to the light, staring down it. Satisfied, he sheathed the weapon and was about to find something to eat when the turbolift doors opened. Aeolan and Jon stepped out, and Ghev smiled to himself.
Making his way past groups of Mandalorians, most of them out of their armour, he stepped up to the Corellian pair, saving them the trouble of finding him.
"Ner vode, glad you could make it" he said, shaking their hands. "I wouldn't normally ask favours, but this is one I need" he admitted.
He led them through into a back room, which apparently served as a planning and strategy centre for the Jedi. Ghev suspected they'd given the Mandalorians access to this point for a reason.
Ghev shut the door, and approached the holotransmitter in the centre of the room.

Slowly rotating was a blue image of a Lictor-class war vessel, and beside it, another hologram of a micro-sized version of the galactic map.
"I need some out-of-the-box thinking" Ghev said. "This ship, the 'Hammerfall', went missing while hosting a search and rescue op in the Tingel Arm".
He gestured to the galactic map, then zoomed in on the Tingel Arm. A pulsing red light indicated the ship's last known whereabouts.
"Commander Dala was searching for a missing shuttle, which followed an alien ship into the unknown regions. We've heard from neither the shuttle, or the 'Hammerfall', but Dala was under orders to remain within known boundaries" he said.
He studied the two men, wondering if they could see where this was going.
"Simply put, I need someone who's mind works differently to ours. I need the 'Hammerfall' found, if she's still in one piece. If not, I need to know what happened, and if any of her crew are still alive". He paused to clear his throat, then switched the view of the galactic map again.
"If the 'Hammerfall' was attacked, Dala would have jumped the ship. If he was able to, that is" Ghev muttered. "If not... well, we'll see. I normally have my own out-of-the-box thinker for this kind of thing, but... well, she's the one who went missing in the Unknown Regions. Mira Hokan."

He silently wondered if she was still alive. He wondered if, had she been with him on 'Kylantha's Jewel', she'd have sided with him or stabbed him in the back like so many others.
He snapped out of it. Now was no time to be getting paranoid about his own people.
"Are you in?"

[Ta'hok]

Needless to say Kyle was not happy at being slighted. Jet obviously had no idea how valuable he could be in a fight. The jedi hadn't stuck around long enough for Kyle to get over his shock and give him the verbal assault he had coming to him, so Kyle had decided to stick around and wait for Jon. He was glad his patience had been rewarded. He went to the turbolift deciding to wait for the corellian pilot. After all he'd have to come down sooner or later. Kyle took up a post against the wall leaning back with his right leg bent to rest his foot against the wall as well.

[Trenton Vinh]

Jon hadn't even taken more than a dozen paces into the room when Ghev was standing in front of him. Jon blinked in surprise, the man had obviously noticed them come in.
He smiled and shook Ghev's hand, Aeolan stepping forward to do the same, before stepping back beside Jon and shoving his hands into his pockets casually.
"Good to see you're still kicking Ghev. Sorry to hear about your losses. I can't say I know exactly how you feel, but I have an idea."

He took careful mental notes while Ghev showed them the Hammerfall, and then the region of space it was last known to be in.
He briefly counted the planets he knew of in that area of space:
Arbra, Triffib, Naboo, Zhan, Melida/Daan, and a bit further off is Geonosis, Tatooine, and Rhyloth. This search is going to be tough as durasteel.

He looked up at Ghev and answered, "We're in. We'll start by checking its last known location. A ship that size may have left some ion trails. By now they're most likely gone, but if there was any damage, it may have left a more lasting clue."
Aeolan eyed Ghev carefully and said, "We'll find your people. Don't worry. You have bigger issues to deal with, let us focus on this one. We'll keep in contact with you."
They exchanged goodbyes before riding the turbolift back down to the main floor of the Jedi Temple.

When they arrived at the bottom floor, Jon spotted a familiar face and asked, "Kyle? What are you doing here?"

Jon strode over to the younger man while Aeolan headed to the Docking Bay to let Vortex know of the temporary suspension of activities, and prepare the Repletion for takeoff.

[Ta'hok]

Kyle watched Jon approach, his eyes becoming more angry with every word the corellian spoke. Submerged frustration rose in a sudden wave of titanic proportions and Kyle let lose.

"What am I doing here? What am I doing here? As if you don't know," Kyle took a step away from the wall before continuing. "You left me on Tatooine as if you expected I wouldn't be smart enough to find out where you were. Do I look like I'm that incapable or something!? Do I look like a complete idiot!! Where are you off to this time? Rhyloth? Gonna drag me along and then abandon me again or something? I've had it!! Where is he? Where is my master!?" Kyle's fists were clenched his eyes burning with inner fury. He wanted to grab a fistful of Jon's shirt and lift him off the ground, but he kept his distance. He didn't want to be caught by surprise if Jon pulled a weapon or something.

[Trenton Vinh]

Jon raised his eyebrows in surprise as Kyle yelled at him, one hand dropping towards his blaster. He kept his hand close to the weapon, an annoyed look on his face. When the boy shut his mouth he snapped back, "I don't know where the kriffing guy is. Why don't you find him yourself?"

He stepped towards Kyle, looking intimidating and as if he was going to strike the boy. He wasn't in the mood for this, his week had been hard enough as it is, but instead he spat, "Did it ever cross your mind that he doesn't want to train you? Do you think he left you there for no reason? Maybe you can quit being so fracking selfish about what you want and think about what he wants, what other people want! Go join the military and save some lives. If he doesn't want you to find him than you won't.
"And don't cry to me about your petty little problems, you selfish brat! Half of my squadron, half of my best friends were killed less than a week ago. So shut up and don't cry to me about something as pathetic as your problems. Go chase a Krayt Dragon."

Jon stared down his chin at the boy for a moment before turning to walk away. He almost felt bad. He had been through a bad week, and a lot of anger inside to get out, but it wasn't the kid's fault. But he deserved it, acting like such a broken hydrospanner like that.

[Ta'hok]

Kyle turned and glared at Jon's back as the pilot walked passed him. Was he telling the truth or trying to shake Kyle again? Kyle decided it didn't matter the corellian had mentioned something that had never crossed Kyle's mind before. What did his master want? Kyle's current mood wouldn't allow him to consider the thought further but he did know one thing for sure. He may not be able to find his master on his own, or even Chelsea who seemed to have vanished like water in the desert, but he had found Jon and he was sticking to him.

Kyle walked after Jon, moving with much more silence then he had when they first met. Another teaching of Jon's, though Kyle hated to admit it, the corellian had made a good point when he'd mentioned that The Master of Shadow was seen and heard only when he wanted to be. Jon didn't notice him until they had reached the docking bay at which point he turned and gaped. Kyle found he couldn't read the expression enough to tell if Jon was angry or surprised that Kyle was there. Kyle straitened himself and crossed his arms over his chest not saying a word though his posture screamed defiance.

[Trenton Vinh]

Jon frowned at Kyle when he spotted the kid following him.
His first thought was to beat the kid to a pulp, but decided against it. He didn't want to cause any more problems for anyone else, and the kid was just following his dreams.
Jon sighed and walked up the loading ramp of the Repletion, letting it close behind him. He had the feeling Kyle may try to sneak aboard, but, frankly, he didn't care. He wasn't going to find Shadow Stalker anytime soon.
He had thought about it, but last time he had talked to Chelsea...well...He had other things to worry about. At the moment, his only goal was to find the Hammerfall.

He found Aeolan on the bridge, which had been modified to be able to fly with a very small crew. The Repletion was a Corellian Corvette that Vortex had used countless times. The ship had been damaged and nearly destroyed, repaired and refitted to suit their needs. It had an extra-large docking bay made to fit more than a dozen starfighters, shields strong enough to protect a cruiser, engines fast enough to break a blockade, radar jamming equipment, and some other perks.

Aeolan saw the look on Jon's face and muttered from a control console, "You look like you could use a drink or twelve."
Jon shrugged and replied, "Yeah. I sure could."
Aeolan tossed him a half-hearted grin and said, "Want to stop by Nar Shaddaa and get more toasted than a clumsy Jedi on Mustafar?"
Jon grinned at the mental image conjured by the joke, and shook his head, "No. We owe Ghev a solid. The guy could no doubt use a break."
Aeolan nodded, "Yeah. I feel sorry for the guy...leading a group like the Mandalorians must take its toll."
Jon frowned, "You would feel the same as he does if you ever actually did anything with the Black Star Alliance."
Aeolan shrugged, "The Alliance has its orders. They only comm me when something big comes up."
Jon shrugged this time, "At least their resources are at our disposal if we ever get desperate."

The ship rumbled as Aeolan fired the engines, and Jon fired the repulsorlifts. The Corellian Corvette lifted off the landing pad and the engines blasted. The ship blasted into the sky and tore off towards space.

[Ta'hok]

Kyle was surprised when Jon didn't throw more shouts his way or pull a weapon on him. Despite his shock and confusion he continued forward boarding the ship openly. He figured it would be better then stowing away but Jon didn't seem to be paying him any attention. Kyle was looking around the interior of the ship trying to orient himself to his new surroundings when the engines started. His face turned pale and he tried to get to a safer place to be. Unfortunately for him Aeolan and Jon loved flying and probably didn't think they had another passenger on board. As the ship took off Kyle was thrown into a wall and pinned their by forces he couldn't begin to understand let alone fight against. He moaned his stomach churning.

[Trenton Vinh]

The Corellian Corvette hurtled through Hyperspace for a few hours, until Aeolan dialed back the drives and the ship slipped into realspace once again.
They were in the mid rim, close to Naboo, Rodia, Falleen, and the more distant Malastare.
They were in a distant part of space, nothing much nearby worth seeing.
There were odd chunks of debris drifting all over the place, looking like something had fallen apart nearby.

Everything was eerily silent as the Corellian Corvette moved slowly forward.
There wasn't much light in this area, due to its distance from the nearest stars, so they had to be cautious that they didn't hit anything large.

Both Jon and Aeolan were peering deeply into the darkness through the viewport, only able to define where objects were by the lack of stars. The backdrop pinpoints of light allowed for them to spot debris before they get too close, allowing them to get around most dangerously large chunks.
Jon dimmed the lights inside the cockpit, so they didn't have to strain their eyes as much to see outside.

After almost twenty minutes of scouring the area, Jon broke to silence to say, "Well...I think we can assume what happened to the Hammerfall. She took some heavy damage and took off. There isn't enough debris around to make up the entire hull. And the Vong weapons, from what I've seen...don't tend to vaporize. They melt. So there should be a lot more than just this."

Aeolan whispered, "Perhaps the Vong have weapons we haven't seen yet that could vaporize?"

Jon shrugged distractedly, "Could be. But I have the feeling that isn't what happened."

Aeolan nodded, "I get the same feeling."

[Trenton Vinh]

After several hours of fruitless searching for any signs of life, Jon was about ready to call it quits. He would inform Ghev that they found nothing, but he wouldn't give up just yet. He refused to let the man down.

Aeolan yawned, and stretched. Several pops could be heard, and he muttered, "Ow."
Jon grinned, and glanced at the man. In the darkness of the cockpit, his friend was cast into deep shadow. The only light was from the distant stars, illuminating Aeolan's face at an odd angle. The man suddenly seemed much older, wiser.
Jon frowned, the aging look the light gave his friend made him think about his future...his past.
He pondered several things. Where he would be in a year, five years, twenty years. He didn't have an answer. He had no idea. His life was too...scattered. A few friends, come and gone, a few comrades, lived and died. What would happen to him when he finally passed on? Who would remember him?

This is Captain Mirala Hokan. I'm alive, but in a situation on Naboo. I hold information on a threat to the Galaxy, and it is imperative that I reach friendly grounds. The Naboo refused to listen, and I fear their King has gone mad with power, along with his advisor. If anyone is out there, rendezvous at Dee'ja Peak.


He didn't even realize what the sound was at first. The crackling signal seemed to catch Aeolan's attention, who jumped to work on setting up Hyperspace coordinates.
Jon took a moment. His disinterest went unnoticed by his friend, who bustled around. Jon continued to stare at the spot Aeolan had been sitting, seeing but not really seeing.

Chelsea.
The name popped into his mind as if someone had spoken it.
It was a name that had crossed his mind more often than he would admit. A name that usually gave him a smile, albeit a longing one.
He began to remember her more clearly, the memories popping into his mind one by one, as if he was sifting through sand, slowly uncovering pieces.

He remembered her face, her smile, the sway of her hips when she walked...
"Wake up, bantha-brains." Aeolan said, whapping Jon upside the head.
Jon jumped out of his chair and everything rushed into his mind. The transmission, Naboo, Mirala.
He opened a comm channel and sent a message to Ghev,

"Dralin. Its Jon. We found your girl. Shes on Naboo. We're going to go get her now. Sounds like there's trouble there, though. We will keep in touch, but may be a little while getting back, depending on the situation."

He dropped back into a chair and looked to Aeolan, who nodded at him, "Hyperspace course set."
Jon nodded back, "Take us there."

And with that, the Repletion disappeared into Hyperspace.

[Ghev Dralin]

Ghev sighed with relief as the transmission came through to his helmet comm.
"Something wrong ner vod?" Jak asked, putting a hand on Ghev's shoulder.
Ghev shook his head, looking at the starmap floating before them.
"Mira's been found" he said. A few Mandalorians seemed to relax, the news easing a small part of their tension.
"She'll be with us soon enough. Let's continue" Ghev said, indicating the starmap.
"We know Tracyn occupies most of Manda'yaim, but he's been absent along with most of his collective forces" Xan said, indicating Mandalore on the map.
"We could reclaim the planet" a voice suggested.
"No, I won't turn this into a turf war" Ghev said, his voice hoarse. "But if he's not at home, where is he?"
"Spies suggest he set out to Thyferra some days ago, but were unable to determine why" Xan murmered. Thyferra was closer to Coruscant than Ghev would have liked.

He studied the map closely, as though willing it to give him a quick solution.
"Sir?" one of the Mandalorians asked, catching his attention.
"Sorry. The situation seems so..." he began, then realised these people had put their faith in him. To announce the situation to be hopeless would be to drain that hope. "The situation is difficult, but we can overcome it. We need to know who his spies are, we need to know where he's planning on moving next and what his goals are" he said, spurring his people into action.
"Move like we have a purpose, people. I'll be damned if that darmand'alor thinks he'll lead our people".

********

Thyferra had been more than homely to Tracyn and his people, which was good for them. Many of them feared the Mandalorians and gave them a wide berth.
The relocation had been necessary; Mandalore was too far out of the way to keep up proper surveillance on Ghev, and besides, the former Mand'alor would doubtless return home, to honour his dead and try to reclaim the planet.

If his plan had gone accordingly, it wouldn't be long before Ghev found himself exiled from Coruscant anyway. Soon, Shysa would be returning to Thyferra to collect his reward. Strangely, Tracyn hadn't heard from the hunter since he'd reported his arrival on Coruscant.
"Mand'alor, latest intel from Coruscant" a Mandalorian said, passing Tracyn a datapad.
The Mandalorians were reportedly staying close to the Jedi Temple, though it couldn't be determined if they'd set up residence nearby, or were staying in the building itself.
The remainder of Ghev's fleet orbited the planet. Remainder? It still amounts to more of a fleet than I have, Tracyn thought. The mutiny had been almost a clean split; except that, while Tracyn had received more ground forces, Ghev had made off with most of the fleet.
Even MandalMotors and MandalHypernautics had banded with Ghev, which meant the fleet would likely be growing once both companies established rights to build in Coruscant space.
Tracyn, in the meantime, was torn between dealing with the other shipyards in the galaxy. He'd already received offers from an ever-capitalising Kuat Drive Yards. News travelled fast.

Flipping through the datapad, he finally came across the piece of news he'd been waiting for. Orla had been located.
It was time to act.