Major General Celestial
|
The VirusColonel Celestial sat in his office with a grim look on his face. The thing he hated most about the military was right in front of him, paperwork. He always did like real life action better than sitting behind a tiny desk. But, it was his job.
Earlier, he had received word that two important officials wanting to see him about something very important, so important they couldn't tell him details over comm-link. Lord Aequitas and Prophet Crozeus were the ones to talk to him about something stubling, that they needed him, and his brief military experience to help them with. He got up and left his office, to head to Lord Aequitas' office.
A half-hour later, he reached the magnifecent building in which only his good friend could work in. He opened the doors to see Lord Aequitas waiting for him.
|
Lord Aequitas
|
The Grand Mage looked up from his datapad to see his old friend Celestial enter the room. "Ah Colonel, how are you." Aequitas had aquiired some information from Prophet Crozeus about something that would be in his area of expertise. "Celestial, we must wait for Master Crozeus, although it is I who will be leading this mission, it is he with the information."
He sat behind his desk and gestured for the Colonel to do the same.
|
High Prophet Crozeus
|
Moments later, Prophet Crozeus entered the spacious office of the new Grand Mage. He saw the Grand Mage and his former master Colonel Celestial looking at a datapad and Crozeus crossed over to them with a smile.
"Gentlemen, greetings. Milord, I have the data you requested."
He handed a datachip to Lord Aequitas, who slotted it into the datapad. A map of the galaxy coloured into sectors sprang up, and the three Sith looked closely at it.
"This is where we first picked up the readings," Crozeus murmured, pointing to a red area on the map, at a planet named Sernpidal. "If it spreads, worlds like Thule, Ziost, Bastion and Korriban will be rapidly hit." Here, he indicated orange areas on the map. He pointed to Kuat, which was yellow. "We are only slightly at risk, for the moment."
He looked up. "We must locate and find this thing, whatever it is, and stop it. For all we know, it could spell death for us all."
|
Lord Aequitas
|
Aequitas glaced at the map. He breathed a sigh of relief to see that Naboo was safe for the moment. "I see. We'll need transport. We'll use of the ships in the Order's Fleet." Aequitas stopped and sat back down in his chair. Then, he pressed a button on his desk.
Serratus, this is the Grand Mage, can you come to my office please?
Aequitas looked around. "He will be useful".
|
High Mage Serratus
|
A few minutes later, the High Mage entered the office. He greeted Celestial and Crozeus before turning to the Grand Mage.
"You called m'lord?"
|
Lord Aequitas
|
Aequitas smiled and looked at Crozeus. "Care to explain again, or shall I?"
He laughed." Nevermind, Serratus, there is a problem. We do not know exactl what it is but we will find out - or the Empire will be exterminated; according the the Dark Warrior." He stood up and brushed down his robes; a royal blue today.
"Serratus, which ship should we take? I intend to leave immediately."
|
High Mage Serratus
|
Serratus nodded solemnly.
"Might I suggest An Lámh In Uachtar?"
|
Major General Celestial
|
"Nonsense. I will request special transportation from my superior, Supreme commander Marix. If you will excuse me gentlemen, I will make the communication right away."
Celestial went a few paces down the large hall. He pulled out his comm to notify his superior.
"Supreme Commander." Celestial saluted to the holographic message of his superior. "Sir, may I request special escort transport for my colleagues and I for a life threatening voyage?"
|
Supreme Commander Alor
|
Marix seemed slightrly annoyed at Celestial's complete skirting of protocols, but he knew the younger officer liked to get things done quickly, and sometimes skipped over what he found to be useless protocols, such as going through an encrypted channel to talk with his Supreme Commander.
"Colonel Celestial, what a... surprise." Lord Marix said in reply, after returning the salute.
"Sir, may I request special escort transport for my colleagues and I for a life threatening voyage?" Celestial furthered.
"I think you know my answer. Exactly what is the nature of this life threatening voyage?"
|
Major General Celestial
|
Celestial looked in disbelief. He didn't know. One of the order heads, one that runs the empire didn't know something important as this. Apparently people didnt want news to spread so no one will be worried.
"A deadly virus has came upon the empire, and my colleagues and I have to find the source, and destroy it."
|
Supreme Commander Alor
|
[[As an Order Head he would know about the virus. But not your exact mission. That was all he wanted to know.  ]]
"Ah, so you are going to try and stop this virus. Good luck. How many men are you going to need? What kind of ship were you looking for: Fast? Strong? Hardy? Reliable? Big? Small?" Marix replied.
He had known about the virus, but had been advised to let the Mages handle it by the Darkest Knight. The Military could not let a virus enter its ranks. They would merely be in charge of blockading infected planets, but not to hunt down its source.
|
Major General Celestial
|
Celestial seemed relieved. He could tell in the Supreme commanders voice that he had known all along. It provided comfort to him.
What ship did he want? It had to be something to get them to their priority, but eradicate it too.
"Something fast, with alot of crewmen, and high laser capacity."
|
Supreme Commander Alor
|
"May I suggest a Gladiator-Class Star Destroyer. It is a smaller version of the well known Star Destroyers, but faster and easier to maintain. I think the lower amount of crewmen is better than more, as you are dealing with a virus. The smaller the crew, the lower the chances of infecting the Military. There are only a few Gladiators out of production right now, but there are two near Kuat. I will send one their new orders. Expect the Far Reaches to arrive within a few days.
"Is that all, Colonel?"
|
Major General Celestial
|
Celestial studied upon the recomendation in a queried look. A Gladiator? It sounded great for the mission, and the Supreme Commander knew what he was talking about. Especially about the crew.
"No other comments, sir. Colonel out."
Celestial flipped the comm shut. He manuevered hius way back to the others.
"A ship will be here to pick us up. It has the necessary crewman and the speed to catch us up to our primary objectives."
|
Lord Aequitas
|
Aequitas smiled as Celestial informed him of the ship. "Excellent, excellent." He rose out of his seat and walked around the desk. "As you know the whole Order of the Mages can be controlled form this desk. And it will be." He looked at the High Mage. "Darth Serratus, I cannot go on this mission. I have urgencies to attend to. You will be representing the Order."
He looked between Crozeus and Celestial. "I want everything reported back to me. I cannot let this get out. Serratus will be bringing a group of Mages with him. They will assist you."
As he walked to the door to show them out he sighed. "May the Force be with you. Be careful. But be quick."
|
High Prophet Crozeus
|
Crozeus nodded. "May the Force be with you as well, Grand Mage."
He stretched and began thinking about what he would need for the mission. But first, he would need to inform Lord Praxeum of what was going on. "Gentlemen, I will meet you on the Destroyer. I have some things to do first."
He nodded once more to the other Sith and walked out of the office.
|
Major General Celestial
|
Celestial looked to Darth Serratus. He nodded to him in a brief fashion.
"Tomorrow at o'six-hundred. Dont be late, and High Mage, it is an honour working with you again. Spread the news to Crozeus."
Celestial then turned and went out the door. Would this mission be a success?
|
High Mage Serratus
|
Serratus stood in the hangar bay on Kuat. A magnificient Star Destroyer was standing slightly behind him. He awaited the approach of Crozeus and Celestial. The group of Mages under his command were standing some distance away, talking.
|
High Prophet Crozeus
|
Crozeus strode into the hangar, deep in thought. He greeted Serratus with a curt nod. He put some earphones in and started to listen to the Bothawui Chapter Master's report. It would be a strenuous year. Yet, this virus would have to take precedence for now.
|
High Mage Serratus
|
Serratus saluted Crozeus. Now they just needed Celestial.
|
Major General Celestial
|
Celestial quickly came into the hangar. He gave a brief glance to everyone in the room. "Are we set?"
|
High Prophet Crozeus
|
Crozeus smiled and pulled his earphones out. He greeted his former Master with a handshake and nodded. "I'm ready." He looked to Serratus.
|
High Mage Serratus
|
"Give me a moment."
He turned to the group of Mages and sent a bolt of Force lightning crackling at their feet. They fell into line immediately. He turned back to his companions.
"Ready."
|
High Prophet Crozeus
|
Crozeus nodded at the dark side now crackling in the room. He gestured to the ship. "Shall we?"
He stalked up the boarding ramp and onto the Destroyer. The Sith took a turbolift to the bridge and from there they were shown to their quarters and advised to settle down for the night, as they would be in lightspeed for a long time.
Crozeus fell asleep almost instantly, as the Destoryer shot into hyperspace above Kuat.
|
Lord Aequitas
|
Aequitas sat in his office in the dark. It helped him think. This virus is a problem - and deadly contagious. He had full hope in his deputy and those that went with him, but he knew that the Empire had a chance of being wiped out even if they succeeded. He stood up and left his office via the elevator. Reaching the bottom floor, he nodded a the security and walked out into the cool Kuat night. His speeder was already waiting for him with his chauffer holding the door open.
As Aequitas relaxed in his comfortable chauffer-driven speeder he grimaced at the thought of the virus getting to him. Leave it confined to alien scum. Let them die, he thought to himself. Clearing his throat he called to his driver. "Cly, take me to....the docking bay. I'm sure one of my ships is there...somewhere". There was silence for a moment before a gruff reply came. "Sir, the Winged Sceptre is there." Aequitas nodded. A Guardian-Class. "Good, Commander Ryle is in charge there. Move on". Aequitas took out his comlink and called Ryle.
The Grand Mage stepped aboard his ship quietly and un-noticed. The Commander greeted him on the bridge with a salute. Aequitas nodded with a strange look before remembering that Commander Ryle was old-school Military. He saluted anyone that had ever been in the Military. Aequitas was in the Navy for a short while. "Commander", he began dryly, "you know about the...operation I told you about before coming here. You know the ship too, I presume?" The Commander grimaced at the Grand Mage. "I do, m'lord." Aequitas turned slightly. "Keep watch on them. If they fail tell me. Have your guns on standby. I cannot have the Empire contaminated. Be prepared to blow the ship up. That is if they fail. If they succeed...still be prepared to blow the ship up." The man looked at the Grand Mage. "But, m'lord, you ca-". "DO NOT tell me what I can and cannot do. I will be acting on behalf of the Empire. Failure to comply will mean me ruining your career, and ending your life. Good Day, Commander."
Aequitas left the bridge and, soon after that, the ship. His chauffer walked up to him. "Sir, where now?" Aequitas looked at him with disgust. "I have a meeting with Her Highness on Naboo. I need a ship to take me there. I'll take my personal one". Cly nodded and directed the High Historian into the car. He noted that the Grand Mage had been acting differently lately. Probably all this new stress, he thought to himself.
|
Major General Celestial
|
Celestial noticed his good freind leave from the bridge. He smiled, because he knew what he was going to do, or at least an idea. He folded his arms behind his back and stared into the deep section of hyperspace.
He had finally gotten bored, and then he remembered. It was a brief statement about new protective armor that kept the virus out of your system, yet it was capable of letting you move quickly. "Captain, inform all of my colleagues to pick up some armor later tonight. We don't want them to catch it."
|
High Mage Serratus
|
Serratus had been lurking in the shadows behind Celestial. He had trouble sleeping since he was transformed so he preferred to just observe.
"I won't be needing any armour. No virus will get through this skin."
|
Major General Celestial
|
Celestial truned around to face the heavily armored man. He had barely even noticed him in the room.
The recolections of that day came back to him, when the armor molded with his skin.
"Ah, yes. I remember. It is your choice, not mine."
|
High Mage Serratus
|
Serratus shook his head.
"If several krayt dragons, Tusken Raiders, miasmal mists, a Sith Necromancer and Tanya Secura can't get through this skin, no virus will."
|
High Prophet Crozeus
|
Crozeus spoke up. "The Force will protect me."
Celestial looked as if he was about to disagree, but Crozeus smiled and held up a package. "But I brought this bio-suit along too." He looked down and tutted. "It's going to mess up my robes."
|
Major General Celestial
|
"If anyone it would be you my old apprentice."
He had a breif smile before he began talking again. We will be there in only one hour, so prepare."
|
High Prophet Crozeus
|
Crozeus nodded, grinning as well. It was good to be back with his old Master as equals in the Empire. A knot formed in his throat. For all they knew, they could land, become infected and die, and that would be it. He walked to the viewport to wait, and reflect over things while watching the endless tunnel of hyperspace. He was already prepared.
|
High Mage Serratus
|
Serratys had been waiting patiently in the shadows for some time when he emerged once again.
"Celestial, we are here."
Before them lay the ravaged planet of Sernpidal.
|
High Prophet Crozeus
|
Crozeus looked at it. Many years before, the Yuuzhan Vong had created a basal there which pulled the smaller of the two moons into the planet, killing millions and rendering it uninhabitable, save for a few brave colonists. Crozeus suspected that the virus was a cruel afterthought by the Vong. Sernpidal was one of the first planets they occupied.
He donned his suit when he was in the hangar, and waited for them to land.
|
Major General Celestial
|
Celestial put on the small suit that prevented the disease. He nodded to the others, and he was the first to go out. The ravaged planet lay waste all around him, and what colonists had been left were now dead, lying at his feet.
|
High Prophet Crozeus
|
"By Saber..." Crozeus muttered. It was a wasteland. He didn't know if it was the Vong or the Virus that had caused it.
He crossed to one of the bodies and ran a scan on it, trying not to retch at the smell that filled his nostrils, or the repulsive looking expression on the poor man's face.
He called out to the others.
"I'm going to try and match what happened to him to anything we know about."
|
High Mage Serratus
|
Serratus ran his hand through his hair. His team of Mages had actually managed to pull their bio-suits on, amazing. He snapped his fingers.
"Soil, air and water samples NOW!"
The group of lesser Sith scurried to their work.
|
|
|
