Tattooine was a planet that you either loved or hated. It was a huge desert, barely able to support life. To the native Jawa and Sand People, it was home and hearth. To moisture farmers eking out an existence on the edge of the cities, it was barely tolerable. The rest of the galaxy simply wanted to avoid the big dustball as much as possible. Unfortunately for Jaina Solo, she didn’t have that option.

The second her new ship, the Millennium Falcon touched down, the wind began to blow. It wasn’t strong, but it was enough to kick up a dust cloud that obscured everything. She looked out the cockpit window and sighed. She turned to her Wookiee co-pilot Lowbacca and said. "I have got a really bad feeling about this. Our ‘contact’ might not be able to find us." Lowbacca chuckled at that-baring his impressive set of fangs. He swiveled to face the scanners at his station and pointed to a small blip approaching. He leaned back and motioned to the door, indicating that Jaina should go out and meet him.

The young Jedi scowled, but she knew that this meeting was vital. Four months ago a mysterious but deadly race of mechanoids called the Decepticons invaded the New Republic. They had taken the New Republic completely by surprise and decimated the government, leaving the military easy pickings. An alliance with the Imperial Remnant further eroded the Republic’s territory, until it only two out of every ten planets were still aligned with the Republic Remnants. Jaina had sworn that she would see the Decepticon Empire fall, even if it cost her everything.

She stopped before opening the outside hatch to strap a filter mask onto her face. Then she opened the hatch and stepped onto the landing entry ramp. Dust was blowing all around her, but she ignored it as she concentrated. Be calm. Stop blowing. The winds began dying down, and the dust stopped blowing right into her face. Satisfied, she ducked back in and maneuvered a repulsor-lift sled loaded with fuel containers out into the desert. It was time for her first rendezvous.

The young Jedi watched as an ancient, weather beaten wheeled vehicle rolled up to her. There was nobody at the controls, but the vehicle wasn’t piloted by remote. Jaina walked up to it and said. "Hello Swindle. It’s nice to finally meet you." She began unloading the cargo area as the vehicle answered in an Outer rim accent. "Yeah. I hope we can do some good business." When she finished unloading, the dark yellow jeep began changing. Parts broke off and shifted into legs, arms and a head. After a few seconds, Swindle stood up and looked the young Jedi over. Yup. This is gonna be easy pickings. He motioned to the cargo recently unloaded. "I have here the finest in Decepticon technology right here." He picked up a long rod about as long as Jaina was tall. "I have here a standard hunter-seeker arm cannon." He aimed it at some sand dunes and fired, sending red laser blasts hurtling out. The tops of the dunes were promptly sheared off.

Jaina nodded in appreciation. "Nice, but what’s that?" She pointed to a gray orb about the size of her head. Swindle casually turned around and picked it up. "Oh, this? It’s just a fully functional transformation cog." Jaina’s mouth began watering as she stared in astonishment. A cog? That was the Decepticon’s weak spot! It controlled their ability to shift forms, and could paralyze them if destroyed. The novice haggler tried to regain composure and said. "Ah, I…see. How much?" Swindle’s mouth plates turned up in triumph. He had her! "Well, seeing as you’re very keen on this item…30 kiloliters of fuel." He began tossing the piece of equipment in the air. " Unless of course, you’d like to settle on some lasers."

Ten minutes later Jaina loaded the 30 kiloliters of fuel and the other equipment into Swindle’s rear cargo area. The Decepticon beeped his horn twice in happiness and drove off. Jaina groaned, turned around and boarded the Millennium Falcon. She sealed the hatch and headed to the cockpit. Lowbacca turned around in his chair and asked how it went. The young Jedi sat down in the cockpit, cradling the cog. "We’ve won."

*****

Aboard the Mon Calamari MC 90 cruiser Tharen, a council of war convened. Jedi Master Luke Skywalker noted the beings as they entered the circular control room. Bothans, Mon Calamari, Noghri and humans gathered around the central holo-projector. The Jedi waited until they were all gathered then activated the holo-projector. The main lights dimmed as the projector glowed, showing a large and very detailed map of the galaxy. He waited until any talking had stopped, then spoke.

"Greetings to you all. We stand on the precipice of total ruin. I won’t lie to you." He motioned to a large red blob taking up almost 80% of the galactic map. "The Decepticon Empire has taken a huge amount of territory in only four months. Due to Megatron’s tactics and almost ‘merciful’ attitude toward cooperative planets, there is almost no organized resistance." He stepped down, and the Bothan general Traest Kre’fey stepped forward. He motioned with a furred hand. "Any advantages we might have are dwindling rapidly. We still have the Super Star Destroyer Lusankya, and several fleet groups are inbound from the Outer Rim." He addressed a human standing in the background. "Mr. Karrde, any news from your front?"

Talon Karrde, leader of the largest smuggling group in the galaxy, scowled. "We’ve been trying to get weapons into the occupied territories. Unfortunately my crews are more often than not shot down and are either taken prisoner or shot." He shook his head. "I’m afraid our little war is proving far too costly in terms of manpower and material. I won’t order my people into no-win situations." A Mon Calamari General shouted. "So, the vaunted Talon Karrde won’t fight? I knew involving smugglers would be a mistake."

Karrde’s bodyguard casually removed some innocent looking needles from her braided hair. She then flung the needles at the Mon Cal, stitching a deadly ring around his bulbous head. The general sputtered in fear as his own bodyguards brought their own weapons to bear. Luke tamped his anger down and shouted. "Enough! This is getting us nowhere!" He then reached out through the Force and yanked the blasters out of the bodyguards’ hands. Talon’s own bodyguard got the hint and laid her needles on a table in front of her.

The Jedi circled the room, looking each individual over. "Well, it’s a good thing you people weren’t around during the Rebellion. Otherwise Palpatine would still be alive." He pointed to the edge of the galactic map. "There’s been activity near the Helska System. Several Decepticon freighters and fighter squadrons have disappeared. Anybody know what’s going on?" Talon cleared his throat. "I’ve heard…things. Something big is coming in, but the reports are unsubstantiated." The smuggler shrugged. "The guys I’ve spoke to mention flying rocks, but that’s it. Of course, they were drunk at the time."

Luke nodded. "All right. General Kre’fey, I want you to take the Ralroost to Helska. Find out what’s going on and try to recruit them as allies, if possible." The Mon Cal general who insulted Talon before sneered. "And who appointed you the new leader?" Luke looked him in the eyes-a rare feat since Mon Calamari’s eyes were on the side of their head. "I don’t see you making any decisions. Would you like the fate of the galaxy on your shoulders?" The general shrank back in defeat. Kre’fey saluted Luke, then scurried out of the control room and headed for the shuttle bay.

*****

Groundpounder, Skydancer and Transposer were typical Decepticon hunter-seekers. They weren’t the brightest mechanoids in the galaxy, but no other species could out-fly them. At least that’s what they thought. While escorting a convoy near the Dubrillion System, they were jumped by…a large rock and several hundred smaller rocks. It was quite funny looking-until the small rocks began spitting out high-temperature plasma!

Most of the convoy’s cover had been shot down, with minimal losses among the enemy. Skydancer corkscrewed around, firing indiscriminate blasts at the rocks. Most looked like they would hit, but they stopped short and…disappeared about a meter from the target. The blood red seeker lined up behind one of them and began scanning it. It was made of some kind of hardened substance, but what was really surprising was the artificial quantum singularity absorbing his laser blasts! He kept on firing, trying to saturate the rock with firepower until the singularity collapsed. Finally, several blasts got through; cracking the rock open and shattering it like crystal. Satisfied, he opened a channel to the convoy. "Squadron leader to defense force, pair up and take these things down before-" He was interrupted when a Nebulon-B frigate’s drive section exploded. Skydancer got caught in the shockwave and was tossed about like a ship toy in a bathtub.

After 30 seconds-or an eternity, Skydancer regained control. He spun around to fly back when his comm unit activated. "Skydancer, this is the Jhiaxus. Get out, now." He started to protest, but then he analyzed the situation. Six of the ten capital ships were destroyed, and the other four were all either leaking atmosphere or the engines were useless. Most of the Decepticon F-15 jets were destroyed, and only 11 TIE Defenders had survived. Grimly, he turned back away from the battle, but not before scanning it. Then he entered transwarp, cursing the fates that would kill his fellow soldiers.

Skydancer reached the planet Serndipal after two days at transwarp. It was a heavily populated planet in the Outer Rim Territories, and a Decepticon sector capital. The seeker quickly landed at the capital city and transformed into robot mode. He startled several maintenance techs, but he didn’t care. He did care that Governor Onslaught actually came out to meet him! The former general and war hero walked up to the seeker.

"Ah, Lieutenant Skydancer I believe? What news do you have to report?" Skydancer saluted and began talking. "Sir… I-that is to say the convoy I was a part of were attacked by those raiders. I was the lone survivor." He opened a panel on his chest and removed a computer module. "Here is all the data I have on them." Onslaught accepted the module. He motioned to a gray Decepticon with a rotor on his back. "Vortex, get this to R&D immediately." Vortex saluted and caught the tossed computer module. He transformed into his vehicle mode-a cargo chopper and sped off northeast.

Onslaught spoke again. "Lieutenant, walk with me. You’re going into debriefing immediately." Skydancer nodded and fell into step behind Onslaught. It was time to get to the bottom of those raids, and fast.

*****

23 light years from Serndipal was Cybertron, heart of the Decepticon Empire. Four months ago the entire planet was transported across dimensions to land in this galaxy. Under the command of Megatron, it’s armies spread across most of the galaxy.

A meeting was being held in the capital of Darkmount. Megatron watched while several of his top generals and administrators entered the command center. Several humans and aliens rode in on small repulsorlift platforms. He until the door slid shut, then spoke. "Excellent. I’m glad you could make it. It has now been four months since the Decepticon Empire came into being. Now we rule the stars, and the New Republic is on its last legs." Soundwave, Megatron’s advisor for nine and a half million years, spoke. "There are reports of a large fleet gathered near the Yavin System. Over 1,000 vessels of varying classes are in orbit. Also, Luke Skywalker has been spotted traveling in our territory." One of the humans, Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon of the Imperial Remnant, moved his platform toward Megatron. "That’s bad. Don’t underestimate Skywalker, for he toppled the old Empire at its height." He then rotated in order to face Air Commander Starscream. "I suggest you start training your seekers better. Otherwise they’ll be going down in flames."

Starscream scoffed. "Do you really think we have anything to fear from one human?" He tapped his chest. "I’ll shoot him down myself if necessary, just like I did to that unit Rogue Squadron two weeks back." Megatron reached over and backhanded the seeker. "Silence! We have no time to listen to your prattling! I have an empire to run, and you are simply a cog." He faced a purple Decepticon his own height-one of the few who were. "Shockwave, increase production of frigates and light cruisers. Several of the outer territories have scant coverage at best, and we’ve been losing several convoys recently near Serndipal." At that moment, the main viewscreen flickered to life, displaying an image of Onslaught. "Megatron, I apologize for interrupting but I have information on the convoys that have been disappearing." Onslaught’s image was replaced by an image of what appeared to be a tapered rock. There was transparent crystal over part of the wider end, and the narrow part ended in an unmistakable weapon port.

Onslaught’s voice continued. "We don’t know where they’re from, but there’s definitely more of them out there. This fits a pattern developed over the past month. I’d like to bring in some fleet elements. Would that be permissible?" Megatron nodded. "Yes. Shockwave, detach elements of fleets Alpha and Epsilon and place them under Onslaught’s command. I want whoever these beings are groveling at my feet before the year is out!" Megatron terminated the communication as Shockwave left the circle. The purple Decepticon plugged his gun-hand into a socket below the main viewscreen and began scrolling through fleet assignments. He highlighted some and shuffled them around. Finally he closed down the file and returned to the group.

Pellaeon spoke up. "Serndipal’s fairly remote. Alpha and Epsilon are both at least two weeks away from there." Shockwave shook his head. "They are the only substantial forces we have close to that sector." The grand admiral shrugged. "Very well."

After another hour the meeting concluded. Most left, but Pellaeon stayed. He steered his platform up to Megatron. "We shouldn’t underestimate Skywalker, or the Republic Like I said, he has toppled empires." Megatron turned his head in Pellaeon’s direction. "Be careful, Gilad. I don’t brook insubordination." The admiral was shocked. "Insubordination? I’m simply stating a fact."

Megatron nodded. "Yes, yes. I know that. You and I know how vulnerable an empire is at the beginning. The remnants of the New Republic are gathering even now, and the Hutts are brokering arms deals with them. I cannot allow this empire to fall as quickly as it came into being." Pellaeon smiled. "It won’t. I see great things in store for us. And the galaxy will know a new order." Just then Shockwave re-entered the command center. His single golden eye blinked as he spoke. "Megatron, we have received a message from Hutt Space. They wish to enter into an alliance with us. Our response?"

Megatron pivoted on his heel and strode toward Shockwave. "Send a fleet and execute Base Delta Zero on the Hutt’s moon of Nar Shadda. Then we will enter ‘negotiations’." Shockwave paused for a moment, then said. "Yes, mighty Megatron." Then the guardian of Cybertron left to carry out the destruction of a moon.

*****

High above Nal Hutta lay the smuggler’s moon, Nar Shadda. It was called ‘little Coruscant’ due to the massive urbanization. Towers pierced the sky while ships of every imaginable description buzzed about, while junk ranging from scraps of plastic to the hull of a Victory-Class Star Destroyer orbited the moon in rings. There was no real police or military, just mercs and bounty hunters out for the credit.

The moon’s routine changed when a fleet of Decepticon battleships and Imperial Star Destroyers dropped out of transwarp. Most paid the fleet no mind-until green turbolaser bolts ripped through their shields and hulls. Almost no ship attacked survived the brutal onslaught. Freighters, single-person fighters and old military vessels were torn apart in seconds. Ships closer to the planet attempted to flee, but were cut off by Seeker Jets and TIE Defenders. The small fighters encircled the planet, cutting off any hope or possibility of escape. A few ships surrendered, they were the lucky ones.

Nar Shadda’s planetary shields were up by this point. Government officials were contacting the flagship I.S.S Inexorable. On the Inexorable’s bridge stood Admiral Tschel, a human who once served with Grand Admiral Thrawn 15 years ago. He listened as a Hutt pleaded for his life over the comm. "We haven’t done anything! I beg of you, spare us! We-" The communications officer cut him off. Tschel walked to the transparisteel viewport and observed the planet below. "Lieutenant." He said. "Send the code. Base Delta Zero will commence in thirty seconds." The lieutenant in the control pit at Tschel’s feet nodded. "Aye, sir." She began counting down out loud. The fleet began moving around the moon, getting into position in order to cause maximum damage.

At the end of the countdown, each ship began firing. Nar Shadda’s planetary shields were able to absorb the initial salvo, but the Hutts haven’t upgraded in over 30 years. The shields turned sickly yellow in spots, and the advanced weapons of the Decepticon fleet began to burn through. Buildings literally melted under the firepower. The beings inside died horrible slow deaths, as they were burned alive. The rain of turbolaser bolts fell in sheets. Eventually the atmosphere itself was burned away. The fleet didn’t stop, however. The duracrete and transparisteel in the melted buildings began to vaporize and were ejected into space by the intense energy being poured down.

Tschel waited until the last turbolaser bolt fell. Then he turned and marched to the back of the bridge. "Contact Nal Hutta. It’s time to open negotiations."

*****

Kyp Durron was many things over the course of his life, slave, prisoner, pilot, Jedi Knight and Sith Apprentice. What he was at this moment was judge, jury and executioner of several small Decepticons. He and several other Jedi had taken a squadron by surprise on the planet Dantooine, and after a fierce battle they brought them low. Kyp paced among the hulking machines. He could pick out bits and pieces of their alternate mode-a wing here, a tire-shaped shoulder there. They were all at least a head taller than him, but compared to the average Decepticon, these five were puny. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. You have been charged with war crimes against the New Republic. How do you plead?" One Decepticon, a deep blue robot named Rumble, tried to shrug. "What’re you talking about? We’re just a simple survey mission!" Kyp looked Rumble in the eyes-and ignited his lightsaber. "I’ll be the judge of that." With that, he swung the deep red blade and beheaded the small Decepticon. Rumble’s head dropped to the ground with a thud and lay there, white eyes staring off into infinity.

Kyp turned to another Decepticon. This one definitely had a ground vehicle alternate mode. Four large wheels jutted out of his arms and legs. He could also imagine the feet folding up to make the back end of some ancient ground vehicle. None of that mattered as Kyp raised his lightsaber high. The living machine showed no fear. He just mumbled. "Thank you, Megatron, for the chance to serve." Kyp shouted and brought the lightsaber down-

Only to be stopped by Jaina Solo. "That’s enough, Kyp!" She shouted. The Jedi Master turned to her. "What’s your problem? You just got back from Tattooine, dealing with that Swindle. You of all people should know how dangerous these machines are." He pointed to the one he was about to kill. "They’re…abominations! They must be stopped." He stepped forward until he was inches away from her. "They killed Han and Chewie." He whispered through clenched teeth. "They deserve death." Jaina swallowed hard. She walked up to the immobile Decepticon and swung, cutting off his arm. Mechanically, she began cutting the Decepticon into junk. Not once did he scream or beg for mercy.

Jaina turned to the other six Jedi present. They were all trainees; not much older than she was when she started training. "It’s necessary!" She spat. "Besides, they’re just machines." One of the trainees, a Bith walked up to the third Decepticon and raised his blaster rifle, planting it against his right temple. He squeezed the trigger several times, blowing a large hole in the Decepticon’s head and scattering metal and circuitry over the fourth Decepticon. Kyp marched over to him and sliced his head off as well. He cackled and walked up to the final Decepticon still functioning. "You won’t win. "He said. "It is the destiny of our people to rule the galaxy!" Kyp raised his lightsaber high-but he never finished the downward swing. He saw-flying rocks? Jaina gasped. "What are those?" The rocks flew in, spewing molten plasma from a projector located on the nosecone.

The Decepticon screamed as he was hit. His metal hide melted into a puddle as he was hit several times. The eight Jedi ran to Jaina’s ship, the Falcon. It was close by, but three never made it. Pinpoint shots vaporized them. Kyp tapped into the Force, willing his legs to pump. He reached the entrance ramp and waited for Jaina to get on board. The second she cleared the hatch, he shut the door leaving the last three outside. Jaina didn’t notice as she dashed for the cockpit and jumped into the pilot’s chair. She went through pre-flight checks in record time and activated the repulsorlift engines. The freighter lifted off and pivoted on its axis. The flying rocks immediately leveled off and began tracking the Falcon. Jaina tracked their incredibly precise maneuvers when she noticed something terribly wrong. "Where are the others?" She reached out with the Force and found them-still planetside. She gasped and turned the ship back to pick them up-but she couldn’t move her hands.

Kyp walked into the cabin. "They would have slowed us down. We need to get back to Yavin IV and report this. Besides, they’re dead already." Jaina started to protest, but was cut off by the older Jedi. "We have no time! We’ll mourn later." Jaina sighed in defeat, and set a course for out of Dantooine’s atmosphere. She shuddered as she felt the deaths of the three still below, and she was still trembling when the Falcon entered hyperspace.

A fleet traversed deep space-but it was unlike any fleet in galactic history. It wasn’t built; it was grown over the course of a hundred years and resembled a mobile asteroid belt. Tiny rocks known as coralskippers darted among the ships directed by the yammosk intelligence aboard the flagship, the Legacy of Torment. A grand cruiser, it was as large as an Imperial Super-Class star destroyer and looked like a slab of rock ripped from a planet.

Aboard the Legacy was Shedao Shai, warmaster of the Vong fleet. Like all Vong of his position, he was heavily scarred and tattooed. He got up form his command chair and walked over to a transparent globe resting upon a yorrik coral stand. In keeping with the Yuuzhan Vong practice of biotechnology, tiny insects fluttered about inside. Each insect glowed and indicated a ship, planet or star in deep space. Shai studied the globe as the insects inside broke form their orderly pattern. While some of them remained as Vong ships, others reformed into the shapes of infidel Deecepticon warships. He immediately shouted. "Bring all dovin basils to full shield power! Launch all coralskippers and charge magma cannons." The infidel cruisers wasted no time and launched multiple fighters, represented by clouds of gnat-like creatures inside the globe. Shai sat back in his command chair and began barking orders. At last. He thought. It is time for glory!

Decepticon F-15 seeker jets and TIE defenders screamed from launch bays almost immediately, firing off cluster bombs and laser blasts. On the opposite side coralskippers detached from Vong cruisers and the Legacy of Torment and flew off in precise maneuvers directed by a yammosk control unit aboard the Legacy. The two forces met halfway between the opposing fleets, forming and reforming wings, squadrons and flights constantly. Gradually the fleets moved close enough for their primary weapons to be used. Space became thick with turbolaser bolts and plasma. The Decepticon’s weapons were mostly stopped by the singularities acting as shields above the cruisers-but they gradually began overloading the dovin basils generating them.

Aboard the Decepticon flagship stood the recently reactivated Onslaught. At over 11 meters excluding the mortar cannons on his back, he cast an intimidating presence. So far his plan was working. Thanks to the information from Skydancer, this fleet’s weapons and shields were modified to deal with these…things. He studied the holo-map projected in front of him. "Send squadrons 13 and 2 over to that cruiser analog. The singularities appear to be overloading." Twelve seeker jets and eight TIE defenders broke off and headed for the Vong cruiser Infidel Killer. The Infidel Killer-which looked like a spear tip-fired off rapid bursts of magma, attempting to shoot down the attackers. One seeker exploded, hit by multiple magma balls. Several more fighters were shot down, but one TIE defender got through. The pilot slipped in and fired off a burst of laser fire from the lower pair of wings, gouging out a long groove in the hull and killing half a dozen dovin basils. The cruiser began rotating in order to protect its unshielded bow-but was stopped by a volley of turbolaser fire from the star destroyer Invincible III.

A cheer went up in the flagship. Onslaught quickly silenced it as the ship rocked a bit. "We haven’t won the battle yet." He checked the holo-map again, allowing himself a private smile. A few escort frigates were burning, but the enemy fleet was cut nearly in half. That huge super star destroyer analog, however, was still pouring fire into his right flank. "Contact all available fighter squadrons. I want that huge slab of rock unshielded, now!" Onslaught thought for a second. "And capture some of these things. R&D want something else besides corpses."

*****

Shedao Shai was nearing panic as his forces were slaughtered. He never expected such tactics from the infidels, and the Yuuzhan Vong under his command were paying the price. He watched as swarms of enemy fighters converged on the Legacy of Torment. "Concentrate all firepower forward. Throw up a wall of magma." He glanced out the viewport. The purple Deecepticon warships and slate-gray star destroyers had begun advancing, firing sheets of turbolasers. The Legacy of Torment’s singularities absorbed most of the hail, but individual shots began leaking through. Shedao grimaced as the warship began shuddering nonstop. I will die with dignity he thought as the entire bridge collapsed around his head.

A lone X-wing hovered far from the battle. It was a scout model, with advanced scanners and minimal weapons. After lingering for another minute, it turned back and headed for its mothership, the Ralroost. The sleek Bothan cruiser waited until the X-wing landed in the docking bay then straightened out its course, turning away from the battle and entering hyperspace. General Traest Kre’fey sat in his command chair, waiting impatiently for the data to be downloaded. The comm officer interrupted his musing. "Sir? Commander Skywalker is requesting an update." Traest turned his head to his left. "Put it through"

The bridge’s lights dimmed and a hologram of Luke Skywalker’s head appeared. "General Kre’fey, what is your report?" The Bothan’s fur white fur rippled. "We just got the data in, sir. However the unknown fleet was utterly wiped out. If there are any survivors they are probably now Decepticon prisoners." Even through the graininess of a hologram, Luke’s discomfort at that could be seen. "I…see. You are returning to Yavin IV?" Traest shook his head. "Actually I’ve set course for Mon Calamari. The Ralroost needs some maintenance and I figured we could also do guard duty in case of yet another Decepticon raid." The Jedi master nodded. " Good thinking, General. Skywalker out." The hologram faded and the bridge lights came up. The General sighed. He was definitely getting too old for this.

*****

Luke closed his eyes in thought after the comm channel closed. It was night on Yavin, and it had been a rough day. His niece Jaina had returned from Dantooine that morning, bringing with her news that the new arrivals probably weren’t friendly. The death of the six trainees was very unwelcome. Luke had trained two of them personally, and he was feeling weary.

His thoughts were mercifully interrupted by a knock at the door. "May I enter, Master?" Luke turned got up and turned around. "Sure thing, Kyp. How’s Jaina doing" The 32 year old Jedi master sat down where Luke was just sitting. "She’s her father’s daughter all right. I swear she’s still hurting from Han and Chewie’s death." Luke crossed his arms in anger. "Han was my brother-in-law and the closest thing you had to a father. I am quite surprised you don’t feel for Jaina more." Kyp dismissed his former teacher with a wave of his hand. "I have bigger concerns than that. My blade calls for more Decepticons to carve up." He smiled, bearing his teeth in a manner not unlike a predator.

Luke fixed a steely glare on Kyp. "Talk like that will get you expelled from the Jedi Order." Kyp’s anger spiked. "How dare you? I am a Jedi master, and you couldn’t even beat Darth Vader in your prime. Now you’re a washed-up politician. How pathetic."

Any rebuttal was interrupted by a warning klaxon and announcement. "Alert! Decepticon Forces have exited hyperspace and have engage-" The announcement was cut off abruptly, leaving static. Kyp ran out of the room, lightsaber already ignited. He was followed closely by Luke. He quickly got outside-and jumped out of the way of an F-15 strafing run. Scarlet laser bolts stitched the ground where he was standing just moments ago. He looked up and saw X-wings and E-wings dueling with seeker jets and TIE defenders. Luke broke into a dead run straight for the Great Temple, which was already taking damage from stray laser blasts.

Luke flew up the steps, barely touching the stone below. He entered the main hall and shouted. "I need a report, now!" A Mon Calamari ran over to him, panting. "Sir. We have about 50 Decepticon warships in orbit, and about 20 Imperial ships. They’ve already taken out our patrol vessels and several of our MC cruisers. Your orders?" The Jedi gritted his teeth. How could he have let his guard down? "Send out a distress call. If I recall the Second Fleet is about 10 minutes away from here." The ground shook again, sending down dust from the ceiling. "And get those shields up, now!"

Kyp Durron had taken a different route. Utilizing the Force, he had leapt up and was jumping from treetop to treetop. Each time he swung his blood-red lightsaber, pieces from a Decepticon fell. And while he couldn’t slice through a TIE’s shields, a mini-tornado was usually enough to send them to oblivion. Occasionally a friendly would get caught in the wind, but it wasn’t his fault they were so clumsy.

He felt somebody approach from behind him. The Jedi turned around and spotted a small figure coming toward him, also bounding across the tree. It was Jaina. "Hey, ignite your blade and start slicing you moron!" Jaina paused before she reached Kyp. Her temper flared for an instant, but she tamped it down. "Stop this, Kyp. You’re doing more damage to our side than the Decepticons!" She looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please, come down…before it’s too late." Kyp hesitated-then shouted. "Look out!" Jaina turned her head and shrieked. A seeker jet was headed straight for her. She quickly ignited her lightsaber, but it was almost too late. The jet hit her indigo blade, and his starboard wing was sheared off almost completely. That didn’t stop the force of the hit from reaching Jaina. A bit of shrapnel hit her in the forehead, and the world swam in her vision as she plummeted to the ground. The seeker continued on for a kilometer before gravity claimed the white jet.

Kyp shrugged. "Serves her right. That bitch would’ve slowed me down."

The world swam in Jaina’s sight as she regained consciousness. She could barely make out a large, bulbous head in front of her. She tried to speak, but no words formed. Two webbed hands reached out to her. "Now, now. You must regain your strength." The voice belonged to Cilghal, a Mon Calamari Jedi skilled in healing. "You had a nasty concussion, and your legs were broken in 17 places." Jaina winced as full awareness suddenly flooded back in. "Where’s Kyp? Where am I?"

Just then Luke walked in. "Kyp took off in his personal X-wing. He has fallen to the Dark Side, and I’m not sure he’ll come back this time." Jaina looked her uncle over. He had a healing bruise above his right eye, and he seemed exhausted. "We drove the Decepticons off Yavin IV, just in time for a raid from those unknowns to waltz in. They’re just sitting outside the system, waiting for…something."

Jaina sat up. She had this terrible feeling. Her brother was in danger, terrible danger. She looked up at her uncle. "Where’s Kyp headed? Is it Hapes? Please tell me Uncle Luke, please!" Luke sat down beside her. "He’s going there. I can feel him through the Force. He attacked me after the Decepticons left. Mara tried to help, but he used force lightning on her. She’s still recovering." He smiled weakly. "There’s only one way out of this system, and you’re not going to like it."

*****

He was in the hangar, on his back. Technicians were busy welding his wing back to his body. Jaina walked up to him. "What is your designation?" The Decepticon painfully turned his head. "My name is Thundercracker." He winced as sparks flew. "I will fly you to Hapes Prime, but I do this only to return home." Jaina coldly looked over his body. "I don’t care why you do it just that you do it."

A tech walked up to her. "Ma’am, he’s ready for flight. We’re just finishing up the final connections." Jaina nodded as girders were wheeled away from Thundercracker’s prone form. He slowly raised himself to a sitting position, scrambled to standing-and thumped his head on the ceiling. Jaina giggled as Thundercracker looked down at her. "Very funny!" He walked out the hangar doors into the night. He looked up, and Jaina could swear she saw something that resembled awe on his face. Luke walked up beside her. "I’m going with you. Kyp has to be stopped, and I’m fairly sure it has to be me."

Thundercracker turned around. "I’m fairly sure you’ll die once you get to Hapes. Why are you going?" Jaina looked up at him and shouted. "My brother is in danger, not that a hunk of machinery would understand that!" She walked up to him, and Thundercracker seemed to get smaller. "You think you can waltz in here and take over? Ha! You know nothing." Thundercracker looked down at her. "It seems that there’s something coming in from beyond this galaxy trying to take over what we just took over."

Luke stepped forward. "What do you know about them? They’re not friendly I know that." Thundercracker’s eyes tracked Luke. "They call themselves the ‘Yuuzhan Vong’. We’ve been figuring out how to counteract their technology, but it’s not easy. They wiped out several rim worlds. And no, they weren’t allied with us. They were just peaceful planets, and then boom. They’re gone." He looked up at the night sky. "Are we gonna get going or what?"

Thundercracker quickly transformed. The middle of his chest separated from the main body and rotated 90 degrees up, forming a cockpit. His arms retracted into his body and wings rotated to form a more aerodynamic surface. He slowly fell forward as his legs fused together and thrusters extended. Where a warrior stood, now an F-15 fighter jet lay. Jaina whistled. "I don’t care how many times I see that. The technology to develop that level of sophistication is far beyond what we have." She thought back to Swindle and the deal they made. She still had only the barest notion of how a Decepticon’s cog worked.

Her reverie was broken by a shout. "Jaina, get in!" She looked up and saw Luke already in Thundercracker’s opened cockpit. She sighed and jumped up; using the Force to give her legs enough energy to reach the cockpit. She landed in the front seat, and the canopy slid shut. A voice came from the speakers. "Okay. I can get us by the Vong patrols. After that it’s a three-day trip to Hapes by transwarp. Don’t interfere in my flying, and we’ll be fine." Luke nodded, and after a moment’s hesitation Jaina mumbled her agreement.

Thundercracker lifted of Yavin IV and quickly entered space. Jaina looked around the cockpit. "Why is this so ancient-looking? There’s no holographic displays at all." Thundercracker spoke again. "Our transformations are for disguise and for practical use. The planet we were in contact with had more primitive technology than your galaxy." Jaina thought about that for a moment. "Wait, do you mean ‘the planet’? You say it-" She was interrupted by Luke. "No time for that. Here they come!"

Twenty-five tear-shaped rocks flew in precise formation towards the F-15 jet. Their front sections spewed plasma before they were even in firing range. Thundercracker fired off a cluster bomb, not expecting to do any damage, but trying to sow confusion in the enemy. The coralskippers broke off into groups, trying to surround his position. "All right. This is a classic hive-mind strategy. They’re going to use overwhelming force to try to destroy me. The thing with that is, I don’t have to kill all of them in order to accomplish my objective." A short burst from his wing cannons shredded a coralskipper. "They use organically generated quantum singularities as shields. A slight adjustment in our weapons allow the beams to go slightly faster-than-light, negating that defense." He turned to port and corkscrewed down, followed by slightly under nineteen coralskippers. Jaina felt herself being pressed back slightly into her seat. She checked the displays. "We’re almost out of Yavin’s gravity well. Are you ready to go to hyperspace?" Thundercracker chuckled. "I’m ready to go to transwarp, if that’s what you mean." The stars outside the cockpit blurred into lines, and then it became a red smear as Thundercracker entered transwarp.

A fleet gathered in Cybertron’s orbit. Over 10,000 warships orbited, spread out like a net. Star destroyers, frigates, Decepticon battleships and a dozen other types prepared to take the battle to the extra-galactic invaders. The flagship Nemesis II, a deep purple warship with large weapon turrets bristling from almost every centimeter of exposed hull, was at the forefront. A large Decepticon insignia was etched into the bow, letting any enemy know whom they were dealing with.

Megatron stared out the bridge windows as organized chaos reigned. He quickly turned his head and shouted. "Enough!" The room quieted down. "I want a status report on the Vong fleet movements. They appear to be massing those ‘shipworlds’ in the Helska System. What is our plan?" Grand Admiral Pellaeon, standing on a repulsorlift platform, floated over. "That system is where they’re coming in. We can stop them cold right there." He inputted a command, and a holographic image of the Helska System appeared. Seven planets orbited the sun, and about 100 artificial objects were scattered throughout the system.

The map expanded to that of the whole galaxy. Soundwave, Megatron’s right hand, spoke up. "There is a small concentration of Vong units near the Hapes Consortium. They were cut off during our last offensive." Megatron nodded. "Contact Hapes. I want to speak to the Queen Mother." The image changed from the map to a human female, but it wasn’t the one Megatron expected. Instead of a middle-aged woman with a veil over her face, it was that of a young woman looking slightly perturbed. "What can I do for you, oh mighty Megatron?" He smiled, showing no sincerity in his mouthplates. ""Tenel Ka! I’m glad to see you up and about. How are the braces working?"

Tenel Ka, heir to the Hapes Consortium and Jedi Knight, scowled. "I do not have time for pleasantries. I have a Dark Jedi running loose on Hapes trying to kill me and my friend Jacen. We are about to go out and stop him. Furthermore there is a Vong fleet attacking. Their scouts have already penetrated the Transitory Mists." She paused and looked down below the hologram of her head. "I must go. Kyp Durron must be stopped."

Tenel Ka broke the connection, and her image faded. Megatron smirked. "Prepare for transwarp entry in 30 seconds. We strike Helska in 18 hours!" The bridge resumed activity as the fleet exited Cybertron’s orbit and headed for deep space.

*****

Jaina could hardly wait. She had been stuck in Thundercracker’s cockpit for three days with her Uncle Luke. Finally the sensors chimed; they had reached the Hapes Consortium. Thundercracker’s voice sounded out from the cockpit. "We’re going back into normal space in three…two…one…reversion!"

The view outside changed from a red smear to sharply defined starlines-and alarms began blaring. "Oh, slag! We came out during an attack!" Jaina could make out what appeared to be asteroids and small rocks flying about. She also saw Hapan Battle Dragons and star destroyers farther away. Luke studied the data. "It looks like the Vong have penetrated the outer defenses. Is there any way through, Thundercracker?" The jet laughed. "You’re kidding, right? I’ll blow right through those scarheads like a scythe through wheat." Thundercracker targeted the closest Vong ship, a frigate analog, and fired. His lasers, laced with tachyons and going faster than light, shot right past the singularity shields and tore a chunk out of the hull. Several dovin basils-the singularity generators-were killed, leaving the entire aft defenseless. The seeker launched several missiles at the frigate, and with no singularities to swallow them up; they impacted and cracked the hull open like a Gort egg.

Thundercracker raced through the Vong lines, barely slowing down. Jaina checked the sensors. "We’ve entered the Consortium. How long until we reach Hapes Prime?" Luke thought for a moment. "Probably around 30 minutes. Can you get clearance?" Thundercracker’s comm system flashed twice. "Done." He said. "And you’re right. It will take about thirty minutes to reach Hapes Prime." Jaina looked out the cockpit window and saw a blue orb gradually growing larger. She could feel the irrational hate from Kyp. So could Luke.

Thundercracker quickly landed at the Fountain Palace. Jaina leapt out of the cockpit, followed closely by Luke. Both had their lightsabers ignited. Jaina stopped for a second and turned back to Thundercracker, who had already transformed back into robot mode. "What are you doing?" She asked. Thundercracker shrugged. "I got nothing better to do. Besides I’ve never seen a, what did you call it, a Sith Lord?" Luke thought for a second. "He’s in the courtyard. Jacen and Tenel Ka are there too, but he’s too strong. I must face him alone." With that, the Jedi Master walked over to the ledge and jumped down.

Jaina and Thundercracker raced over to the ledge, they saw Luke falling, but he was slowing his descent. Three Jedi were in the courtyard-Jacen and Tenel Ka on one side, and a demented looking Kyp Durron on the other. Kyp looked over at Luke. "So, the son of Skywalker fancies himself a Jedi!" He fired off a bolt of Force Lightning from his fingertips. Luke held up his hand, and the dark energy hit an invisible Force barrier and dissipated. "You have grown strong in the Dark Side, Kyp. I am ashamed at how far you’ve fallen." He advanced. Kyp did the same, and their lightsabers clashed. Luke’s blue blade and Kyp’s scarlet blade crackled and hummed as they made contact. Kyp somersaulted back and reached out with the Force, flinging debris at Luke. The Jedi Master simply held up his hand, and the debris fell.

Jacen and Tenel Ka watched this from the sidelines; both too scared to do anything. Jacen was so entranced he didn’t even feel his twin sister behind him until she placed her hand on his shoulder and said. "Jacen! I’m so glad to see you!" Both Jacen and Tenel Ka gasped in shock. Tenel Ka turned around. "Jaina? It is good to see you, my friend." She hugged Jaina, who was mildly shocked. "You have a prosthetic arm! When did that happen?" The princess shrugged. "It was time. I need all the help I can get, so it was time." She looked up. "Ah, Commander Thundercracker. It is nice to see you again.

Jaina turned around and saw the blue seeker standing there. "You two know each other?" Thundercracker half-smiled. "I’ve been giving her Royal Highness flight instructions. She’s a quick learner." Jacen reached out and drew his twin into a hug. "I missed you so much! Tenel Ka still won’t laugh at my jokes." Jaina groaned. "Well, I’m ready to be your straight woman any time, bro."

Jaina looked up at Thundercracker, who was entranced by the fight between Kyp and Luke. "You okay?" She asked. Thundercracker looked down abruptly. "What? It’s just that I’ve never seen fighting like that. How do they do it? Skywalker’s just…hovering there deflecting lightning! Hey, that human’s shooting lightning? When did you evolve that talent?" Tenel Ka looked up at him. "You remember our talks about the Force? The lightning is a perversion of it. Kyp has fallen to what we call the Dark Side of the Force. His anger and hatred has consumed him." She looked around at the devastation. "We should leave here before the damage gets any worse." Thundercracker scooped the three young Jedi into his arms. "Hang on!" He yelled. His jet boots ignited, sending them skyward.

*****

The Helska System was one of the least remarkable systems in history-until about a month ago. That was when the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong decided to use it as their entrance into the galaxy. Over a hundred shipworlds occupied the system, and nothing would stop them from conquering the galaxy-except for a Decepticon named Megatron.

The Decepticon Fleet dropped out of hyperspace just outside the orbit of the seventh planet. The Nemesis II’s engines flared, sending it ahead of the fleet. The hangar doors opened, and Megatron and Starscream flew out. Starscream radioed Megatron. "Are you ready, oh mighty one?" The Supreme Commander of the Decepticon Empire nodded. "I am." He began transforming into pistol mode. His legs fused together and retracted into his body, while his upper torso rotated 90 degrees and connected with his arms. Megatron’s body began to shrink as mass was funneled into a subspace ‘pocket’.

Starscream grabbed onto Megatron. He targeted one of the larger shipworlds, and squeezed the trigger. Inside the pistol, a microscopic iris opened. Energy from the Maw Black Hole Cluster entered the pre-fire chamber and was funneled out in a tight, infinitely powerful beam.

The shot impacted the shipworld, tearing a hole in it about the size of a hovercar. Starscream moved his arm up and down slightly, tearing a gouge from pole to pole-and cutting the yorrik corral vessel in two. The huge shipworld split in half, and then pressure from within fractured the surface. An odd liquid seeped to the surface as the ship broke up.

Starscream targeted another shipworld, and fired. This one had all dovin basils producing large singularities in an effort to stop the beam, but it was for naught. The same scene played out as Megatron poured ungodly energy into the shot, destroying the shipworld from within. Starscream noted that thousands of coralskippers had been launched and destroyer analogs were rapidly approaching. He checked Megatron’s energy gauge and saw it near depleted. With a shrug he turned around and flew back to the Nemesis II.

Kyp swung wildly at his opponent. He slashed, jabbed and feinted. Against a lesser opponent, he might have had a chance. Against Luke Skywalker? That was another matter.

Luke held his calm throughout the battle. He rarely pressed his attack. Instead he let Kyp tire himself out. Finally he blocked an overhead slash and shoved Kyp with the Force, sending him back halfway across the courtyard. "Kyp. Please stop this." He said. "There is no need for you to destroy yourself like this." In response, Kyp sneered and spat at his former teacher. "Destroy myself? I’ll destroy you." He laughed in an unsettling way. "I will eliminate you, your niece and nephew and wife and all who would stand in my way!" He held his lightsaber out away from his body. "Here’s a little trick I picked up from Exar Kun!" A second energy blade extended from his lightsaber. He swung the lightstaff over his head and brought it to ready position in front of him.

Kyp advanced slowly, probing with the Force. He jabbed at Luke, who deftly blocked them. Frustrated, the fallen Jedi screamed and began slashing each end at Luke, who began moving his lightsaber back and forth, blocking each slash. Luke parried Kyp’s blows, turning them back-and forcing one lightsaber blade right into Kyp’s gut. Kyp gasped and dropped his lightstaff. He backed up and clutched at his wound, which ran clear through his torso. Luke quickly moved to his side. "Kyp. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen." The dying Jedi smiled faintly as blood flowed from his mouth. Then his eyes turned glassy, and stared off into infinity.

*****

Jaina, Jacen, Tenel Ka and Thundercracker watched Kyp’s death from the rooftop. "Blaster bolts! I can’t believe Uncle Luke actually felt sorry for him!" Jacen looked at his sister, surprise crossing his face. "Wouldn’t he? Kyp was one of his first students. It is always hard to lose somebody you care for." Thundercracker nodded. "Yeah. I lost one of my brothers early in this slaggin’ war." He looked up and got a blank look on his face for a second. "It’s Fleet Command. They’re ordering me to the battle, despite the fact that we’re winning." He bowed. "By your leave, Princess?" Tenel Ka half-smiled and saluted the seeker. "You are dismissed." Thundercracker transformed into jet mode and launched off the roof.

Jaina walked over to Tenel Ka. "How are the legs? These braces look kind of…painful." Tenel Ka shrugged. "They are necessary for walking. Without them I would be unable to move from the waist down." Jacen smiled. "Yeah. They’re pretty useful for…physical activities." Jaina turned beet-red as the realization set in. "Oh, I so did not need to hear that!" She turned away from her friends, missing Tenel Ka’s face blossom into a smile.

*****

Tsavong Lah was the Warmaster of the Yuuzhan Vong. Theoretically that meant that he was the best warrior of them all. He had the blessings of the gods. Nobody could stand in his way; especially not the infidels and their abominations.

Then why was he losing?

Most of his fleet had been wiped out. Deecepticons overran the surface facilities. The last of the invasion force was clustered around the fourth planet. Organic communication devices known as villips closed up as the ships they were connected to died. For the first time in memory, panic crept into his soul.

A bright light flashed in front of him, and something-a Deecepticon appeared in front of him! It was obscenely large, and was colored black and purple. The thing looked around, then fixated a stare at Tsavong Lah. "Gotcha." The abomination raised its right arm and pointed a long tube at Lah. Blue lightning shot out of it, and Lah saw no more.

*****

Skywarp grabbed Lah and opened up a panel on his chest. He stuffed the warmaster into it and began firing off his laser cannon. Vong warriors fell as they were shredded into chunks of flesh. The seeker grinned at the carnage, then teleported out of the ship.

As soon as he was off that hunk of rock he contacted the Nemesis II. I have their leader. He is unconscious and of no threat.

Skywarp grinned at that. He didn’t know what was planned for this creature, but he knew it would be quite perverse. He activated his boot thrusters and shot off at high speed toward the Nemesis II, chuckling all the way. Behind him, the last of the Vong fleet made a desperate last stand as Decepticon warships closed in. The forward line was already launching drop ships in anticipation of the ground attack. Within three hours, the entire Vong invasion force was wiped out to the warrior.

Jaina stared in awe. She couldn’t believe she was actually on Cybertron! She and her Uncle Luke were in the heart of the Decepticon Empire along with Garm Bel Iblis; the head of the New Republic’s reorganized government. Iblis, a Corellian older by Luke by a decade, still was a cunning and dangerous opponent. They were there as part of the first diplomatic exchange between the New Republic and the Decepticon Empire.

It had been a standard week since the last of the extra-galactic invaders were defeated. Since then infighting had slowed to almost a stop. Jaina could still remember when Luke and Iblis received the invitations from Megatron. Her uncle was cautious, but felt it was the best chance for peace. Iblis felt peace would give the New Republic breathing room in order to rearm.

Both walked ahead of Jaina, who couldn’t help but stare. Cybertron was sort of like Coruscant in that it was all urbanized, but Coruscant was at its heart, a natural planet. There was a dirt surface down below the kilometers of duracrete and steel. Cybertron had no planetary surface. It was built by some long-vanished race. She asked Thundercracker about it, but he said. "Nobody except Shockwave and Blitzwing remember."

After a few minutes they had reached the capital building. It was a huge metal spire with the purple Decepticon symbol emblazoned right above the doorway. Two large Decepticons stood on either side of a large door, laser rifles held at the ready. The doors slid open to admit the three. Inside Decepticons, humans and other species milled about as the government ran. Iblis pointed to a row of humanoid-sized turbolifts. "That must be where we can get to this ‘command center’ of Megatron’s." Luke reached out with his senses. "I believe you’re right. I feel Megatron’s presence above us." With that statement they marched over and entered the leftmost turbolift. Jaina noticed a control panel next to the door. "I think I can figure out how this works." She said. "I can read basic Cybertronian." She studied the writing for a second, and pressed a button. All three felt slightly heavier as the turbolift headed up toward Megatron’s command center.

The doors opened with a whoosh, and they exited. Iblis looked slowly from left to right. Megatron and his pet trio of seekers were standing there, along with a purple Decepticon with a laser cannon where his left hand should have been. Panning right, he made out several humans, Bothans and other species on repulsorlift platforms. In the back was a huge viewscreen large enough for an X-wing to fly through. Megatron walked forward. "Garm Bel Iblis I presume! It’s nice to finally meet you." Iblis looked up. "So you are the slag maker. Shall we get down to business?"

Megatron nodded. "We shall recognize New Republic control over the territories you occupy now, and we shall return some Mid Rim and Outer Rim areas." The robot with the gun hand plugged it into a socket next to the viewscreen, and an image of the galaxy appeared. "However, we won’t relinquish any of the main territory. That is non-negotiable." Iblis walked forward and studied the map. "I see that the Helska System is still in your domain. Why? There’s no value there except as the last stand of those Vong things." One of the seekers balked. "We conquered that system in a glorious battle! It is ours by right of conquest." Megatron wheeled around and belted the seeker. "Silence, Starscream! I brook no insubordination!" He turned back to Iblis. "Helska was the entry way for the invaders. I want to keep a close eye on the system."

Luke stepped forward. "At the very least give us any information you have on them. In the future we may have to work together if they show up again." A blue seeker, Thundercracker to be precise, stepped forward. "That might be wise, mighty Megatron. They still know more about this galaxy than we do." Jaina perked up at that. " ‘This galaxy’? What does that imply? Are you from outside too, like the Vong?" Megatron growled. "Silence! That is of no concern to you." He looked down at the Jedi master. "I will provide you with all data regarding the Yuuzhan Vong. Please send a permanent ambassador within two standard weeks." Iblis nodded. "I can agree to that." He turned to Luke. "Are you ready?" Luke nodded. "Yes."

The trio quickly left the capital building and headed for the spaceport and Jaina’s ship, the Millennium Falcon. Her copilot Lowbacca was on his home planet of Kashyyyk, visiting relatives. The Falcon once belonged to her father Han Solo-before he was shot down and killed over Yavin IV. She tried to suppress that memory as she went through pre-flight checks and activated the repulsors. "Darkmount Central, this is Millennium Falcon requesting permission to take off." A decidedly human voice came over the comm. "This is Darkmount Central. Have a good flight, Falcon." Jaina revved the main engines up and steered the ship out of the atmosphere. It was time to go home.

But where was home?

*****

He was in Hell.

There was no other explanation for it. He must’ve died and the gods condemned him to hell. Why else would Tsavong Lah, Warmaster of the Yuuzhan Vong, be in this condition? A reflective surface was set up at his right side showing his face-unscarred. Every devotion, every scar he made to honor the gods was gone! He looked like a newborn. Even worse, his living armor was gone, replaced by dead things known as ‘clothing’.

He could feel no pain. A bundle of metal was attached to his spine, filling his body with some sort of numbing agent. It clouded his mind, and prevented him from committing suicide. He couldn’t rise from the chair he was in. Straps held him in place, but it didn’t hurt him. Several panels were arranged in front of him at eye level. One showed peaceful images, like a meadow or a couple of infidels. A second showed him images of abominations acting like they were alive. It made his head spin. The third showed the destruction of his fleet on a continuous loop. He would turn away, or even close his eyes if it was possible.

He tried to raise his arms to claw his eyes out, but his own body betrayed him, as his arms would not move. An image of something crawling across his face stirred in his mind, but then it fled. Meanwhile, the images continued flashing, eroding his sanity little by little.

Outside the prison cell stood Bombshell, a psychological warfare expert. He had personally designed the entire series of tortures. "The bugs crawl in." He said. "However, this time they don’t crawl out!"