Senior Cheif Petty Officer Jack Nebulax, the Executive Officer of Nazgul Squadron, had just sat down for a talk with Nazgul's leader, Chief Warrant Officer Shazam. Jack was the room to discuss the current status of Senior Crewman Darius, who had been convicted of a crime and sentanced to prison in the spice mines of Kessel.

"There just has to be a way to resuce Darius," Jack said to Shazam. "He doesn't deserve to be there."

"I agree with you, Jack," Shazam began, "but do you realize that any attempt at breaking him out of prison could be considered as an act of treason?"

"I'm aware of the circumstances, but - " Jack tried to say.

"But nothing," Shazam said as he cut his friend off in mid-sentence. "As much as Darius should be set free, I don't want to see another Nazgul squadronmate get jailed for trying to bail another person out!"

"Sir, I want to get Darius out no matter what," Jack annouced clearly. He then toned his voice down to a whisper, "Even if I have to get into jail to get him out. I could make it seem like I was the one who did the crime, no him."

"I don't want my XO in prison!" Shazam burst out. "If we would do this, everyone would be sent to those spice mines for life!"

"I understand, sir. But can you just do me a favor and ask Japheth about a shorter setancing for Dar?" Jack suggested.

"I'll see what I can do. But you have to promise me, no trying to break him out. Don't even discuss this to any of the other squadronmates, okay?"

"Yessir. Understood," Jack said.

"Thanks, Jack. Good bye," Shazam said as Jack got up and left the room. Waiting outside for him were Arturus, DJ234, and Jen Knight, all of them members of Nazgul. They had been listening in on the conversation.

"So what are we going to do, Jack?" DJ asked.

"DJ, no matter what we do, Shazam won't accompany us," Jen said.

"Jen's right, Jack. Nothing will persuade him at this time," Art said sadly.

Jack turned his mechanical right hand into a fist. "No matter what, we're saving Dar from the spice mines. Who's with me?"

After considering the offer, the other three members of Nazgul Squadron spoke their verbal agreement. They all put their hands in on top of Jack's.

"We'll get ready for the mission in a few hours, okay? Nazgul Squadron, in the words of Shazam, Let's do this!" Jack said with a satisfied grin.
 
-----------------------
Revenge is what holds this galaxy together. Without it, the universe would be a boring place.

------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Chief Petty Officer and Reporter Jack Nebulax, Imperial Navy and VE Today Staff, Vast Empire.
XO/FL/SCPO Jack Nebulax/Nazgul 5 (2-1)/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=) (=*SA*=) [VC:B]
Rep|Int/Rep Jack Nebulax/Rep: 4/Reporters-Interviewers/VE/VET
------------------------------------------------------------
Admiral Jack Nebulax, third-in-command of the Auroran Defense Fleet (ADF) and leader of Nemesis Wing (Wing I)

Jack was walking along a corridor when Jen Knight and Arturus came running up to him.

"We've lost DJ to Shazam," Jen said as Jack walked toward them.

"And Shazam managed to get Aldur, Omulis, and Raddon," Art said. "But otherwise, we have everyone else from the squadron."

"Everyone except Darius," Jack said. "Okay guys, listen. We're technically still on vacation time, which means Naval High Command doesn't need to track our whereabouts. This is good. We have time to rescue Dar from the mines of Kessel. But first, we need to gather everyone who's with us and find a secret briefing place."

"What about the medic bays? I'm sure your future wife Alexia will keep us hidden," Jen suggested.

"I'll contact her to see if we could hide in there. But we'll need a backup plan in case they find us in there," Jack said.

"The simulator rooms," Art blurted out. "We can make it seem like we're planning some tactics for a sim. We hook up to one, we can discuss the mission as we practice our shooting skills."

"Good idea, Art," Jack said. "Okay, I'll contact Alexia. If we can't get in there, which I doubt we'll be able to hide in there, we'll go to the sim rooms. Everyone got the plan?"

"Yep," Art replied.

"Sure thing, Jack," Jen replied as well.

"I'll contact you and the rest of the group later on and let you know. I'll see you at the briefing," Jack said as the group split up and headed their separate ways.
 
-----------------------
Revenge is what holds this galaxy together. Without it, the universe would be a boring place.

------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Chief Petty Officer and Reporter Jack Nebulax, Imperial Navy and VE Today Staff, Vast Empire.
XO/FL/SCPO Jack Nebulax/Nazgul 5 (2-1)/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=) (=*SA*=) [VC:B]
Rep|Int/Rep Jack Nebulax/Rep: 4/Reporters-Interviewers/VE/VET
------------------------------------------------------------
Admiral Jack Nebulax, third-in-command of the Auroran Defense Fleet (ADF) and leader of Nemesis Wing (Wing I)

Knight walked away from their secret conversation with a small smirk painted across her face. They were going to do it. They, without any their Squadron leader's help, was going to rescue Darius. "I can't believe this actually might work!" Jen burst out to herself, eyes focused intently on her hands.
"And going behind Shazam's back, no less!--"

Corwin, one of the newest recruits was struting down the hallway towards her, still clutching on to his bag of brought supplies . "I don't think we have met before."

Jen smiled and extended her right hand. "No, I don't believe we have. Crewman Corwin, I am Petty Officer 2nd Class Jen Knight. Welcome to the Nazgul Squadron."

He grasped on for a firm handshake. "Thank you, ma'am. Can I ask you a question?" Corwin lifted his bag off his shoulder, setting it gently on the floor.

"Sure, you are always free to ask questions and you don't have to call me ma'am, Jen will do just fine."

"Alright, cool. Uh, I just got back from basic training and I was wondering where the barracks were, or somewhere to put my stuff. I've been carrying this around for awhile now.." Corwin patted the top of his bag, which seemed to be filled to the brim with stuff.

Jen turned right and started walking down a different hallway." Follow me. I'm suprised they didn't show you where this was after you completed BT."

Corwin's eyes averted Jen's green ones. "Yeah..I wandered off from the group and got lost. Then I saw you."

"That was lucky you did. Here we are." Jen stopped in front of a black metal door and opened it. "You can put all the things you can manage to fit in there. This room is yours."

Corwin stepped inside and threw the bag on his bed. "Ooh, cozy." He smiled, leaning against the doorway.

A huge grin spread across Jen's lips. "Yep, it can be as comfortable as you will it to be...Hmm tell me. Has Shazam, our Squadron leader, talked to you?"

"Nope, haven't met him yet. Why? Should I go speak with him?" Corwin looked around and started to close the door to his room.

"No!" Jen pushed Corwin inside with a good shove and slammed the door behind her. "Uh..I mean...you don't need to yet.."

Corwin raised a brow and stared up at Jen from his current spot on the floor. "What's going on?"

"It might take awhile to explain.." Jen's back rested against the door, the cool metal seeped through her uniform, sending a chill up her spine.

"I have time. Tell me."

Close to two hours later, Jen had finished the Squadron's story.

"..And that's why we must get Darius back. Shazam won't let us go with his permission, but a few still of us are still determined to go the mines and save him." Jen was sitting on the floor next to Corwin, her legs resting underneath her.

"I want to come with you...I wanna meet this Darius guy." 

Jen's eyes lit up. "You do? You will?! This is great!" She pushed herself off the floor and stretched her arms high above her head. "There's going to be a meeting soon, so we can figure some of the basics out. I'll come get you when it starts...Oh and don't metion this to anyone. If we are found out..we could end up with the same fate as Darius. Or worse. Ok?" Her face hardened as she spoke with little emotion.

"Yeah, yeah...I got it." Corwin got up and opened the door for Jen. "Thanks for taking all that time to explain what happened to you guys."

"No problem. Cya around." She smiled, playfully saluting to him as she turned to walk out the door.









 
-----------------------
Jen Knight

As Darkness falls, Night unfolds ebon wings to wrap the world in its dark embrace...

Vast Empire Navy
FM/PO2 Jen Knight/Nazgul 12 (3-4)/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE(=*A*=)

Jack keyed on his comlink. "Kessel Group," he said into his comlink to some of his fellow squadronmates, "We'll have to meet in the simulator rooms. Alexia said that the her area might not be a good place to meet. So, everyone into the sims in half a standard hour."

Jen Knight replied, "Got you, Jack. We'll see you soon."

"Good, everyone. See you in half an hour." Then he clicked off the comm and began to walk around for a little bit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After walking around the Star Destroyer, Jack decided that it was time. He headed for the simulators and found Art practicing some shooting.

"Glad you could make it, Art," Jack said.

"Always ready to help someone," Art replied. "Where's everyone else?"

"I suppose that they're coming now," Jack said.

Just as he said that, Corwin, Jen, and the rest of Nazgul that was going to Kessel with Jack walked in.

"Ready to get hooked up?" Corwin said with excitement.

"Come on, let's get this briefing on now," Jen said.

"Yeah, I'm ready to rescue Darius," Art said.

"Okay, let's get hooked up," Jack said as his teammates hooked up to simulators. They prepared for the briefing. But first, a little target practice wouldn't hurt.
 
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Revenge is what holds this galaxy together. Without it, the universe would be a boring place.

------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Chief Petty Officer and Reporter Jack Nebulax, Imperial Navy and VE Today Staff, Vast Empire.
XO/FL/SCPO Jack Nebulax/Nazgul 5 (2-1)/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=) (=*SA*=) [VC:B]
Rep|Int/Rep Jack Nebulax/Rep: 4/Reporters-Interviewers/VE/VET
------------------------------------------------------------
Admiral Jack Nebulax, third-in-command of the Auroran Defense Fleet (ADF) and leader of Nemesis Wing (Wing I)

(Doin a good job guys, lets use this story to do a little practice now...)

Shazam and DJ were currently doing thier best to navigate the maw with as much cushion as possible.  Everyone had heard stories of the magnificent Kessel smuggling runs, but they'd also heard of people vanquishing in the Maw with sufficient space, so it was best to gets some distance and travel at a pretty good rate. 

In the back, the recruits were trying thier best to organize all the crap that Shazam randomly purchased. 

"You can get this stuff on a commanders paycheck?"  Aldur joked.  He was playing with the weapons supply Shazam kept under lock and key.  Which begged the question-

"How'd you get in there?" Raddon raised his eyebrows and scurried next to his squadron member like a little boy trying to play with his friends toys. 

Omulis continued to rumage.  He glanced to his right for a moment, but then glanced right back suddenly realizing it was another closet.  Holy crap this thing was loaded, he thought to himself.

He stood up as the other two continued to bicker and pushed the door release and manually slid it to the left. 

"Guys, check this out..."  The other two turned thier heads and then clammored over to investigate.

"Where does he get this stuff?"  Raddon queried as he dug his hand in between the various armored suits and costumes.

"Imperial officer's uniform?"  Omulis noticed.

"I think this is armor from the royal guard, heh"  Aldur pulled it out and started t check out the fittings.  "I think we have enough to convince them of our status..." he continued.

"Except ID cards..." Omulis ponited out.

"Nope, it appears Shazam has the idenification along with the clothing here, must have stripped them right off the people wearing them, heh..."

"Actually I was working in the dry cleaning protion of a star destroyer before I was put into a squadron...  Plenty of obortunity to make copies..."  Shazam was followd closely by DJ as they appeared from the middle hallway.

"We're out of the Maw already?"  Aldur was starting to think they had beaten the record.

"Well, kinda.  WE're in a straight away for the next fifteen minutes, so I figured this was the best time to..."  Shazam noticed DJ nodding behind him," Dude, get back there...."  He said in an irritated voice.

"OH..."  DJ sprinted back to the co-pilots chair..."

"Figured it was the perfect opportunity to see what you guys found.  I can't remember half the stuff I have."  The commander shrugged and got all fours to see.

"Imperial Royal Guard passes?" Raddon couldn't beleive it.

"Actually, just royal guard passes.  Those are back from the day of the Republic.  I have the costumes too, but theier blue.  I think we can paint the helmets red and find some fabric of the same color."

"I can mess with these ID's,"  Aldur said confidently.

"Alright, maybe we can get Dar out without any trouble at all.  Especially if they think I was sent with the Royal Guard.  Then again, maybe we shouldn't over do it..."

"Nah..." they shrugged all at once and went to work....

(Lol, start exploring those characters people.)
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:B]

The simulator practice/"mission" briefing had gone well. Everyone now knew what they had to do. They all had to land on Kessel, find the place where Darius was being held, and break him out without causing any deaths. But that wasn't all. They then had to wait for Darius's name to be cleared so that he could be brought back to the Vast Empire with ease. It was tricky, but with the right teamwork, they could pull it off.

Jack had his mind on the upcoming mission now as he walked back to his quarters aboard the Star Destroyer. They would have to get Darius out in one shot - therefore meaning there could be absolutely no mistakes at all. But they also needed disgusses. But what? Prison wardens? No. They would most likely need clearances that would be hard to get. Guards? Possibly. They could pretend to have been transfered to that strench of cells where Darius was being kept. Or prisoners? Maybe. Some of the group members could act as guards and others as prisoners to sneak in almost unnoticed. Jack was in such a concentrative thought that he almost walked by Alexia at his door.

"Jack!" she yelled, running to him and kissing him. "I heard about your, um, plans."

"It's going to be tough," Jack admitted. "I'm sorry, but or marriage will have to wait just a little bit later."

"I'm aware of that. I love you, flyboy. I brought you a gift for the raid," she said, whispering the word "raid."

"What is it?" Jack asked as they walked in the door.

"It's a box of smoke canisters. Whenever you get into a tight situtation, just pull out the tab, throw the canister, and cover your mouth, eyes, and nose," Alexia said as Jack smiled.

"Thanks, Alexia," Jack said. She was about to walk out when Jack motioned her back in.

"Come on, just stay a little bit longer," Jack said as the door closed completely.
 
-----------------------
Revenge is what holds this galaxy together. Without it, the universe would be a boring place.

------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Chief Petty Officer and Reporter Jack Nebulax, Imperial Navy and VE Today Staff, Vast Empire.
XO/FL/SCPO Jack Nebulax/Nazgul 5 (2-1)/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=) (=*SA*=) [SV] [VC:S]
Rep|Int/Rep Jack Nebulax/Rep: 4/Reporters-Interviewers/VE/VET
------------------------------------------------------------
Admiral Jack Nebulax, third-in-command of the Auroran Defense Fleet (ADF) and leader of Nemesis Wing (Wing I)

Darius slipped on his breath mask and walked out of the medical center.  A massive line of slaves were walking back to their cells.  Darius joined and entered the complex and found his cell.  Lidoo and Wroolsh weren't there yet, so Darius decided to wait patiently.

As Darius waited, two guards entered, grabbed him, and threw him against the wall.  One of them spoke, "you missed you shift.  That means double shift for you.  Get going!"

"No need to shove gentlemen," Darius replied with no emotional expression at all.

"You think you're smart, don't you?" asked the other one.  The guard swung his baton, no longer a stun baton.  Darius' hand snapped up and caught it mid-swing.

"This is getting pretty old," he replied with the same emotionless tone.  The guard smiled.

Something coiled around his leg, and left a sharp pain, and then nothing at all.  He tried to put weight on it, but fell to the ground.  He turned and saw another guard with a neuronic whip in his hands.  Darius no longer could feel, or control his leg.

The two guards in the cell laughed with pleasure as Darius tried to get up.  The one with the whip spoke, "off to the mines with you!"  The guards laughed even harder.

Darius knew better then to retaliate this time.  He grabbed onto the bed and eased himself up, onto one leg.  He hopped out of the room, and made his way to the utility building to acquire thermal goggles, and mining equipment.

*******************

A turbolift slowly lowered them into them into the mines.  Darius was standing next to dozens of wookies.  The all looked at him as if they were going to kill him in the near future.  The tallest one started grumbling to the wookie next to him.

Darius replied in his emotionless tone to the conversation not meant for him, "you see, that's not going to work.  I've got two other cellmates, one of them being a wookie."

The tall wookie turned and roared at him.  Darius averted his eyes.  He wished not to challenge the wookie leader.

"That's quite the threat.  I'm sure you and your friends could kill me where I stand, but what's that going to do for you?"  Darius kept a straight face, make no change in pitch in his voice.  He showed no fear.

The wookie grumbled again.

"Do I hear a compliment?"  Darius was allowing more emotion in his voice now.  He made eye contact with the wookie.  "I used to work with a wookie once.  That's why I understand your language.  My friend saved my life several times.  Sadly, he was shot dead by Imperial stormtroopers, honoring what my father and I had worked so to build."

The wookie reached out and Darius did not flinch.  The massive hand rested upon Darius' head.  The wookie ruffled Darius short hair and grumbled.

"Thank you.  I'm honored to be a friend of your gang."  Darius smiled slightly.

The doors to the lift slowly opened, and darkness filled the lift.

****************

Darius worked closely with the wookie gang.  Energy spiders and bogeys were not fun to mess with.  If you stayed in groups, you were often safe from harm.

Darius really hadn't worked to make too many friends.  It was hard on Kessel.  You couldn't be independent and live long.  Gangs and groups have formed everywhere.  If you weren't part of them, you'd surely die in the mines, or by them.

Some gangs even realized that escaped was not possible.  Eventually, that's when they discovered the by helping the guards, they could get special treatment.  Half-shifts, extra rations, surplus water, occasional alcohol, free entertainmet, ect.

The former Imperial pilot was careful in choosing his group.  The gangs mainly consisted of strict, single races.  There were Imperial and New Republic gangs, but Darius knew that there would be backstabbing and traitors within them.  He knew that with his knowledge of languages and past history, he had a good chance a befriending the best gang there was on Kessel: the wookies.

Nobody dared anger them.  They were ferocious and kept their wit about them in the mines.  Being that they were use to hard labor, they remained sharp and strong. 

Wookies honor life-debts and friendships with high esteem.  They are very loyal to friends, and would never harm one who helped them.  That is why Darius picked them to befriend, and this is the way he planned to survive.  Hopefully to escape someday.

Darius turned on his beam drill and began drilling.  He had been down here for 10 hours already.  The only thing that kept him going, was a game he played with himself.  He'd see how fast he could find a vein of spice.  Once he did, he'd alert the guards and move on to find another one.

Suddenly, his goggles glared, and he could no longer see.  He winced, closed his eyes, and tightened the safety guard on his shoulder.  Taking off his goggles, he discovered the cavern to be filled with light.  Darius moved to find Jordoolsha, his newly befriended wookie clan leader.

Dozens of bogeys entered the cavern, bouncing around.  The giant energy balls kept coming.

"Everybody out!" screamed the guards.  This was unusual.  It's very rare to catch more than one bogey in the same cavern at once.  There was only one logical explanation: energy spiders.

The bogey were dropping beings left and right.  Darius thought to himself - it must be hatching season.  These spiders are very clever, chasing bogeys into a mining cavern to stun people.

Darius could now use his leg again.  He hobbled as fast as he could, and saw that the wookies were throwing everybody out of the lift, literally.  It was now filling with the wookie gang.  There would be little for anyone else.

Thinking of the only way he could get inside, he drew his drill like a gun, and continued to hobble toward the lift.

Darius tripped over a stalagmite as a bogey flew over his head.  It was going for the opening of the lift and this was his only chance.  He fired the drilled, not killing, but knocking the creature of it's original course.  Instead of going in the lift, it missed and bounced off the wall to hit a guard, raising his weapon at the wookies.

Even though Darius had saved the wookies, he would never make it in time, the doors were closing.

Suddenly, Darius was lifted off of the damp cavern floor, and thrown over a furry shoulder.  Jordoolsha ran with impossible speed.  He hurdled stalagmites and dodged bogeys as if he had been doing it all of his life.

They squeezed through the doors as the last possible moment.  Darius looked out of the closing doors and glimpse at the eye-filled, mirror-like spiders enter the cavern to collect their prey.

Darius scratched the larged wookie on the back of the neck.  "I owe you too."
 
-----------------------
Feed a womp rat a food ration, he'll want an energy stim. Give him an energy stim, and he'll rip your throat out.

----------------------
FM/SCRW Darius Pursius/Nazgul 3-2/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=)

Jack was walking along in the corridors of the Star Destroyer, thinking over the upcoming mission for himself and a few of Nazgul members. It would definitely be tough, but they had pletty of supplies, including smoke grenades that Alexia had given them. Also, they had other objects that could help them bust Darius out of prison on Kessel.

Now that they had the gear, they needed fake identities. Who could get them fake I.D. cards? More importantly, could they pass for these people? They would have to try.

As Jack continued to walk down a corridor, Arturus came up from behind him. "Where's Shazam?" he asked Jack.

"I have no idea, Art. Sorry," Jack said.

"It's okay," Arturus replied.

"Did you check his quarters?" Jack asked him.

"Yes, I did. He wasn't there," Art said.

"Before you go," Jack began, "we need fake I.D.'s to get into the prison on Kessel. Do you have any idea on how we can get some?"

"I'll check with everyone who's going with us. I'm sure someone knows how we can obtain them," Art replied.

"Thanks. I'll look for my own means of getting fake I.D.'s as well," Jack said as Art walked away.

In Jack's state of thought, he didn't realize that he was near an Army armor storage room. That gave him an idea.

"Stormtroopers!" he said aloud, finally realizing how they could penetrate the defenses on Kessel. "Stormtrooper armor! Yes!"

(Well guys, I thought of this. Now hopefully we can get suited up and leave soon. Feel free to talk a bit before we leave just to get a feeling for it.)
 
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Revenge is what holds this galaxy together. Without it, the universe would be a boring place.

------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Chief Petty Officer and Reporter Jack Nebulax, Imperial Navy and VE Today Staff, Vast Empire.
XO/FL/SCPO Jack Nebulax/Nazgul 5 (2-1)/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=) (=*SA*=) [SV] [VC:S]
Rep|Int/Rep Jack Nebulax/Rep: 4/Reporters-Interviewers/VE/VET
------------------------------------------------------------
Admiral Jack Nebulax, third-in-command of the Auroran Defense Fleet (ADF) and leader of Nemesis Wing (Wing I)

"At ease men..." Shazam said in defeat...

DJ looked at shazam and then to the guard how was our cover blown? Who found out? Do we have a spy?, all these things were inside DJ's head. Finally he rested on one answer. What will we do now?.

"After all this chasing these past few hours we finally got you" the dark man said.

"What do you mean" DJ said

"what i mean you weak excuse for a human is that when we first saw you in your officers uniform and these so-called royal guards behind you, we knew something was wrong". He said

"So what now" Raddon asked

"well now you will be in a cell until we can get some real officers to deal with you" He said.

Being thrown into the cell hurt but i didn't expect it to be like this i thought they belived and we wouldn't have to risk they lives of the other.

"So what do we do now" Raddon asked with fear in his voice.

"Now we find a way to escape" Shazam said

"And i think i know a way to do so" DJ said while searching in his boot for his dagger. "wow i thought they would have checked us for any weapons. but i guess they thought we came unarmed."

Pulling it out he started fiddling with the lock until..."Click" the door swung open.

With a happy look on his face he turned around to face his companions who looked shocked on how he pulled it off. "What i know how to open locks."

"Come on lets get our stuff and get Darius out of here" Shazam said.   
 
-----------------------
DJ

----------------------
FL/PO2 DJ234/Nazgul 9/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=) (=SA=) [VC:B]
Gaming Reporter/G-Rep DJ234/G-Reporter: 3/Gaming Division/VE/VET

All of the members of the group Jack had gathered to set off to Kessel were present in Stormtrooper uniforms. Jack couldn't tell who was which unless they took off their helmets.

Good, Jack thought. "Okay, troops," he said, trying to sound like a Stormtrooper commander, "Let's get onboard. We'll be departing to Kessel soon. Everyone have their gear?"

Everyone replied with a quick "Yes" as some of the members did final checks. They were ready. Darius would soon be rescued, and it would hopefully be back to normal. They could not fail. If Shazam would find them... That could be even more horrible than not saving Darius from the spice mines.

But they couldn't think of failure. It was do or do not. There was no try. The members of the group boarded the transport one by one. Jack was the last one to get on before the hatch closed. He and Art would be piloting the shuttle as the rest of the group prepared the tools they would all use. They gave their transmission codes to the voice.

"Everything's checked out," the voice on the comm said. "We're preparing to open the magnetic shield."

There was a reading on the display that the shield was down as the craft hummed to life and lifted off the floor. The shuttle zoomed out of the hangar bay into deep space, waiting to be as far away from the Star Destroyer as possible. They finally got the coordinates from the navcomputer, and suddenly the stars became starlines as the shuttle shot off into the depths of hyperspace.

(Okay, guys, we're off. Feel free to chat on board the shuttle. I'll post in a while and take us out of lightspeed and land on Kessel.)
 
-----------------------
Revenge is what holds this galaxy together. Without it, the universe would be a boring place.

------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Chief Petty Officer and Reporter Jack Nebulax, Imperial Navy and VE Today Staff, Vast Empire.
XO/FL/SCPO Jack Nebulax/Nazgul 5 (2-1)/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=) (=*SA*=) [SV] [VC:S]
Rep|Int/Rep Jack Nebulax/Rep: 4/Reporters-Interviewers/VE/VET
------------------------------------------------------------
Admiral Jack Nebulax, third-in-command of the Auroran Defense Fleet (ADF) and leader of Nemesis Wing (Wing I)

Darius and the wookies walked out of the lift, thankful that they had survived the attack.  Darius never wanted to go down into those dark mines again, but he knew he had no other choice.

Armored guards were rushing in all direction.  This was a bad sign.  The regular stun batons were replaced by more lethal weapons.

"I better get back do my cell," said Darius in a rush.  "I will see you guys later."

The wookies looked at him and gave him a roaring farewell.

Darius turned to see extremely heavily armored guards enter the turbolift and go down to the mines.  They were going to collect the survivors.

"Hey, you!" yelled a voice from behind.  Darius turned around to see a large, tattooed man staring straight back.  He was followed by other men, with the same figure.

"Not, now, I'm busy!" Darius replied, and continued to walk toward his cell.

"I'm not finished with you!" said the man again.  Darius heard feet scuffling the dry, lifeless soil.  He turned around just in time to dodge an extended arm.  In retaliation, his boot connected with the man's shin, sprawling the large man on the ground.

"I'll finish this in the arena," said Darius.  Then, the light faded away, revealing only painful darkness.

**************************

Darius awoke in the familiar bed of the medical center.  The droid came to greet him, "I hope you'll not be in here every night.  It's not healthy for a human of you size and age to be in here every night."

The former Imperial pilot sat up to see that his assailants were all lying in the beds.  It pays to be friends with wookies.  Darius caught sight of a medical droid performing surgery on an arm.  "What happened to him?" he asked the droid, and nodded to the man.

"It appears, that a wookie tore his arm clean off.  That's quite the mess to heal.  I hope he recovers."

"What's with the high security?"

"Well, there seems to be intruders.  They can't find them, but they're cornered in the southwest end of the facility.  It won't be long till their captured."

Darius rubbed his hair and ran his hand along the newly acquired stitches.  Wonderful, another battle scar, another story.

"Oh sir, that reminds me," continued the droid.  "When going over an analysis, I noticed some peculiar brain activity.  Have you ever had brain surgery, or a disfunction of some sort?"

"Mind wipe."

"That's dreadful.  It was obviously poorly done.  There is a facility on this planet that performs those on roudy, unbehaved inmates.  They're usually much cleaner than that."

"Tell that to the judge."  Darius glanced at the scan and noticed a blotch of activity in one spot of his brain.  He muttered to himself, "talk about fare trial, didn't even get to defend myself with proper evidence."
 
-----------------------
Feed a womp rat a food ration, he'll want an energy stim. Give him an energy stim, and he'll rip your throat out.

----------------------
FM/SCRW Darius Pursius/Nazgul 3-2/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=)

Jack piloted the ship through the magnetic barrier and quickly steered it towards the correct vector.  When they were ready, Art entered in the coordinates and the ship launched forward into hyperspace.  Art sighed and took off his stormtrooper helmet, setting it down on the instrument panel in front of him.

"These are almost as uncomfortable as the pilot's helmets."  He muttered to himself as he pulled out both of his weapons.  Art had taken the standard E-11 carbine that was issued to all stormtroopers but he couldn't help taking his trusty pistol as well.  It had saved him on numerous occasions and his accuracy with it was perfect.  It could classify as an extra limb.

Pulling out the cleaning kit he had brought with him, Art began to strip down the E-11 and clean it thoroughly.

"You're cleaning it again?"  Jack asked, looking over at Art.  Art had already cleaned the weapon once while waiting for the rest of the team to assemble.

"It is relaxing."  Art replied, his arms moving quickly and forcefully, as if he was angry at the weapon.  Jack shook his head and looked back out into space.  Art finished with the E-11 a few minutes later, wiping each piece carefully with a cloth before slamming the pieces back together.  He then repeated the process with his pistol.  That tasked completed, he put his feet up on the panel in front of him and began to go over the facility plans that he had downloaded onto his datapad.

"Don't you ever relax?"  Jack asked, looking at Art curiously.  Art, completely absorbed in what he was doing, didn't respond.

"Ensure you tell everyone to be sure to observe the insignia on the armour of any trooper before they shoot at them."  Art said a moment later out of the blue, not looking up from his datapad.  "We don't want people being trigger happy and accidentally stunning our own."  He continued, his voice low and almost a monotone.  Jack nodded and made his way into the back to tell the rest of the team.  Art leaned back in his seat and continued to study the plans, trying to block all other forces and emotions from his mind.  Taylsha... he thought to himself, if I confront my past, I will lose my mind.  Only by denying will I be able to survive.  He thought painfully.  Trying to block out his emotions, he went back to studying the plans, using the opportunity to buy him a few moments of relative calm.
 
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FM/ESN Corran "Arturus" Hargraves/Nazgul 2/Phoenix Wing/M-SSD Atrus/VE/VEN/(=A=)(=SA=)(=*MA*=)(=JCPA=)(=SCPA=)[MC:1](x2)[SV][BRC][VC:B][LSM][LoC]


"The way of war is a way of deception. When able, feign inability; when deploying troops, appear not to be. When near, appear far; when far, appear near. Lure with bait; strike with chaos. If the enemy is full, be prepared. If strong, avoid him. If he is angry, disconcert him. If he is weak, stir him to pride. If he is relaxed, harry him; if his men are harmonious, split them. Attack where he is unprepared; appear where you are unexpected. This is victory in warfare; it cannot be divulged in advance. Victory belongs to the side that scores most in the temple calculations before battle. Most spells victory; least spells defeat; none, surer defeat. I see it in this way, and the outcome is apparent." -- Sun Tzu

How long they'd been traveling, Shazam did not know.  Mostly, he tried to keep himself aware despite the dark and seemingly endless caverns below the bustling slave world above.  This is involved a constant 360 degree search routine with his blue light stick given to him by their new guide.  He ignored the comforting thought of abandoned cave dwellings with an almost stubbord attitude.  This 'way' did not involve the 'just in case' ideology though.  This was simply him worrying, for himself and those around him.  The others did not contest this though, for they also kept thier eyes darting about the best they could.

So far, Shazam was the only who had spoken to the stranger walking them through the tunnels with a deliberate look of complete relaxation.  He was not afraid and he wanted the others to know. 

"Who are you?" The leader of the pilots queried, an essential was the best way to start the questionair off.  To this, the alien replied-

"As I said, I am Versanz.  You may put your trust in me..." he pointed to the steep enbankment ahead than gave a first hand example of how to ride the lanscape like a pro.  DJ did the same immedietly after, acting as counselor to the new recruits while his SC stayed to the end, watching for stragglers.  Omulis had no problem, but Aldur was a bit hesitant and Raddon wouldn't have chosen the stunt if he had the choice.  Shazam followed suit and continued on.

"I realize you mentioned that, but 'who' are you...  A prisoner, or guard or what?"  At this point the room seemed to become very drafty and Shazam felt it strangley necessary to stay closer to the ground. 

"I am a prisoner...  You may put your trust in me."  Versanz motioned for yet another obsticale course of slide hills and pot-holes.  The head pilot shook his head and then decided he'd forget about the essentials and go for the necessary.

"Where is it you have decided to take us?"  He tripped over a large clump of something and was suddenly flung forward with only his front to break whatever fall would come.  As he fell, his question lingered while he wondered if any long, sharp rock growths were about to meet his face.  Instead, he felt a softer rock...  This did not hurt, but a good thud could be heard, and it was indeed a flatter surface than the pointy doom he'd been inticipating.

Finally one of his fellow pilots spoke up...  "You alright man?"  It was Aldur who had decided to move himself to the back of the group, hoping to see any upcoming dangers from a safe distance.  He, however, had just done the exact opposite by assuming the rear held greater fortification.

"What is this?"  Shazam wondered aloud, getting first to one knee then used the other to rise as his comrades broke away from thier path to investigate the problem.

"Glitterstim..." Raddon looked down with narrowed eyes into the dried concoction.  "And its fresh..."  The squadron members all looked into eachothers tired eyes with a new feeling...  Was it fear?  They weren't sure, but whatever it was, it was given catalyst by the realization thier guide had vanished...

(There, have some fun now, create some situations if you will.  Dar is doin a real good job with that, and I see Art is bringin out his character.  Everyone feel free to express eachothers persona's as well as your own.  Keep at it, and we'll know all that talk amounted to something.  Les go...)
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:S] [DSM]

Jack was uncertain about Art at the moment, but he decided it was best to leave him alone. Jack was busy not just piloting, but reflecting back on past memories.

He could still see her face the day she departed. He promised her that he'd be at the station before the shuttle left. He had rushed to get there, but as he made it, a droid stopped him.

"I'm sorry, sir, but the shuttle you seek passage onto is already departing," the droid had said in a normal mechanized voice.

"I don't care!" Jack had protested to the droid with a metal hand stopping him. "I promised someone I'd be aboard!"

"Sir, don't make me take this up with the authorities. You cannot go aboard that shuttle," the droid had continued.

Behind the droid, the transport rose from the ground, her face staring out at Jack. She was upset and hurt, for Jack had made promises before to her that he had broken.

Not on purpose, of course.

The shuttle continued to rose and speed out of sight. Jack sighed unhappily out, not to the droid or her, but more to himself. He had failed. He gathered up everything he brought and headed home.

It was by the time he had gotten home was when he first heard the aweful news.

As he walked in the door, his family didn't even realize that he was there and that he missed the transport. They had their ears glued to the family comlink.

"A shuttle that departed today from Nova City crashed earlier today in the rocky Aur'or Mountains," a reporter said. Jack tried to listen as well as he got the number of the transport.

Her transport, Jack thought to himself. It was then when he heard the worst part.

"All aboard were killed."

Jack got out of the trance and found himself back in the pilot's chair of the shuttle they were using. He was out of his stormtrooper armor and dressed in a pilot's uniform. That day was haunting. He had lost his first actually girlfriend that day.

To a rogue pirate group that was now being held in a secure location on a planet.

The same planet that they were heading for to rescue Darius.

Kessel.

"Revenge," Jack whispered to himself. "Revenge."
 
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Revenge is what holds this galaxy together. Without it, the universe would be a boring place.

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Senior Chief Petty Officer and Reporter Jack Nebulax, Imperial Navy and VE Today Staff, Vast Empire.
XO/FL/SCPO Jack Nebulax/Nazgul 5 (2-1)/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=) (=*SA*=) [SV] [VC:S]
Rep|Int/Rep Jack Nebulax/Rep: 4/Reporters-Interviewers/VE/VET
------------------------------------------------------------
Admiral Jack Nebulax, third-in-command of the Auroran Defense Fleet (ADF) and leader of Nemesis Wing (Wing I)

(This story is starting to look more like a novel-type every post.  Keep it up people.)

Darius walked into the prisoner entrance to the arena and was immediately directed to the armory to suit up.  As he entered the room, he found his wookie friend testing out a massive club.  Darius approached him, "bring that along, but when it comes to fighting, that might get you killed."

The room was filled and cluttered with antique weapons.  To todays standards of warfare, these weapons were as old as old could get.  They were long retired from war.  The room itself was unkept.  One light lit the whole room, and it was coated in an even layer of dirt, like the rest of the room.

The wookie acknowledged his comment and rested the giant club on his shoulder.  He rumaged some more for and found a short sword.  Darius nodded his approval, and moved to find himself suitable, gladiator-type weapons.

Darius quickly found his fighting tool.  Though outdated by a couple millenia, these crude tool had found their purpose in the arena.  Darius found an old stormtroopers chestplate that fit him quite well.  He managed to find a hardened leather jerkin and chaps to serve as secondary armor.  Next, he located some old hoverboard pads, and put them to use once again.

Darius chose to use small, light weapons.  Brass knuckles on both hands, small daggers concealed under his armor and in his boot in protective sheaths, and dual broad swords.

While suiting up, guards watched and approved of their weapons.  This had proved to be a battle to the death.  Darius was determined to live through this.  The prison hadn't quite gotten to him yet.  He still carried his wit about.

Darius walked over to his wookie friend, it wasn't the leader, so he didn't know the name.  The wookie turned around and showed his battle apparel.  He had braided the fur around his chin and face.  He had taken an old shirt, and shredded it.  He wore it, but it couldn't be recognized as a shirt, but a warriors mark of recognition.  It looked of those that Darius had seen on Kashyyyk.

The man put his hand on the wookies shoulder and spoke, "it will be an honor to fight with you."

The wookie grumbled and roared.

"Jolanc, we will survive.  I promise you."

The wookie continued to grumble and roar.

"With those words, we will lose."

The wookie just knodded and walked to the door.  The guard stepped aside hurridly, not wishing to tempt the armed wookie to lash out.  Darius followed the beast and they stopped on the powerlift.  They would rise into the cheering stadium, to be greeted by a roaring crowd from around the galaxy, to see sentient being kill each other, or be killed.

The rusty lift slowly started to raise.  The massive doors above slowly creaked open, revealing light in dark places.  Darius head rose above the arena floor to stair at twenty-five bulky, better equipped men.  This was not going to be easy.
 
-----------------------
Feed a womp rat a food ration, he'll want an energy stim. Give him an energy stim, and he'll rip your throat out.

----------------------
FM/SCRW Darius Pursius/Nazgul 3-2/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=)