"Two Minutes to Midnight"
by Rylaa Lyssander - Crimelord and Freedom Fighter
Lorgal - Bodyguard Rashid - Assassin
Lani Vissip - Padawan

Location: Resistance Base, Thanatos
Date: Vadris 24, 5ABY

***

"Get those people out of here before we're all vapor!" Rylaa screamed to one of the New Dawn regulars ushering people through the underground tunnels. Sparks flew from pipes around the fat man's head as Jau flechettes ricocheted from them. He returned fire, spraying the passage with useless blaster bolts. He could see the Jau warriors walking through the hail of energy, simply absorbing the shots. "Absorb this," he growled and tossed the pair of microgrenades he had been hiding in his other hand.

The Jau commander seemed amused as the tiny metallic spheres glanced off his chest but the significance dawned on him with far too little time to change his face. With a loud CRUMP the microgrenades detonated, sending pieces of dismembered Jau bouncing down the corridor. Of course that wouldn't stop their implacable enemy and even as the crimelord smirked at his minor victory, more projectiles whined through the air. Several sputtered and flashed in nothingness as they struck Rylaa's shield. He sent a small prayer to Lani every time his failing shield absorbed another shot, blessing her for the foresight to require her then-boyfriend to wear one.

"Boss!" Lorgal called through the smoke, "We need to leave, everyone else is out." The massive black-scaled barabel was hunched in the human-sized undertunnels. Rylaa nodded and jogged towards his bodyguard, who readied another pair of microgrenades. "Where is everyone?" Rylaa demanded.

"Already through the bolthole into the defense tunnels. Our boys have already rigged the explosives and as soon as we're through we'll collapse these tunnels along with whatever Jau are still in here."

"Good, bastards deserve it." They rounded another corner at a jog as more flechettes sparked and clattered. Lorgal tossed his microgrenades behind him before breaking into a dead run after his boss towards the heavy blast door that would seal off the undertunnels from the defense network. A pair of submachine gun armed regulars urged them on, one of them slapping the door control panel as soon as they were through. "Charges ready sir."

"Blow them," Rylaa replied with a certain amount of satisfaction.

***

Lani sat in the lotus position and meditated. Since the raid, something had begun to pull at her. She wasn't sure what it was, but she knew she had to follow it. Was it the Force, or just some strange intuition? She had yet to take it to the Masters, fearing what they might say if their newest Padawan suddenly took interests outside the system.

Lani knew that the temple had problems with runaway Padawans before, and she really hated becoming a statistic, put she would not give the Master a chance to even say no.

"I'll leave tonight," she said out loud to herself. "Though where, I don't have any idea."

"The Glory of the Jau"
by Sa'Taka Gal'traq - Supreme Commander
Raek'a Sheeva'ash - Aid to the sa'taka
Taka Mun'daq - Military Adviser

Location: The Royal Palace, Arcadia, Tae'Karada
Date: Vadris 24, 5 ABY

***

Sa'Taka Gal'traq looked up from the report he had been reading as Sheeva'ash entered the throne room. Setting the datapad aside, he gestured for her to approach. She was typical of her species, intelligent and resourceful. For her people, she was quite attractive, though it was a feature the sa'taka had no interest in. She was a Jau thrall, and despite her beauty, it would be unseemly for him to even consider any sort of liaison with her.

She prostrated herself before the throne, as was custom when approaching him.

"Report," he commanded.

She rose, raising her eyes only just enough to give her report, but never meeting his gaze.

"We have successfully inserted a spy into the resistance movement," she said. "Our first report is forthcoming, but our other intelligence sources have given us enough information to stop a resistance raid before they were able to put their plan into motion.

"A cell was to raid one of our armory depots outside of the desert settlement the natives refer to as Thanatos. They were staging their operation from the settlement. We have taken most of the operation captive, though there were some casualties. Theirs, not ours. Taka Ma'ska has been installed in Thanatos as governor to keep watch over the settlement. He was the commander responsible for breaking the enemy cell.

"A battalion has been stationed in Thanatos. The prisoners taken in the raid have been put to work building barracks for our people." As the report ended, she gave him a bow.

Gal'traq nodded as he pondered her report. The news was good, that was certain. Every defeat given to the resistance broke the people's spirit just a little more. He had his doubts that the people of this wretched world would ever submit completely, but he would happily break them as far as was possible.

"Tell me of our new mine."

Sheeva'ash bowed once more. "Progress is going well," she said. "One week remains before the mine will be fully operational."

"And the defenses," the sa'taka demanded.

"The size of the walls have been increased," the thrall woman answered. "Patrols outside the walls monitor with the best scanning equipment at our disposal. And the Sha'frak sits in stationary orbit above the location of the mine. The fighters from the ship monitor the location continuously while the ship monitors all activity on the planet below. Just last night, a group of enemy soldiers sneaking close with stealth suits was captured. They now work to build the facility they would have infiltrated."

While the sa'taka was pleased with the progress, he knew not to underestimate the resistance his force now must battle. They were diligent in their rebellion, but the Jau response would be brutal.

"Very well," he said finally. "You may go. Your reward is ensured."

She bowed low, nearly touching her lips to the floor, then withdrew.

Sa'taka Gal'traq was left with his report, to which he turned his attention once more. The turncoat had come through on his promises, and Gal'traq now held the means by which his people would dominate the entire galaxy.

Using the comm built into his throne, he opened a secure channel to his flagship in orbit.

Taka Mun'daq's face filled the small screen set into the arm of the throne.

"Great One," the military adviser said, "you honor me."

"Mun'daq, the information we have been awaiting has arrived. You will oversee the production personally. I am transferring the relevant data to you. You know where to begin. See to it, Taka Mun'daq. There will be nothing to stand in our way this time."

"Tesseract"
by Alexi Malachi, Crime Lord

Location: In Space, Tae'Remok System
Date: Vadris 24, 5 ABY

***

From the bridge of the Dauntless-class heavy cruiser, Black Damnation, Alexi Malachi looked out the expanse of space before him. He could not see them without ordering the images before him magnified, but there were ships there. He could see them, but they could not see him. He suspected nothing in this entire system had a sensor suite capable of seeing him.

The system was Tae'Remok, of the sector with the same name. The blue planet that appeared as no more than a point of light was the leader of the consortium of planets banded together like a small version of the Republic.

The ships he could not see but knew were present belonged to the Jau. He had little information on them, other than what his spies had told him. His spies had arrived here weeks ago to spread some money and generate some goodwill toward Malachi's organization. Before him, Alexi Malachi saw a challenge. He would provide for the basest needs of these people under the thumb of the alien oppressors. The odds weren't good, but he preferred a challenge. It made life interesting.

Alexi Malachi was a former Black Sun vigo, one of the nine lieutenants in the criminal empire. With the fall of Xizor, Malachi started out on his own. He brought his most loyal with him, and had been actively recruiting since. Tae'Remok was new territory. In the past, the world had been under the control of the crime lord Dargus Kandran. After Kandran, a Hutt had tried to move in before a Jedi lightsaber ended his reign.

Jedi. Malachi had not come up against Jedi in his time with Black Sun or his own organization. But he had read the reports from his people. He had heard the rumors before he even turned his attention here. The current rumors had the Jedi in hiding, fighting against the Jau from the shadows. He couldn't fault them for it. Hell, he couldn't even fault them for their existence. Their philosophy was anathema to his way of thinking, but he did desire their power. Who wouldn't?

He turned toward the communications station at the edge of the bridge. "Kriegof?"

"Nothing yet, my lord," the man said.

The man's name was Andov and had been with Malachi from the beginning. He wore a uniform, as all those on the bridge, midnight blue jacket and black pants with silver stripe running up the leg. Not all of Malachi's people were as polished, but he maintained a strict dress code aboard his ship. He wasn't a common thug and he was better than any Hutt. His people would look smart and efficient.

"Carry on," Alexi said. From the raised seat in the center of the bridge, he could easily see every station. When sitting there, he felt as if he were seated on a throne. He wouldn't deny that he enjoyed that feeling. A man did not rise to his place without desiring power, and Alexi Malachi desired it more than most.

One of the sensor techs turned from his station. "Jau patrol approaching our position."

"Keep a close watch," Alexi ordered. "If their sensors break through our shielding, sound the alert and ready for battle. I suspect they will be unable to break through the cloak."

"Their vector will bring them closer than previous patrols to our position."

Malachi mused on that for a moment. "Navigation, once the patrol ship has moved on, take us to four-seven by eight-eight. Three thousand kilometers."

When the Jau ship finally moved away, the navigator brought the ship around and moved them to the coordinates Alexi had specified. It felt much as a military commander might feel, he surmised. Though, he was the top in the chain of command. In the military, there was always someone else giving orders.

"My lord." It was Andov. "Kriegof's message is coming through."

Alexi nodded to him and Andov routed the information. Taking a few moments to look through the data, he gave Andov to a confirming nod to send back to Kriegof.

The data was as he expected. There were some other smaller crime rings present on the planet. The New Dawn also appeared to have set some roots as well. Definitely a challenge.

The lift doors opened at the back of the bridge. A tech entered followed by Addic, a man who Malachi had no doubts would soon be a lieutenant. Alexi had been looking forward to this business.

"Your report," he said.

The tech bowed quickly, nervously. "It's a Lambda-class shuttle, like it appears. Navicomp reports origin of last jump was a planet called Evanar. It's a day out in hyperspace. Ore mining and such. Rather poor."

"What more can you tell me of the ship?"

The tech smiled as only an man who was good at what he did and had solved a tricky dilemma could. "At some point, the computers were wiped. The girl didn't do it. We caught her by surprise, and there wasn't enough time. But, whoever wiped the computers wasn't a computer expert. I know where the ship came from before it went to Evanar. A place called Kaidaga on Tae'Karada."

"Can the ship return to Tae'Karada without issue from the Jau?"

The tech frowned. "The Jau are unpredictable, so it's hard to say. It has one of their tags, and I can alter that so it appears to work normally for them. But, we'll have control."

"Armament?"

The tech shook his head. "A laser cannon, nothing more. Hyperspace capable, of course. No frills to speak of, but it's pre-approved on the Jau list. Few questions asked, I would think. Again, there's no way to know for certain."

Alexi nodded. It was a start. He would build a new base of operations here. No better place for a man like him to exist than in the middle of chaos.

He turned his attention to Addic. "The girl?"

"No change," he said. "She refuses to talk. None of our interrogation techniques have worked. We'll break her eventually, but it will take time."

Alexi flipped one of the screens to his side to show him the prisoner. She was very pretty, dark-haired and with a body that would grab any man's attention. She was also very dangerous. He'd lost over a dozen men when they tried to take her. "You have the creatures in place?"

"One built into every wall," Addic answered. "Given the range, we should have full coverage. She's received training to resist torture, I think."

"Keep at her," Malachi ordered. "Rest of the day cycle, then stop. I will visit her in the morning to try another tactic."

"Of course, my lord," Addic snapped. Both he and the tech bowed and withdrew.

Turning back to the viewscreen, Alexi Malachi wondered if Tae'Karada were ready for him. He was ready for them. This world would become the new base of operations for Tesseract.

"Return"
by Chun Li, Pilot
and Zale Tregat, Entrepreneur

Location: Antorial Shipyards
Date: Vadris 24, 5ABY

***

With Axon in his socket, Li strapped in. She had received a message to get to Antorial shipyards, together with a route on how to get there. Her fighter was back in business, except for the vertical stabilizer. But as she had normally 5 stabilizers, flying with one less wasn't that much of a problem. Also the back-up engine wasn't installed, but that could all be done at Antorial shipyards. She powered up her engines and soon she was in space. They were still not far from Tae'Karada so it wasn't long to the location of the shipyards.

She reverted to realspace an hour later and at first she didn't see much. But even moderate size spaceyards are not easy to hide and soon enough she found it and changed course.

"Unknown fighter, identify," she heard through her comm. On her sensor board she spotted a number of ships taking of on an intercept course.

"This is Fa'Rong," Li said as she gave the code she had received, "transmitting clearance code now."

"Clearance granted," she heard a minute later, "follow present course."

Five minutes later she was parked in a hangar. A man was waiting for her.

The man was tall with dark skin. His hair was coiled into slender braids and pulled back into a knot at the back of his head. He moved forward with purpose, moving as a jungle cat might. He gave her a smile and slid a ladder to the side of her ship himself.

"Glad you made it out of the hairball back in the desert. Lots of others weren't so lucky, but we haven't given up the fight."

"Having a hyperdrive helps, Mr. Tregat," Li said. She had a very good memory for faces, even if she had only seen the person once as was the case here. "But I still have some repairs to do. Those fighters packed a very big punch for something that small."

"That they do," Tregat answered. "We can get your ship patched up for you. Admiral Kano took up your suggestion and the Resistance is now setting up in that old asteroid base. Should give a pretty viable platform to strike anywhere in the sector, including the Jau bases on Riga, Dara, and Varset."

"I'll head out that way as soon as my fighter is repaired," Li said, "by the way, do you happen to have some spare concussion missiles. I only have two left and that's not enough."

"I'll see what we can spare," Zale answered. "Our munitions supplies are limited here. If we can't find them for you here, I can have a supply ship rendezvous with you on the way back to Tae'Remok if you'd like."

"That would be very nice," Li said, "I do know a supply of missiles and I'll give you their location as payment. It's just quite a long way off and sitting all that time in a cockpit of a fighter is not possible; There might also be other useful things on that station, like droids and stuff. I've never done a full inventory."

"If you need a ride back, I've got a cruiser set to return from here in about six hours," Zale said. "You wouldn't be sitting in a fighter the entire time and we should be able to get you a full stock of missiles too."

"The station I'm talking about is about a week travel from here," Li said, "to far just to jump over. But you have more ships and might be able to spare a smaller one to make the trip. Also, how did it go on the surface after I left?"

"The Jau brought in some heavy cruisers, in orbit above where the mining facility was. They were outfitted much as Imperial Star Destroyers, and began bombarding the area from orbit. Both sides took heavy losses on the ground, but we did get some of the prisoners away. The situation got a little worse after that, with the Jau cracking down hard on any infraction, but we're making guerilla strikes where we can. I believe the strength of their reprisal is an indication that we hurt them pretty bad. Admiral Kano agrees. And, I meant that I'm heading back to Tae'Remok. Did you want to have your fighter loaded aboard my cruiser--" he gave her a disarming smile "--or would you prefer to be confined to your tiny fighter cockpit for the whole trip?"

"While I wouldn't mind traveling in a bit more luxury, I think it's best if I go on my own. I think the Jau would be pretty annoyed with you if you unloaded a fighter that turned out to be heavily involved in the destruction of one of their destroyers a couple of days ago. I'll head straight to the asteroid base from here. Unless of course you also head that way, then I'll gladly accept the lift."

"I'm not," Zale answered. "Though, we could let you out before we hit Tae'Remok, and we then jump into the system separately. We'd probably need to space the jumps. Either way, just trying to help you get through the rest of the ride in a little bit of comfort. That fighter can't be too comfortable."

"It can be more comfortable," Li said, "even though it's not too bad for me. I'm small, so I have more room, even with the droid. But I gladly accept your offer."

Zale smiled. "It will also give us more time to work on repairs to your fighter," he said. "We've got a number of berths available on the cruiser I'll be taking back, so you'll be able to sleep in a real bed for a night or two before you're back in the cockpit."

"Very nice," Li said, "now just some companionship to warm the bed and everything would be perfect."

Zale chuckled as he watched her. "I'm certain something can be arranged." His smile was charming, but his eyes followed her every curve.

"Tempting," Li said with a smile as she checked him out as well, "and without having to use my TRX-7. Nasty stuff, but useful at times."

"TRX-7," Zale asked. "I'm not familiar with that."

"It's a Bothan chemical," Li explained, "it induces raging sexual desire in most species when they breath it in. The Bothans use it to gather intel, by giving it to subjects and then denying them release. It's also sometimes used in low doses in brothels to make the girls more willing. I was subjected to it during one of my assignments and afterwards I managed to get my hands on some. You never know when you can use things like that."

"Ah," Zale said nodding. "I've heard of it. Though, I think it was being called Euphoric at the time. Never experienced it myself. I spent a long time mastering the art of Shac'Tae, which I guess could be considered as similar, though with a bit more control." He shrugged. "I think I know a few women who may have a little for breakfast every morning."

"Why would anybody want to do that," Li wondered while her mind was working in overdrive. A Shac'Tae master, that should be fun. She had heard some rumours about them. "So," she said, "is there a Mrs. Tregat?"

"She goes by Zenarr-Tregat," Zale answered. "For a time, I had to share her with two others, but circumstance have left the two of us together. The circumstances of our marriage are a story in and of themselves. Some of my associates on Tae'Karada are baffled that someone with as much influence as I have has only one wife and no mistresses. There have been few that have tempted me, and those that have been inaccessible for a number of reasons or--" he gave her another appraising glance "--or I'm still getting to know them."

It was tempting, but Li didn't feel like dealing with angry wives at the moment. On the other hand, it had been a long time. "What would you like to know," she asked, putting her hand on his arm.

"How long have you been flying fighters," Zale asked. "I know Admiral Kano used to be a fighter pilot before he got his promotion. I've never even been in one. The idea of being out in space with so little between you and hard vacuum just makes me nervous."

"I went to the Academy on Corrida when 10 years ago," Li said, "after 2 years I was recruited by intel, and I left them after Alderaan. It's always good to have a way to escape, which is why I kept up flying. And I defected with my gunboat, so as long as I have fuel I don't have to rely on shaky passenger services and I can go wherever I want."

"In the Core, passenger service isn't quite so shaky," Zale said. "Fortunately, I haven't had to rely on commercial transport out her in the Outer Rim. I'm surprised anyone could get to their destination. We can take a shuttle to my cruiser for the return trip. If you trust my people, we can transfer your ship over and you can get some sleep, if you feel the need. Or, you can supervise them getting your ship aboard the cruiser. Your choice."

"I'll fly myself," Li said, "I can give your shuttle some extra protection that way. And no offence meant, but my ship has been sabotaged once and I'm not taking any more chances. Sitting in a spinning fighter with your oxygen low and on a collision course with a gas giant is not my idea of fun."

"Never being able to let down your guard or always looking over your shoulder isn't mind either," Zale said. Then he sighed and added, "But, I guess that's the nature of things now. Let's get your ship moved over then, and we can start back. I suppose, since you fear sabotage, that you'll want to observe all repairs to your ship?"

"I'll check it out afterwards," Li said, "I can't stay with my ship all day long, so there's no use in trying. I have some training in starfighter repair and also sabotage, so I know where to look. It's not that I don't trust you, but after being tricked once, I don't feel like having it happen again."

"All of the people on this ship, I trust implicitly, otherwise I wouldn't keep them so close to me. I've thrown into the ring against the Jau, and that puts my family, business, and friends in terrible risk. It is necessary to surround myself with people I can trust at my back. That said, if I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't be doing it by sabotaging your fighter. If I want you dead, I'll be in front of you where you can see me. But, you need to do what makes you feel safest."

"I'll still check," Li said. While she felt she could trust this man, she had learned the hard way that you couldn't trust everybody. And she had learned from the best how to infiltrate organizations just like this one. "And I'll fly cover until we go in hyperspace," Li said.

"Good deal," Zale said. "I'll be on the bridge until we make the jump to lightspeed. So, until then, fly safe and may the Force be with you."

With that, Zale left her to handle her ship, while he transferred over to his cruiser. It was a dangerous game they were all playing, and if Kaysa knew the extent to which he was involved in the resistance against the Jau, he was certain there would be words exchanged. But, in the end, he couldn't sit by while the aliens subjected the planet and system to their slavery. It was only a matter of time before someone he cared about was enslaved and put to work by the Jau. He would do all he could to ensure they left before that ever happened.

Li took off after a quick refueling and followed the cruiser out. Just before jumping to lightspeed she came onboard. Accommodations were quite luxurious, much more then she was used to, but the only thing that mattered right now was to get a decent night's sleep. Everything else could wait until tomorrow.