The Shadows of the Past Trilogy
Episode 9: Nemesis of the Force Part 8
In a briefing room aboard the Restoration, Bannick Corsair, Zelia Harone (her helmet resting on a hook on her back), IG-14, Kika, Shadow, and Li step through the door. Already in the room are Chancellor Leia Organa, General Poe Dameron, Elyani Cordasi and several other Republic command personnel including Admiral Hera. Poe immediately addresses them as the door closes behind them.
“Thank you for bringing the Chancellor back to us. As you can see, thanks to you, she is in good health. You have restored stability again to the New Republic. She’s frankly all that is holding our forces together right now. Without her, we’d likely fall apart.”
Leia rolls her eyes. "The drama. I am NOT the only thing holding us together right now."
“I beg to differ,” remarks Hera. “And your health is frankly not as good as it used to be. This incident has only made things worse.”
"What do you expect?" snaps Leia. "I've lost my husband and son and brother, and the galaxy is falling apart around me. Everything I've worked for is crumbling into pieces. Of course my health is declining."
"But enough about that," she continues. "We don't have time to discuss such things." She turns to Zelia and her team. "Your payment has already been forwarded to your accounts.”
“But it sounds like you need us for something else,” Bannick remarks. “Am I right?”
Leia nods. She then glances over at Elyani and several of the others who are present before continuing. “Our new ally here,” she gestures at Elyani, “has told us a great deal about the Zyn Empire, and I have to say, the details are horrific. We knew that they were replacing regular civilians and military personnel with clones, but...well…” She breaks off, obviously barely able to stomach the memory of something she’s seen.
“While we’ve been focusing on the First Order, the Zyn Empire has risen, and their strength has been WAY understated,” Admiral Hera adds. “They have almost a hundred Dark Jedi who now serve a New Sith Order under Darth Saydra, the Empress’ enforcer. These Sith are aggressive, for Saydra has set up a system of competition for her new order. She has made it almost like a sport. Any who turn on one another are immediately tried and likely demoted or executed, depending on the severity. Meanwhile, they are rewarded for performance on and off the battlefield, and these rewards include prestige, ranks, benefits and material bonuses. And so, her elite army obeys almost completely."
"To make matters worse, the bulk of her regulars are clones who have been pre-programmed to obey without question," Poe adds. "As a result, there are few who can infiltrate because security is so tight.”
Kika chuckles at this and whispers to Zelia, “Not that tight.” Zelia smiles at her in reply.
“Up until now, though,” says Leia, “the Zyn Empire has been focusing its attention on weaker targets, trying to expand its borders. It pushes against the CSA and the Hutts, which is why we haven’t been concerned about them until recently. They’ve purposely been avoiding us and the First Order so that we wouldn’t investigate them too closely. The New Republic and First Order are still their biggest threats. Thus, we think they’ve been hoping we blow each other to pieces so that we won’t turn our sights on them.”
“And that’s exactly what we’ve BEEN doing,” says Hera. "Blowing each other up instead of targeting them."
“So where do we come in?” Bannick asks. It is obvious that he doesn’t like long speeches and lectures.
“We need to strike fast and hard against the Zyn,” Poe explains. “Ambassador Cordasi has provided us with a few huge advantages. First, there is a rebellion within the Zyn Empire. We didn't even know that before. Non-clones have banned together to try to fight against Saydra’s tyranny. If we help them take down the Zyn, then we’ll have new allies against the First Order.”
“Don’t you mean the Empress’ tyranny?” asks Li.
“The Empress is not actually in charge,” says Admiral Hera. “According to Ambassador Cordasi, the Empress is a puppet. Saydra has the real power, for she leads the Sith who are the chief enforcers; like the Jedi were to the Republic.”
“Regardless,” says Leia, “Ambassador Cordasi has a lot of high level information that could help us strike hard against the Zyn. If we act now, before they have time to change their security and move their facilities around, we might be able to wipe out a massive number of their cloning sites. Doing so would cripple their ability to create new clones.”
“And they’ll be forced to stop slaughtering innocent civilians,” Elyani adds, a bit too emotional about the situation. She continues with the same passion. “Without all of those clone facilities, Saydra’s forces will be forced to rely on regular people again. This will not only slow down her military and economic superiority, but it will also save the lives of countless people all over that region of the galaxy.”
“So, again, where do we come in?” asks Zelia, repeating Bannick’s question. She obviously doesn’t care for a lot of talk either.
Leia, liking the unit, continues the briefing. “We’re going to send in several main attack fleets to do a coordinated strike against four different worlds. This will knock out almost seventy-five percent of all cloning facilities. However, in order to pull this off, Cordasi has given us weak points in the Zyn defenses so that we can slip our forces into these systems undetected. The problem is that as soon as we drop into these systems, we are going to be deep into Zyn territory.”
“What that means is that if any of those worlds are able to alert their neighboring systems that they are being attacked…” says Poe.
Zelia completes his sentence for him. “…the attack fleets will be overwhelmed easily and wiped out. Therefore, you need us to disable communications on all four worlds before you send in your fleets. Is that about right?”
Hera shakes her head. “Actually, no. We have some teams that we are dedicating to that. What we need is a team to make a strike at a main Zyn cloning facility that all of the other facilities report to.”
Poe continues to explain. “You see, each of the four other facilities are in constant contact with the main cloning facility on Korriban. If even one of those four facilities is taken offline, the facility on Korriban will know about it.”
“Which means the Zyn will be alerted the moment our forces wipe out communications on any of the other four worlds,” Hera finishes.
“The Korriban facility has air-tight security,” Leia says. “We need you to somehow get in and make sure that no one detects the sudden loss of communications from the other four facilities. If they do get suspicious, we need you to make sure they don’t communicate their suspicions to anyone.”
“We have no one else that we know of who can help us at this time,” says Poe. “Your mercenary team has proven time and again that you are the best that we have in these situations, and with Ambassador Cordasi's aid, the air-tight security can be breached. She has the means.”
“But there’s one more thing,” says Elyani, her voice taking on even more gravity. “Saydra’s best chemical experts have been developing a new biological weapon. It’s a disease called Nemesis, and she plans on spreading it across the galaxy.” Elyani becomes much more serious as she continues. “It targets midi-chlorians within a person’s body and…and kills them. Those that do not have a high concentration of midi-chlorians will…well…they won’t survive. It also has no effect on clones.”
“Which means that very few non-clones in the galaxy will survive the pandemic,” adds Hera. “Only those who have higher levels of midi-chlorians in their bloodstream will live.”
“And in the end, even those individuals with higher levels of midi-chlorians will be just like everyone else who cannot sense the Force,” Elyani adds.
IG-14 comments, his inflection making it clear he approves. “Efficient.”
Li sucks in a deep breath. “Is that even possible?”
“It is,” says Elyani. “They’ve been working on it for nearly twenty years. There is a cure and a vaccination against it, but only Saydra has these and the details of how to recreate them. She…she killed those who created the cure and vaccination so that she is the only one who would have them.” She then looks at Zelia and her companions. “The lab containing the disease is on the planet, near that same main cloning facility. Your second primary objective would be to wipe out that disease and all of the data they have on it."
Poe eyes her for a moment and then looks back at the mercenaries. “Elyani has also agreed to go with you, to help provide you with additional assistance. She has security codes and has experience on Korriban. Apparently, she served there for a time.” Elyani nods in agreement.
Zelia and her companions exchange glances, and Zelia looks back at Poe. “That’s funny. We were all talking after we dropped her and the Chancellor off below on Manaan. We don't trust her. Period. She's clearly not who she says she is.”
“We're frankly not sure how you can't see it,” adds Kika. “She's OBVIOUSLY a trap.”
Elyani is taken aback. It is clear that she is offended and more than a little afraid. “This is NOT a trap! I am not a trap,” she snaps, passionately. “How DARE you accuse me of such a thing? I am trying to do what’s right here. I…”
"Trying to do what's right here?" says Kika in an escalated tone as if she's losing it. "How dare YOU accuse me of NOT doing what's right here."
Elyani can hardly contain her frustration. "I'm not trying to accuse you of doing something wrong. I mean..." She is quite flustered, even turning red. "I'm just saying that I'm being completely honest and open here."
"Oh REALLY?" Kika challenges with intense sarcasm. She turns to Poe. "Well, if you believe that, I have a piece of swamp you can buy from me on Dagobah. It's going for four trillion credits. You in?"
Elyani is now shaking from outrage. "I...How can I...? How can I convince you? I..."
"There's no need," Zelia cuts in calmly. Elyani falls silent, completely unsure what else to say and do. Zelia looks at Poe and gestures at the ambassador. “And there you have it,” she says with a triumphant grin. “She’s supposed to be a clone, but she certainly doesn’t act like one, now does she?”
Hera and Poe exchange worried glances.
“You’re a terrible actress, for a "special agent",” adds Kika. “Try a bit harder next time, Sweetie.”
“You're just a bit too naïve and passionate about non-clones,” Bannick adds.
"And EVERYthing," says Li. She looks at Zelia. "You were right, too. She acts like this is her first mission. So why would the Zyn Empire send her? She's absolutely not qualified for this."
Elyani is shaking from fear, borderline panicking. When she speaks, it is as if she can hardly believe that they don't trust her. “It’s not a trap. I swear to you.” She has tears in her eyes. “I can’t tell you why I am the way I am, but there are good reasons for it. I…it’s just…”
Leia puts her hand on Elyani's forearm, and the young woman falls short. Leia then addresses the group. "Let's not be too hasty here. I can sense that she is genuine in her desire to help us and end the atrocities in her region of the galaxy."
"No offense," says Bannick, "but the Jedi were tricked before as well. Weren't they? And last I checked, you are hardly a Jedi."
Elyani then turns to Poe, eyes pleading with him. “If we don’t strike now, I’ll be useless to you. I risked all this, gave up so much. Please! So many people are dying every day and being replaced by clones. We have to do something now.”
Poe sighs as he looks from her to Leia. He then shifts his gaze over at his other officers and then back over at Zelia and her friends. Finally, he meets Leia's gaze. “Maybe…I mean, if you trust her, Chancellor, then I will. It's just, we already don’t have enough forces to maintain our own borders, and we need the mercenaries here to be willing to risk their lives for this. I'm just not sure this is going to work.”
The door suddenly opens, and Rey and her companions, along with Aritra and Golrit, hurry in. “We need to talk,” says Rey, locking eyes with Leia.
The scene cuts to Saydra’s flagship, the Vengeance, in her own personal chambers. Saydra sits in a high-backed chair with Stalker standing over her. Kneeling before them is Altaria. She is no longer dressed as a Knight of Ren but as more of a mercenary. Altaria is now covered in strange, runic tattoos. The chamber is dark and foreboding. All around, the vague outlines of other droids like Stalker can be seen. They are Saydra’s elite guard.
Saydra regards Altaria with suspicion. “You are sure of this?” she asks.
“You know Sala-tzar better than any,” Altaria replies. “You also know that he will not strike against you as long as you know who he is and what he is.”
Saydra continues to eye her with caution. Finally, she rises and stands directly over Altaria. “If that is the case then we have no choice but to act quickly.” She begins speaking into her internal comlink as she makes her way out of the room. Stalker and the other guards gesture to Altaria, and the entire group leaves, walking through the Vengeance’s halls behind Saydra.
“Admiral," says Saydra. "Inform the main fleet to prepare to depart. Withdraw all of our attack fleets from their current invasion corridors and have them rendezvous with us near Mandalore.” Then the group vanishes around a corner.
The scene cuts to Hux’s private quarters aboard the Valiant. Several Stormtroopers bring in Gnoza who is dressed very much as Altaria was and who has a lot of the same tattoos as well. They stop just before Hux, and Gnoza kneels.
“General Hux,” he says. “I have come to serve the First Order, even as I served Kylo Ren. I am Gnoza, former Knight of Ren. I beg for your forgiveness for the incident on Corellia and for our failure to kill Kylo Ren.”
Immediately, Hux seems a bit alarmed that Gnoza has said this in front of others. He waves at the Stormtroopers in dismissal. “That’s quite enough. Leave us.” And the two Stormtroopers leave Hux and Gnoza alone with Hux’s new elite guard protectors.
“So Ren IS alive,” says Hux with distaste. “How unfortunate! Either way, his power is gone. No one in the First Order will serve him as Supreme Leader again. I… Armitage Hux, am Supreme Leader now.”
Gnoza, his face to the floor, sneers in disgust, but he does so in a way that Hux cannot see. “Supreme Leader Hux,” he says as if in reverence in spite of his facial expression. “I come bearing news, though whether you feel it is good or bad, I do not know.”
Hux seems a bit uneasy about this. “Explain,” he orders.
“Snoke is alive,” replies Gnoza, and Hux’s face darkens with horror.
“That’s…that’s not possible,” he says. “I saw his body…he…”
“Nevertheless, I saw him again, and he spoke with me,” says Gnoza. “He expects to reclaim his authority over the First Order and demands you rendezvous the entire fleet at the planet Uratsixo where he has taken sanctuary to recover from his injuries.”
Hux recovers, though his temper has flared beyond containment. “You expect me to believe this nonsense?” he snaps. “Snoke is dead. I am Supreme Leader now.”
“Yes, Supreme Leader,” says Gnoza. “And I would serve you and not Snoke. He is weak and in critical condition. Only the Force has kept him alive until now. I believe that if we attack him, Snoke will be powerless to stop the might of the First Order.”
Then he pulls out a palm-sized holo-projector. “To prove he’s alive, I secretly made this recording.”
An image of a cloaked and robed figure appears. You cannot see the face, but the individual is hunched over and leaning heavily upon an ornate staff. The view is from that of a person who is kneeling, so all you can see is from the waist down. Snoke’s voice is then heard. “…serving me. These tattoos are your new markings to symbolize your power and your devotion. You will now go and find Kylo Ren, your former master, and kill him. But first, go to Hux. Tell him to bring my fleet. I want the entire First Order Armada brought to Uratsixo…” Gnoza shuts it off.
“You can listen to the rest later, if you desire, My Lord,” he says, giving Hux a new honorific.
Liking this, Hux grins at him. “Yes, I will view it at my leisure.” He pauses in thought. Then he turns to his com and contacts Captain Traisl. “Inform the fleet. Have them rendezvous with us at once over Biss. We head for Uratsixo as soon as they have all arrived. And prepare the Incinerator.” He then switches off the com. “We will certainly greet our former Supreme Leader.” His voice is dripping with sarcasm. “We will make sure he experiences a very warm welcome back.” He then grins devilishly.
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