The Temple of Ulaar

The Temple of Ulaar

Reina's strike team successfully infiltrated the temple. Shine had disabled the machines guarding the underground passage, and they had successfully made it into the temple basement.

"No sign of any enemies so far," Kitra noted. "Have they not noticed us?"

"Imperial forces are dealing with... other problems right now," Zav'ra answered over her communicator, sending a holovid of the chaos going on outside the temple. Between the Kruvuk muscle dealing with Imperial soldiers, and Imperial vehicles being neutralized by Reina and Shalia's fleets, the Resistance was holding their own.

"Nice. Let's keep moving," said Reina.

The team quietly made their way to the top floor of the temple, where the Maradaanean commander, had holed himself up, along with a group of elite soldiers. They could clearly hear him yelling into a communicator as they approached.

"We're dealing with resistance forces planetwide!" the commander barked. "Where are our reinforcements?"

"We only send reinforcements where they're needed, commander Tyrax," the voice on the other end responded. Reina immediately identified the voice as General Raxus. "Varak is not a priority."

"What the hell do you mean?! Emperor Ronax told me I'd have whatever I needed!"

"Plans have changed. If you can't defend Varak with the forces at your disposal, that is your own failure."

"I demand to speak with the Emperor!" Tyrax snapped.

"The Emperor has no time for your petty demands," said Raxus. "This conversation is over. Raxus out."

"DAMN IT!" Tyrax yelled. "Prepare my escape vessel! I'm not going to waste any more time on this wretched planet if I can't win."

"Should we prepare a planetwide retreat?" one guard asked.

"What for? The forces I've been given failed. They and the resistance can kill each other for all I care. I'll tell Emperor Ronax that they disobeyed my orders--"

"--sir, your escape vessel has been taken offline."

"Wow, this really isn't your day," Reina taunted the commander. "Pretty damn scummy, leaving your people to die like that."

"What?! Who are you?! How did you get past my guard?"

"We're with the resistance," Reina answered. "And it looks like your forces are too preoccupied to help."

"And what do you expect to do?" Tyrax laughed. "You might have lucked out getting here, but you're still outnumbered."

"And? If you get through us, what then? Your escape vessel's gone, friend. And if the the resistance gets ahold of you, you'll be drawn and quartered -- if you're lucky. Best to just surrender now."

"NO! I won't allow myself to be captured by the likes of you! Guards, kill them!" Tyrax screamed.

The guards hesitated. Tyrax clearly had no plan.

"Do I have to activate your obedience protocol?!"

The guards resigned themselves to the fight. The Maradaanean Elite guard obedience protocol was a painful process.

"Looks like we've got a fight on our hands, ladies. Mia, care to take the lead?"

"With pleasure, Captain," Mia grinned, charging the group of guards. The fight was over almost as quickly as it began; Mia's close quarters combat skills and the field generator she liked to use made short work on the majority of the guards in the room. Meanwhile, Imara had incapacitated a pair of guards with a gun that fired concussive blasts. Shalia and Kitra, wielding energy blades, outduelled a pair of guards, while Reina charged Tyrax, her energy tethers leaving him unable to move.

"Uggghhh... this is impossible..." Tyrax grunted. "You'll regret defying the Maradaanean em--"

"Don't care," Reina smirked, using an energy tether to gag the fallen commander.

"Gear! Shine! We've taken the temple! Broadcast a message to the resistance."

Several hours later

"Reports are coming in from resistance teams planetwide," Imara told the team. "Maradaanean forces are retreating off world. Some have even offered to defect, offering up information on the empire. Looks like we've won."

"That's great news," Reina said. "I glad we could help."

Imara smiled. "Reina -- Shalia -- Kitra -- Mia -- you're all amazing. Varak owes you a debt it can never repay. But Reina, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to ask one more favor of you..."

"Oh? And that would be?" asked Reina.

"Let me join your crew. The resistance here will be fine without me -- If we're going to stop my brother, I believe I'll be much more useful on your ship."

Reina smiled. Imara had proven to be a very useful ally; she'd be a very valuable addition to the Morrigan. And Reina was never opposed to having yet another stunning woman aboard the Morrigan.

"Welcome aboard, Imara," Reina smiled, shaking Imara's hand.

Upon hearing that the empire had lost Varak, Ronax threw another violent tantrum, smashing equipment and throwing whatever he could across his war room.

"How did we lose Varak?! I made it a priority!" Ronax yelled in a fit of rage.

"Tyrax was an unfit commander," lied General Raxus. "His poor leadership is to blame."

"Then put a price on his head!" Ronax hissed. "I gave him all the resources needed to carry out his mission and then some!"

"As you wish, Emperor," obeyed Raxus. "Tyrax's head will serve as a reminder that failure will not be tolerated."

"Good. And if you can, capture him alive," said Ronax. "I want his suffering to serve as an example."

"Understood, sir," Raxus said as Ronax left the war room.

Misguided idiot, Raxus thought to himself. Varak should not have been a priority for the Maradaanean Empire. No, Raxus knew better. Ronax was a **** to his foolish ego. That's why Raxus had his own clandestine projects in progress. AGONY, an AI based off of Shine. The fleet of clone pilots. Once his plans came to fruition, the galaxy would know the glory of Maradaan. And there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Certainly not some pathetic intergalactic vessel.