To Shatter a Wall

[Ben Kenobi]

***Outer Rim Territories, Thanium Sector***
***Tobali System, Rhen Var - R-6***
***Joint Command - Task Force Liberty & Coalition Group Skywalker***

The mighty vessels of the Galactic Alliance Navy sat in tight formation between the first orbital of Tobali’s star and the gaseous giant itself in a ploy to better disguise the presence of so many and so vast a flotilla. Underneath the Task Force Liberty sat the formation of the Jedi Coalition’s own; the Coalition Naval Group. Having just seen action at Roche the men and women manning the militant arm of the Coalition on their quest for liberation from the Sith, were worn away from being anywhere near the term ‘green.’ They were blooded and they now knew what to expect when facing the dour forces of the Sith Empire.

Set in pickets about the formation of two massive fleet elements were the Liberty’s swifter assets, they were spread throughout the system on fast patrol circuits as well as the Task Force’s Interceptor compliments which amounted to very skilled veteran pilots and their advanced platforms in the E-wing Interceptors and aged yet still very effective RZ-1 A-wings.

But it was not this activity that was to be of note this day. Rather it was the gathering of a core formation within the heart of the Coalition Group and the setting upon the hangar deck of the flagship of the Coalition Group itself, the center piece of their flotilla, a Nebula-class Star Cruiser. All around the dagger form of the Nebula was the consistency of five wings of light assets, the Starfighter Corps of the Jedi Coalition all present save for their wing and respective squadron leaders of whom now currently were upon the deck of the Nebula in receiving their final pre-flight briefing. The bulk of the Jedi Corps were made of Jedi Knights, a handful of skilled Antarian Rangers and some auxiliary volunteer pilots from the Alliance’s own overflow pool.

The polished decking was clean to a mirror shine that reflected the squadron leaders and their five wing commanders in picturesque form. All were Jedi Masters and a few very experienced Knights, though they did not wear the typical robes of tradition but kept their garb in a tighter fashion in that of flight suits complete with helmets and the entire get up. They stood in a semi-circle underneath the shade cast by the cockpit of the wing commander’s vessel of the 5th Wing, a YT 2000 with blue accents and carbon scoring marring the fuselage. The semi-circle consisted of notable Jedi Masters including the Master of the Fleet, Jedi Master Kushiban and even the Grand Master of the Order, Naomi Kilsar.

Other masters were also present though there was one stand out Knight as well, Jarak Kai who had been issued command of an entire wing for this operation due to his experience in dealing with and combating the Sith. Master Kenobi was also present though he wore traditional robes as he was part of a differing phase of this mission than Kai and his band.

“You all have your objectives. See them done and May the Force be with us all.” Master Kilsar intoned and bowed to them all.

Master Kushiban gave the signal, “To your ships!”

The dispersal was swift and in moments the commanding echelon of the Coalition Starfighter Corps was launching from the hangar of the Nebula including the Talon which was Master Kenobi’s own YT 2000.

[Jarak Kai]

'To your ships.' Cried the Fleet Master.

Jarak turned on a swivel of his heel and gripped the open faced helmet in his hands. Above where the Alliance Pilots had their squadron emblem or insignia, Jarak merely had a traditional sketch of the Order's badge, a winged circular symbol but with what perhaps was a lightsabre in the centre. On the opposite side sat a red cross, not the medical symbol, but more similar to an X wing. He was the only one with that mark and no one really knew why. He mostly kept such details to himself, being slightly closed off. It was only natural considering his birth as a Jedi. Like the other Jedi piloting the smaller craft, he would forego the traditional Jedi robes, but instead wore something similar to what the old Surveyors of the Order preferred. A full body suit, but with what appeared to be part of a robe wrapped around as if in tribute to the tunic he would be wearing. There was also a hood, redundant as it may as well be in the cockpit, but Jarak liked to carry things with him that reminded him of the Jedi, like anchors to slow him down when he picks up too much speed, or perhaps too much like his former self.

He never was one of the aggressive types in the darker mirror 'Order in the Sith'. He remained very much the same. An introvert, thinking quietly all the time, sometimes overly so to the point of paranoia, but it meant he was never caught off guard. Except the one pivotal moment which drove him into the light. Unwilling at the time perhaps, but there he chose to stay, surrounded by his peers who'd he'd grown to quietly admire and value. In time, the calmness developed and he'd made into a fine Jedi Knight. He'd been told that his example, turning from the darkside and embracing the way of the Jedi, gave people hope that there was another option. Jarak wouldn't be blamed for feeling like a piece of good propaganda, but the Jedi around him had never given him cause to feel that way. Especially the Jedi now waiting in a semi circle in front of the 'three-oh-three' Wing, which exclusively pilots Eta Interceptors. It should be noted that not all of the pilots were Jedi. Some were just regular pilots, but with exceptional scores in the recruitment exams. They would have to be exceptional to fly wingman to quite possibly a Jedi.

"Three-Oh-Three, listen in. We're riding through some unfriendly territory to get to our target. We're entrusted with intercepting any direct threat to Six-One-Seven wing. They need to get to the target location for our campaign to have any chance. Keep with your Center, and stay together. Our enemy favours swarm tactics so it's imperrative that you keep formation with your Center, Sith also love to pick on the weak, so don't trial behind. If you're having problems, say so. We've got each other's backs here in 303." The last sentance prompted a bit of Wing pride to bubble up.


"The Force fights with us my friends, so lets ride the wave of consequence into the heart of Sith Space, because it's way over due. See you outside." Jarak said as he turned to his Interceptor. He'd received a very positive response from the pilots, giving them a sense of prophecy, Justice due and all that, but for Jarak it was more about putting an end to the Evil which had festered itself in the culture of these worlds and in no small stretch had been responsible for the destruction of the Old Republic and the Rise of the Empire.

There was always consequences for actions, some just take a little longer to arrive than others. Now for the Sith, it may just be a few jumps away.

He tightened his helmet so it sit firmly, yet still comfortbly. R7, his familiar Astromech was lowered in by a Duro's technician who gave Jarak the thumbs up before his canopy closed shut with a 'sealing' noise. The comm channel activated instantly and he could hear the others connecting to the feed as they disconnected from the main ships power circuits and external batterys. Jarak led the 303, Naomi Kilsar flew with the famed White Knights of the 1st Wing. They would be joined by the 29 and 71 Wings, each carrying extra support in the form of Delta 7's, A, E and T wings, but the Eta's were quicker, matched only by the A Wings, and they needed to keep some interceptors in reserve. Seven Squadrons of the former Jedi Starfighters would probably be overkill as it was.


Jarak watched as the Ground Operator signalled him clear to launch. He nodded, giving a slight flash from his forward lights before powering up. R7 whistled gleefully as the craft detached from it's moorings and levitated carefully into position. Jarak's Wing would take up internal groupings, taking Saber leader for himself. Saber 2 and 3 formed on either side of him and gradually edged forward before Jarak gradually increased the throttle, bringing the blue glow from his exhausts to just below the safe limit, sending him soaring out into space. He nudged the stick to the right and his Interceptor effortlessly leaned, pulling him away to a parallel flightpath next to the Nebulon Frigate 'Solari'. This process repeated until all fighter Wings were in flight. Some sat back behind the 303 and the White Knights. Naomi, the Grandmaster of the Order, opened a line to Jarak's cockpit.


"Jarak, it's Naomi. How do you feel about this?" She asked, not showing any hint of trepidation or remorse for the military action.
"I feel alright, the Wing is ready, is that what you mean?"
"Thanks for coming with us. I'm happy to see you've adjusted well to the Jedi Commander role with the Alliance. It's always difficult when Jedi take up positions which would lead us to War."
"I understand, though I think we have a duty to protect the Galaxy from the Sith. There is no more just conflict."
"I agree."


The conversation quietly faded as 303 Wing paraded around in a predictable flight path. The White Knights generally held their position, but the 303 were almost six times their number and so performed the necessary patrol paths. Once all were in position, the waited for word from the Fleet Master.

[Ben Kenobi]

With the last of the loaded YT 2000 transports departing the collective hangars of the Jedi Coalition Fleet they managed to form up in short order as the escorting elements were taking their warm up runs through the flotilla. It was a brilliant procession of fighters all streamlined with precision in mind. Their coordination came from both flight controllers and from themselves as Jedi easily molded their formations into the non-Jedi elements. It was a well oiled cog in the machine and it was showing. The 99th Heavy Lift Wing, which consisted of four squadrons of Corellian YT 2000 Freighters and two squadrons of the heavier Delta-class JV-7 Escort Shuttles, was positioned towards the center or the heart of the starfighter formation and the Wing was broken into six ship flight groups set into echelon formations. Most of the transports were equipped with small cargo containers on their bellies that allowed them to bolster cargo capacity in addition to whatever they were already transporting.

Master Kenobi was onboard his own YT 2000 within the lead element of the 99th’s echelon pattern and his Talon was acting as a command a control center for this operation to better coordinate such a sizeable operation without the support of a fleet controller. The galley of his ship had been renovated for this mission and all the furnishings and luxuries typical with a YT 2000 freighter were removed to accommodate a large holotable with digital imaging of the entire operations theatre, or so much as the Talon’s sensors and scanners could capture. It was preferred that a starship obtain this controller’s role, but for the sake of this specific mission the consolidation would go here for temporary purposes.

Additional vertical panels had been set up to monitor each of the respective Wings and their respective Squadrons from pilot vitals to ship condition, armament, fuel levels and targeting data. It was needless to say that the Talon more so held controller personnel then any of the essential ground forces for this operation, though it did carry a small handful that were staged within the cargo hold.

“Group Lantern,” called a voice over the communications set, it was Fleet Master Kushiban, “you are clear to make the jump.” The entire offensive group of Jedi Starfighter and Transport Wings was being referred to as Group Lantern.

“Acknowledged, Sunrider Command. We’re pulling out.” Replied Ben as he sent the green light from the cockpit to the galley where in turn the signal was given to all the respective Wing Commanders and within seconds following the green light a data package would arrive on their navicomputers with the jump coordinates.

The first leg of the jump would take them from Rhen Var outside of Alliance Space where the formation would dive into Imperial Space and exit for a small course correction maneuver that would take them briefly across from the north side of the Columex hyperlane to the south side. Once the course correction was concluded Group Lantern would once again enter hyperspace on the south side of the Columex hyperland and head for the target location which was indicated as Objective Primus. All in all it wouldn’t be a trip of so much significant length as it would be threading the needle and hoping to evade Imperial patrols. But even so the chances of an Imperial patrol being at the right place at the right time was slim in itself, time would only tell if that sentiment would hold true…

[Kubu Midwan]

Kubu remained next to the Droid, quiet. She was just doing as she was told by the Droid mostly. She really didn't know if that was exactly what was being asked. She wished she did, it would be so much easier than reallying on the Droid. Her eyes watched the elder, Kenobi, she waited for his command.

Kubu sighed softly, this was still the dumbest thing she knew. Who sends someone who doesn't know anything about the situation into the mist of a war? It certainly wasn't anything her people did. They may have been cruel, but certainly where informed when it came to things.

[Jarak Kai]

Jarak's Eta interceptor led the seven chevrons of former Jedi starfighters as they formed up like some kind of visualized strategic plan out in front of the fleet. He himself was adjusting one last time in his cockpit's seat before the last set of numbers were passed through the fleet. The five sets of green numbers zero'ed in to the actual coordinates provided by Jedi Master, Ben Kenobi. As the fifth pair arrived, Jarak opened the comm line to the fleet, looking down at Saber two through the glass bottom of his fighter.

"Saber two, parrot the coordinates, everyone else, speak up if you're not in tune with what we've got."

A moment passed as the Twi Lek woman below recited the coordinates and no one replied.

"Excellent start, let's keep this going." He flicked a switch, changing the channel to the Fleet Master. "Coordinates received, all Starfighter Wings ready to jump."
"Good. Stay alert to any sign of Imperial response, then on to our target."
"Understood. The Force is with us everyone."

The Jedi Knight powered up his fighter's hyperdrive, the only change between this model and the Old Republic era, grasped the control stick and was the first to erupt into lightspeed. All Wings followed, causing a barrage of sounds similar to a broadside from a capital ship as all their hyperdrive cannoned them into hyperspace.

[Ben Kenobi]

Group Lantern remained in hyperspace for approximately thirty-five minutes when their individual navicomputers lit up with a reversion count down. The pre-plotted coordinates had been slated to pull them out in a dead pocket of space that was home to an ancient and uninhabited planetoid that had been physically grazed by a passing comet. Massive constellations of ice were in orbit of what once was a more circular construct that appeared only as a metal core encased in cap rock and badly scored. The primary body was a deformation of a world with a large chunk missing, disintegrated from the initial impact. The ice rings shone with the brilliance of billions of crystals glistening in the sunlight which was itself too distant too melt the ice as it froze behind the cover of its orbital path. An echo of what was and a beacon to light the path for the future.

Ben sat quietly in his cockpit, his mind was not solely focused on the mission at hand for the youth in the copilot seat was also on his thoughts. She’d been with the Coalition for some time but he’d yet to effectively see her in any formal setting of training. It was also unfortunate that she didn’t understand Basic, the language barrier was difficult to overcome.

Glancing at the droid to prompt it, he nodded to the girl and spoke to her. “How have your studies been going? Have you made any effort to educate yourself in Galactic Basic?” He had no desire for this language barrier to be something that barred Kubu from advancement in her training, if he needed to then he would be willing to learn the language she spoke but the problem with that was that there were little to no written records of her language and if the Jedi had any they were many thousands of years old. Procuring an intact manuscript from the Archives would be difficult even for a Jedi Master because no one really knew the content and simply reading of them could in the worst case scenario, cast a Sith spell or release some vile abstract.

There were however ways to understand the girl through Force training. Perhaps he would seek that route out and she could preserve her heritage while allowing for a better means of communication. A light on his dashboard flickered to life and he switched off the alert. “We’re about to come out of hyperspace. From here we’ll correct course and head deeper towards the target.”

Breaking the blue tunnel apart the white light turned into long lines and then down to pinpricks and into a view of a beautiful ice ringed husk of a planetoid that had been clipped by a passing comet. The scene took the Jedi Master’s breath away and he had to take a pause to collect himself which he managed within a moment.

For the next few minutes the navicomputer went to work addressing the pre-set calculations and replotting them just in case an orbital body had changed its positioning. Fortunately none had. In due course the navicomputer announced that the route was confirmed and so Ben plugged the next jump into the Talon’s galley. “Next jump data package transmitting now. Wing Commanders confirm receipt and confirm ready status once your flights are prepped to jump.” He paused as a few responses began floating in. “Wing Commanders, ready your pilots. The next time we break from hyperspace it will be over Objective Primus. Awaiting your confirmations, Talon out.” He cut the transmission and sat back, it was time to focus and get serious.

He switched on the Talon’s intercom, “Crew, from this point on we shall be at general quarters. Gunners to your stations, Wing and Squadron Coordinators to the galley and be ready. Once we exit hyperspace this next time we will potentially be in immediate contact with the Sith Armada. At a minimum we’ll be in a hot zone. Stick to your tasks and remain calm. Trust the Force and we’ll all make it to Objective Primus in one piece.”

[Jacobi Wylcott]

---GORDIAN REACH
---SOUTH OF THE ROIL

Khairo stood almost silently beside the Lord of the Order who himself sat upon the command throne of the Subjugation the flagship of the Subjugation Armada and that of the entire Sith Armada. Almost silent as in aside from the rumbling snarl he fought to constantly suppress when forced within the shadow of his Alpha - for it was he Lord Khairo that was the Alpha of the Sith Order’s militant branch and he suffered no one but Blood. To have Blood so near was irksome to his pride alone - but it should not be brought to question Khairo’s loyalty for he knelt willingly before the newly crowned Darth.

“I rest my position, Lord. The need for a more numerous range of medium to heavy cruisers at our current production capacity is more beneficial than the sole mass production of Naga Heavy Dreadnaughts.” He finished his case with slight spittle scattering from his lips, not a purposeful action but part of his biology - Khairo was not made for long speeches or lengthy presentations - he was made to lead the killers of men and be the same. Even this said his position demanded he speak when necessary and this instance was just that.

For the last month since reclamation of Ziost the Sith Armada and Army had been in a stage of something they’d never done before - training. Norms called the Alliance or the Empire into a constant state of exercise and preparedness. To the Sith their training regimens depended on the constant influx of fresh meat to throw into the grinder and those that made it out alive were without equivocation, veterans. But with the cessation of hostilities between the Sith Order and the Galactic Empire the state of the Armada and Army had been one lax of action and without action there was no progress. Lord Khairo had instated training during down time and in doing so at first was disastrous.

The Sith had never trained before and when presented with it they had shot one another in live fire training scenarios. Khairo killed the officers stupid enough to do this and he established actual training circuits in which artificial fire and other exercises were utilized. This month had been a successful campaign of training and the Armada and Army was up to par with ‘better-than-green’ troops and the veteran’s life expectancy had risen marginally. Towards the end the Dark Lord had been invited to oversee the last of the naval maneuvers and this had been what he was presented with.

From the bridge of the Subjugation it could be seen the sharpest formation ever displayed in the Sith Armada’s employment. Wings of fighters were not just hording in swarms but flying circuits of formations around a body of warships and those formations had interceptor wings on the furthest orbits to screen foes away with heavier superiority fighters within the starship groups for quick reactions and bombers holding station in the protection of the fleet’s guns.

As for the vessels it was the mighty display of the entire Subjugation Armada and it was awesome to behold.

Four Naga Heavy Dreadnaughts (five counting the Subjugation.
Two Exar Dreadnaughts
Six Invincible Dreadnaughts
Five Loronar Strike Cruisers
Three Nightfall Destroyers
Five Harrower Dreadnaughts (Sith Battlecruisers)
Four Neutron Bulk Cruisers
Three Corsair Battleships
Two Kaloth Cruisers
Two Nebulon B Frigates
Two CC-7700 Frigates
Two CEC Gunships
And a small assortment of Corvettes.

Set in a sharp formation with the Nagas in a single file line that stretched many kilometers distant, the rest of the fleet was built up around them in a very well screened setting that would deny any and all fighter attacks while allowing the Subjugation Armada to bank port or starboard and respond to any naval threat with frightening lethality. Even in a head on engagement this formation would fair well though it was obvious that the formation would change to the call of the scenario at hand.

It was the full might of the Subjugation Armada and they were on full display for their Lord and Master - the King of Dragons and the Dire Lord of Darkness himself, Darth Blood. With the Soul Reaper Armada further towards the north west of the Reach on a lengthy patrol circuit, the Subjugation Armada held jurisdiction through the south of the Reach.

“Is this pleasing sire?” Hissed the Shistavenen. “Is everything operating to your standards?”

[Jarak Kai]

The second jump to hyperspace came, and, for most in the fighters it allowed them to push the idea of an Imperial encounter back to the recesses of their minds. They could now far more easily focus on the task at hand, which in fact was the Sith. It was no accident that Jarak had been given a Wing. The Sith's resources, when he last rode with them, were very focused and centralized. It was likely that the ships he'd been involved in redesigning, renewing in some cases, would be completed by now and in active service. In most Fleet engagements, there was always a phase of fencing between the two forces. Each force prodding the other looking for a sign of weakness to formulate a winning strategy. The Jedi had the advantage here. Their attack was unexpected, their force, almost entirely Jedi, had the edge in Starfighter superiority and their interceptors were led by one of their former strategists, something they'd find out too late.

Jarak could feel the exit from hyperspace nearing, he breathed in heavily, flexing his fingers around the grip on the control sticks, lastly flexing his thumbs over the triggers. Something told him he would be using them a lot. The immmediate sense dawned on him and he opened a message to the fighter wings.

"Kai to all Wings, shift power to forward deflectors and power up your laser cannons. Prepare for potential assault patterns, Kai Alpha, Kai zeta and Adegan screen."

All pilots followed suit as they erupted into real space, a thundering crescendo of lightspeed threat. Kai's saber Squadron immediately fell in behind him, following his indepedant movements around the wings who held their Chevron attack formations. They weaved in between the other fights, each following in Saber One's wake. Their blue and green markings indentified them as his own force. It was this moment that the Fleet Master had deferred to Jarak Kai's take. He would of course feed information to him in any potential battle, but the fighter movements came down to him. They were relying on his expertise in this field.

What was the point in bringing along a former Sith Lord, if they couldn't surprise the enemy with it?

"Remember everyone. Sith fighters swarm. They use their fury to overwhelm and disorientate, so trust in the force, trust in you Squadron Leader's attack vectors and stay together. May the Force be with us."

[Kubu Midwan]

"" Kait zinot tu'iea latri buti zuti? Zinot j'us fasona jok sara kia ijomi tu'saen is Dek zsaze Mibiâ?" The Droid translated. This first one seemed like an odd question, but she supposed it was standard to ask an apprentice that was assigned to the mission to ask when nothing was going on. "Nu buti svies suerikidayr, Nu svies lig tave gaivus nenx letas pries. Vi nuo Mibiâ.... Rareu vaidas kia zenoti tikurzi kia pradme." She said.

"I am learning technology, I learned about the refresher not long ago. As for Basic....No one seems to know where to start." The Droid translated. There was nothing else to say about it, there was simply a loss of history that one had to find to help her learn basic. The light came on, she understood that. " mes buti lig kia tapti' ukr talakviet. Sulig stai ra qetinr daus takas ir zmogus jura an tave adresa." The Droid translated what he said. Kubu braced herself a little. It was sometimes a little bumpy coming out of hyperspace.

[Ben Kenobi]

***Outer Rim Territories, Nuiri Sector - Q-6***
***Vjun***

Punching through the darkness in a series of thunderclaps came forth the spearhead of Operation Shatter Point. Led by the Grand Master of the Order, Master Naomi Kilsar and supplemented by some of the most talented Masters and Knights every to serve the Coalition; the Jedi had arrived within the illumination of Vjun’s sun and before the fateful world itself. The prior home of Darth Vesper and the retreat of Darth Vader himself, Vjun was located between the two Sith held worlds of Gala and Lucazec which were themselves worlds that had been ripped from the grasp of the Galactic Empire and their entire populations enslaved and brutalized under the very reign of Darth Tormentous. The trio of worlds in question sat along the Salin Corridor, a vital route utilized by the Sith Empire.

Before them sat the arid and harsh world of Vjun, famous for its acid rains and treacherous terrain. These facts would not stop the Jedi Coalition from striking this world hard and fast for if they could break the iron grip holding Vjun within the hands of the Sith then Vjun itself would become one of the most vital strategic locations for the Galactic Alliance in campaigns encompassing both the Sith Empire and the Imperial Empire.

While the Alliance held its objectives in a more tactical sense it was the Jedi Coalition that sought to take the fight to the Sith in a cause they felt was just and in effort to expunge a Darkness that had been growing for nearly a decade now. The billions that have been affected by the Sith thus far would finally have their avenging moment realized. For the Crusade of Light had come to Vjun and by extension it had come to the fringes of the Gordian Reach, the time for a cleansing had come and a time for freedom had arrived for the people held imprisoned by the vile fiends that were known as the Sith.

Jedi Master Ben Kenobi was at the forefront of the 99th Heavy Lift Wing’s formation and he viewed the dirt ball of Vjun with curiosity. For all the worlds he’d traversed this one had not been one of them. He fought to clear his mind of the intrigue of seeing and even setting foot upon a historical site of the Galaxy, he had much more pressing matters to attend as his squadron leaders were signaling him that their flights had all reverted to realspace safely and that they were holding formation, awaiting orders. “99 Wing, set your deflectors and power up weapon systems, get your sensors scanning as well. Standby for further orders.”

He switched the channel over to Knight Kai’s frequency for he was in operational control due to his most recent experience with the Sith. “303 Actual, this is 99 Actual. Wing is standing by.”

Following Ben’s own call came the other Wings reporting their own successful reversions. This was to be Kai’s defining moment as a Jedi Knight. Surely he’d undertaken missions and operations for the Coalition but they all paled in comparison to this undertaking alone. To see to the freedom of an entire people from the tyranny of a sinister evil, there was no truer cause for the Jedi.

With surprise still on their side, the Jedi formation would continue to maintain long range communication’s silence. Typically they would have sent a dispatch back to the Fleet as a status update but for this moment they would remain in darkness until the very crucial time arrived when they’d fully reveal themselves. One thing was certain, when they chose to show themselves they would do so with shock and awe.