The Starship Graveyard

Chaos had somewhat erupted on board the Kalee Bastion as the crew had been taken by surprise when they arrived at the Rishi system, more precisely the coordinates they were given. Many of the crew were still rushing to their station's or were preparing for battle, but their ship was thankfully not in danger. Still it didn't mean they weren't in danger from being hit with flying debris.

The mystery as to what happened with the ship's they had come to investigate had been solved, they were nothing but floating debris in the belt. What caused these ship's to be ultimately destroyed however was up for debate, but for now the crew cared less for the moment.

"Status report! What is damaged!" Daival shouted to the bridge crew around him trying his hardest to help the two navigator's at the helm of the ship. Azmo and Xinthiss however had decided to return to the tactical board per the orders of the captain to monitor if there were any ship's in the area.

"Shield's have taken the brunt of the damage, but as far as we can tell there is no structural damage to the ship. It seem's we hit a flying piece of debris as soon as we exited into the belt." Xin heard the crew member speak frantically, but in a demeanor that he wished to keep everyone calm. It was never the less good to hear that the ship itself was not critical damaged from the sudden hit they took upon arrival.

As Davial and his men continued to get the report's on the ship and its current condition, Azmo and Xinthiss continued to search for any signs of other ship's on the tactical board. They didn't see anything and it worried them both. This was mostly because of the fact that they both could sense something bad was coming, but nothing that they had indicated that there was any ship's nearby.

"Master Jedi have you and you're young colleague found anything of use yet?" They both turned when they heard the winding voice of Daival who was getting closer to them ever step he took.

"Nothing, our scanner's aren't picking up anything in both this debris field nor in the system." Azmo responded with wariness in his voice and stature, he crossed his arm's subtly, and stroked his chin in deep thought.

"Even long range scanners aren't picking up anything, if they aren't picking up anything either than it cant be all bad." Xin stated with some hope that there truly wasn't something lurking out there in the debris field. His old master however was much more cautious and didn't think as hopefully as his former Padawan.

"That, maybe so Xinthiss, but remember what I taught you during you're training. Never think twice about the feeling in you're gut, or in the force." Azmo responded somewhat coldly as he stared at the board, he was clearly in very deep thought about whatever could be out there.

One crewmen approached them, but as it seemed he only wished to speak with the captain. It was common really, Daival was the commanding officer so naturally it would be up to him to hear the details of everything. While the two conversed, Xin approached Azmo and stared blankly at the board. He was just as curious as the elder Jedi was.

"Captain, something is coming into view now."

"Show us Ensign." Daival said with little hesitation to the man currently piloting the massive corvette. Though it seemed that he wanted the two Jedi too follow him, in which they obliged him by doing so. What they saw was something they had been hoping to find upon first arriving.

There in front of the corvette was the same Thranta class drifting in the middle of the debris field. When the Kalee Bastion continued to get closer it was clear that the considered lost ship was semi-fully intact. Xin noticed just how dormant the other ship seemed to be as it lifelessly drifted in space, clearly devoid of all power and life. It was strange really the ship seemed to be spotless of any damage, if the ship had been attacked then there defiantly would have been mark's from blaster cannon fire.

The ship regardless was a good sign that perhaps maybe some of the Republic personale in the sector were still alive, and could give them an answer to what was going on. When the Kalee Bastion approached the ship they soon saw what appeared to be the faded logo print of the ship's name, the Ruusan Liberator.

"Ensign Pavel, do we have any record of a corvette named the Ruusan Liberator?" Davial stated once as he approached the man in question. It was clear that this man known as Pavel was some sort of intelligence officer on board the bridge.

"Yes sir I do have something on the ship with that name, but it registers that the ship went missing with all hand's exactly one month ago."

This was something none of them were expecting. However it seemed to definitely be a break in their search as it was clear their entire crew was mostly shaken up by the sudden shock of their arrival. Eventually the alarm went off as they were not in immediate danger, which to Xin was a thankful tone since he hated that damn alarm.

"Commander Tejat, and Alpha company please report to the bridge."

Xin seemed to flinch at the sound of the blaring intercom which seemed to echo throughout the bridge and most likely the entire ship. While he seemed to not being enjoying the start of being on a military ship like this he could not lie that it wasn't something of a spectacle and a tad annoying at times. Azmo on the other hand didn't seem fazed by it as he continued to blankly stare at the disabled corvette in their view.

It seemed something was troubling the old man and it didn't take a blind man to tell just how he felt. His stiffness in posture, and his clear silence gave away everything that he was concerned about in this status. This didn't surprise Xinthiss however. That was mostly because of the fact that almost the entire time he knew Azmo, the old man had been always cautious about anything. A fact the experienced Jedi clearly made many times during Xinthiss' training as a padawan.

With a worrying look the old jedi turned to his younger peer for a moment, he most likely wanted gauge his reaction. Before Xinthiss could speak the sound of one of the two dura-steel doors opening could be heard, and with it approached Tejat and what they could presume was his new squadmates. When Xin turned back around to speak to his former master he wasn't surprised to see the old man staring blankly at the ship again.

Daival seemed to be anxious to speak with Tejat as he moved towards the now growing group of soldier's, but if Xin was being honest with himself he believed he saw the Duro sneering at him. It must have been his imagination he figured. Without hesitation he decided to join the group in the apparent briefing that the captain was giving them, his reason was mostly to give Azmo some space.

"Tejat, if you and Alpha will take a look here and outside the view port you will notice a similar Thranta-Class corvette like ours, drifting in front of us." Daival stated as he pointed to the holoprojector that the large group stood before. Just by looking at the projector's image they could tell it was the ship in question, but what confused them the most was the fact that the ship showed no signs of damage.

"The Ruusan Liberator is currently without power and we cannot reach anyone on board the starship, if there even is anyone on board." Many of the group stared at Daival and the hologram image from time to time listening to the briefing, it seemed they were intent on this mission's details.

"Regardless, we must know what happened to her and the other ship's in the area. Tejat you and Alpha will take a shuttle to the corvette and search the ship for any signs of life, or any intel that tells us what happened." Tejat crossed his arm's at hearing this and chuckled.

"Leave it to us Sir, we'll be done with this mission quicker than a round of pazzak." The duro said with much cockiness that made Xinthiss question his ability as a commander, it was definitely not military behavior as far as he knew.

"Tejat, The Jedi will be joining you in this." Daival stated almost cryptically and authoritatively. 

Tejat seemed to cringe at the mention of having the Jedi joining him and his men on this mission, it seemed to make him sick to his stomach.

"With all due respect captain, I think we would be better if we went alone and leave the Jedi to defend the ship." Tejat stated calmly and formerly in a solider like posture.

"Yes captain, the commander is right."

Everyone in the meeting seemed to turn in confusion to the voice that spoke. Within a moment every eye at the meeting as staring at the back of Azmo, who seemed to be humored by the duro's statement. That was until he finally walked over to the large group and stood next to Tejat in a mocking manner.

"He is right on one thing, if this ship is attacked there would little for either me, nor my companion to do if we were on the other ship." Azmo stated with a sigh, but secretly smiled when he saw Tejat breathe a heavy sigh of relief.

"Hence more I propose to stay here while my companion, Xinthiss journey's to the corvette with Tejat and Alpha company to ensure coverage on both sides." Within in instant the color faded from Tejat blue head and his red eye's widened as he stared at the Jedi, and his commanding officer. His fears would be further put to the test as he watched a smile creep it's way on to Daival's face.

"That sounds like a good idea master jedi, Alpha make it so." Daival said with finality as he quickly walked away from the group. Tejat seemed to grumble at the decision and pushed pass the group to most likely leave the bridge.

"You think that was wise Azmo?" Xin asked with such certainty that his former master believed that his younger pupil was terrified of what was too come.

"In order to set an example you must always push for one to break their boundaries, to make them adapt. I believe that man must be pushed to let go of his hatred for the order, and I have faith you will work well with him." Azmo stated calmly as he casually crossed his arm's behind his back.

"I hope I will be too." Xin stated staring at the door the Duro had exited the room from. His eye's however slowly faded to the countless men and women in the room that were conversing in their daily lives, and the mission to come. It still worried him what could happen.

"Yes, but remember Xinthiss." Azmo said softly before stepping forward, until he stood just a foot from his younger peer.

"Remember what I taught you back on Tython, never let fear consume you and never let anyone drive you to accept that fear. I believe you will do well so that encouragement with you when you go on that ship." Azmo spoke calmly and respectfully at his younger peer trying to lighten the mood and give his friend some hope.

"I will, and thank you for being there for me always." Xin responded with as much respect as he could muster. Upon seeing a smile flash on Azmo's face, Xin decided it was time to leave and joined the others who were exiting the room. That was until he heard Azmo speaking behind him.

"May the force be with you all."

That was the last thing he heard as the door closed behind him, sealing them off from the bridge.

******

Thing's were quiet as the shuttle transitioned to the Ruusan Liberator, not many on board the shuttle said much as their pilot's maneuvered towards the drifting ship's hangar bay. Xinthiss noted that most of the soldier's on board the shuttle were preparing themselves for the mission, some were still gearing up, and other's were double checking their weapon's for anything wrong with them.

Xinthiss noted that Tejat was speaking to the pilot's in the cockpit, presumably to ensure that everything was running right and that they would safely arrive on the corvette. Taking his eyes off the duro, he noticed another memorable member of the soldier's that seemed to tower over all of them.

Near Tejat, was a man taller than the rest of them. If Xin could estimate the man was possibly as tall as a Wookie, or maybe even smaller. He was certainly well built as the muscles in his arms took up almost every percentage of his body, it was clear that he was very strong due to the weapon he had chosen, a massive assault cannon. Everyone else seemed to be a regular soldier within the Republic military, adorning the regular helmet's and armor accustomed to their battle attire.

In total their were about one hundred and fifty men and women in Alpha company. That meant that their had to be multiple shuttles that had to land on board the drifting corvette, Xin had counted at least five but he believed there could be more in this case. His thought's were cut short as he felt the shuttle buckle, before it landed in the clearly dark, and gloomy hangar bay.

With a low hiss, the shuttle door's opened and the soldier's stood up one by one. With clear coordination the soldier's exited the shuttle one by one and began to search the hangar. Tejat was the last one out before Xinthiss, but if he was being honest with himself he thought he saw the duro sneer at him almost making sure to watch him closely during this mission.

Upon exiting the shuttle, Xinthiss noticed just how quiet the atmosphere within the hangar bay was, not to mention dark. He gazed over to the countless men and women that were currently scouring the hangar for any traces of combat, or for any signs of life. Tejat was seemingly speaking to the commanding officer's of Alpha company, which included the towering man he noticed in the shuttle ride.

"First thing that should be in order is taking the command bridge, without taking that bridge we won't be able to access a majority of the log's or ship systems." Tejat stated as he spoke before the crowding group of five around him, two women stood out amongst them and the other three were men.

"Engineering will have to be investigated as well, not too mention the escape pod's, crew quarter's, and other areas of the ship." One of the women spoke up and made it clear to everyone in the group that it wasn't just the bridge they needed to secure, they needed to secure the entire ship.

"Indeed, Hey Jedi!" Tejat shouted motioning to Xinthiss to come join them, it seemed like he was being professional for once. That was a relief at least. Deciding it was best to join them, Xin without hesitation walked over to the group who acknowledged him, except Tejat.

"Our best bet would be to split into four team's." Tejat began believing that this would be better for them to search the ship. This idea wasn't met with much enthusiasm unfortunately.

"I disagree, I think having six team's would cover more ground and be more efficient."

"Nah, we don't need team's I'll search this ship even if I have to rip it apart my self!"

The towering man shouted cheerfully as he stood and fist pumped his chest in a brute like manner. With a look from the group however, he seemed to shy away and sit back down quietly.

"Anyway, ignoring what Iriex said. Aremia why do you think sending six team's would be better, are you overconfident in our men's ability." Tejat stated almost authoritatively and bossily, but what he probably thought was a harmless discussion would become a heated debate between the two.

A debate that none of them had wanted.

Xin decided that this bickering was not necessary for the mission and took the initiative to insure the two idiots stopped their fighting. He did so by putting himself in between the two and keeping them away from each other, that was until the man known as Iriex stood up and walked over towards them. In one swift motion he picked up both Tejat, and Aremia holding them by their back collars.

"Oi, ain't no one here want to her you're insufferable arguing so let's hear the Jedi's two cents, and see if he's got a better idea." Iriex stated gruffly as he gave a stern look to the two soldier's, in response Aremia huffed and agreed. Tejat was hesitant at first before a menacing glare from Iriex made him change his mind instantly.

"Thank you Iriex." Xin stated to the tall man, who in response laughed and dropped Tejat, and Aremia. Both of which scattered from the overly sized man as a mean's to escape. Now with everyone's attention Xin thought about a good way to cover the ship entirely without wasting alot of time, and without possibly loosing many, in case any unwanted visitors were still aboard.

"Alpha company is comprised of one hundred and fifty men. So I believe for better coverage of the ship we will divide our men into squad's of five, two squad's will secure the bridge. Three squad's will secure the engineering bay, another two squads will check escape pod's, and the rest will secure the remainder of the ship. Hopefully by doing this we will provide much more coverage over the ship, and waste little time in doing so."

"You also seemed to include how easily it would be for the other squad's to respond in case of attack, smart move master jedi." Aremia spoke with quiet a bit of respect for Xinthiss.

"What about me Jedi?" Iriex spoke almost enthusiasticly as if he was expecting Xin too have a special assignment for him, well he did infact.

"Considering you're clear attitude to working alone Iriex, I'll let you secure the armories and storage area's on the ship."

"HaHa! Yeah! Now that I can get behind." Iriex stated happily while bouncing up and down. It made him look like a child, a very dangerous child in this case.

"Does anyone else have a problem with this plan?" Xin asked toward's the small group, but as the group looked at each other their eyes soon drifted towards the one man they knew who would have a problem with it, Tejat.

Knowing that everyone was expecting him too say yes, Tejat rather wanted to humor himself by gauging their shocked reaction's by simply saying. "No."

The group surely was shocked for a moment at least. As soon as the permission was given, Iriex stood up happily, slung his assault cannon on his back, and charged down the nearest corridor to a lift. Everyone else however decided to rally with their own hand picked squad's, that was until it was only Xinthiss and Tejat left.

"Look's like we both will be taking the bridge then." Xinthiss stated casually as he blankly looked at the Duro man from the corner of his eye. Tejat was checking a holographic projection of the ship in his data pad, and without any remorse or regret softly said.

"It look's that way, I'll see you there....Jedi."

Xin was almost confused by the way Tejat ended the sentence. The way he worded Jedi was not as venomous as he always did, maybe he was starting to respect Xin. That or he was just too focused on the mission and didn't want to give his pride up to a man like Xinthiss.

It was anyone's game for guessing he supposed.

******

The soldier's along with Xinthiss had thought the dark and abandoned hangar bay was creepy. They were undoubtfully shocked as they proceeded throughout the ship. As the group of six walked through the dark corridor's towards the bridge they seemed to be weary and skittish of anything ready to pop out from the darkness.

"Hey, Jackson." Xin heard from his left, it was a whisper from one of the leading soldiers in front, who was clearly wishing trying to get the attention of his friend.

"Yeah, Relix?" The other solider responded in a soft whisper, as if though just by speaking loudly would give away their position.

"This seem a little weird to you?"

"Like you got that feeling that you're being watched?"

"Yep, had that feeling the entire time we stepped off the lift."

While the conversation continued, Xin couldn't help but to look around hesitantly. The soldier's weren't the only ones who had that feeling, he had felt something off with the ship since they stepped off the lift. He wasn't sure if they were in danger, but he made sure to hold on to his lightsaber just in case of any sign of attack.

For the past several minutes after leaving the hangar they had been traveling through hallway, after hallway to make their way to the bridge. Along the way they noted that their was no-one, not even bodies which added more to the mystery of the ship since it was clearly out of power.

That was until they finally arrived at a large door, one that seemed to be forcibly locked from the drain of power. The group stopped to look at the door before one of the soldier's began to check the nearby door control's, the other's took positions to cover behind them.

"Tejat, this is Xinthiss. We have arrived at one of the entrances to the bridge, are you in position as well?" Xin stated calmly as he spoke through the communicator. The plan was for both his team and Tejat's to meet at separate entrances to the bridge, just in case there was any hostiles on the other side.

"Yeah, Yeah I hear you Jedi." Tejat's said almost sarcastically as he responded through his own communicator. "We're at the other entrance trying to get the door open, haven't seen anyone in a while."

Xin nodded to himself as a means to confirm his suspicions. Thing's on board this ship were just getting even more mysterious as the minutes went by. With sheer luck however, the door's that stood behind him slowly opened, revealing something that they weren't expecting.

An abandoned bridge.

Upon entering the bridge they were quickly frightened by another door opening, but soon relaxed as Tejat, and his team entered. Tejat seemed to be as shocked as Xin and his team was, it carried as the men from both squad's hesitantly moved forward to secure the bridge. While the soldier's progressed into the bridge, Tejat and Xinthiss both moved to meet with each other.

"You seen anything or anyone Tejat?" Xin asked as they approached each other. When they stopped the duro frowned and sighed, already confirming Xinthiss' fear.

"No, we haven't seen anyone since our approach towards the bridge, it's strange really. You at all see anything?"

"No we didn't, most of my men had a feeling though."

"Feeling like being watched?"

"Yeah."

Tejat sighed after hearing this news, this entire situation was getting stranger by the minute. He decided it was best to check in with the rest of the team's while their men were securing the bridge. Xinthiss on the other hand decided to help the men in ensuring the bridge was fully clear of any hostiles.

"This is Tejat to all team's report in." The duro stated calmly into his communicator, he seemed to lean back as he waited for a response. It didn't take long thankfully for them to get a response.

"This is Aremia, we're in Engineering. All system's are functional, but we haven't seen anyone on our way here. It's like this ship is a ghost ship."

"This is Martov, we've secured deck's two through ten. Everything is quiet down here."

"Iriex here, got nothin that I can see or kill. Armory is barely scratched or touched, along with the crew quarter's."

Tejat seemed to grow even more weary and incensed by the minute as everyone of the team's slowly reported in, giving an all clear on board the ship. Just what happened to the crew exactly?

As if though some mystic power was watching him, one of the soldier's approached him clearly with news on what could have happened. Xinthiss watched as both of the men walked over to the lead mainframe of the controls. Within only a few moment's of the soldier typing on the overly sized computer, a hologram appeared behind them. A recording of some kind.

"Captain's Report, log entry 15. We've been investigating the Rishi system for nearly three week's now, we haven't found nearly any sign of both the Isobe Revenant and the Nova Vision. It's like they just disappeared." The hologram stated during the recording, it was clear by the late captain's stature and facial expression's that he was clearly on edge. The Ruusan Liberator was here far longer than they were, and even they didn't find anything. The log entry seemed to continue however.

"We've taken priorities to find the lost two ship's, this entire investigation is going nowhere with us finding nothing. The crew is also on edge as much as I am, the Republic bases on the nearby moon's are also quiet and barren. I've had the head of engineering run scan diagnostic's throughout the ship and the system and well, we haven't found anything. With luck I hope that within the next few log entries I will be able to report on anything."

The recording ended abruptly after with the hologram disappearing. Tejat, Xinthiss, and the solider who were watching seemed to sit in silence at the recording.

"Sir, I think I may have the final log entry before the ship went dark." The soldier responded as he typed in a few commands into the console.

"Why didn't you play that one first then?"

"That was the first recording the captain made after arriving in this system, the ship's internal systems needed time to acknowledge the simple command."

"Just get it working." Tejat said with a tired sigh and a frustrated huff.

Within another few moment's the hologram of the captain returned, the recording beginning within a second of it coming online.

"Captain's report, log entry 19. Two more week's have gone by and we still haven't found anything in this system. I'm about ready to begin to pull back our ship after today and tomorrow's last run of the system, the crew I know will be happy to be returning home after these event's. I know I am."

"It is strange however, I had believed that perhaps the Empire had forces in the area of space. That however was a mistaken theory and I'm grateful for it, whatever happened to the other two corvettes was most likely an ambush from pirate's or it was possibly an asteroid collision. Anything is possible really at this point."

Upon saying this there was a few moment's of silence as the hologram seemed to freeze, before continuing to play. Another figure entered the view, clearly a bridge officer by their attire.

"Captain, we've completed our final scan's for the day once again there is nothing within this system."

"Tell the crew that we will be leaving first thing in the morning then, we have spent long enough in this forbidden system for a clueless investigation that has lead us nowhe-" The hologram froze once again before it began playing again, instead of being calm this time however, the captain was in panic.

"What the hell was that?!"

"Unknown sir, but the ship has just been hit multiple times in just a matter of a few moment's! All hand's are reporting no casualties, but the ship system's are malfunctioning."

"Reroute the power to shield's and prepare to power weapon's!" The captain shouted furiously as he seemed to look around the bridge in a panic.

"Sir the main shield's are offline and weapon power is disabled, whatever hit us has disabled most of our system's!" The officer responded in a panic as well clearly not knowing what was going on.

"Captain, something has alluded our scan's. We're being boarded!" Another bridge officer shouted from outside the view of the recording, and within second's the captain began to panic and cower thinking of what to do."

"Security team's to docking bays one through ten, contain the enemy at all co-" The hologram froze once more as the recording stopped abruptly, it didn't take a genius to realize that all power within the ship had been lost at that given moment.

Xinthiss looked over at the other two men standing next to him, and was not surprised to see their reaction's. While the solider was clearly scared for his life, Tejat was calmly thinking as if though this was normal.

"Tejat, what to you think it is?" Xin asked calmly as a mean's to keep everyone in the room from panicking.

"This ship's systems along with main power went down way too quickly for it to be any traditional weaponry, I think we might be dealing with a ship stocked with Ion Cannon's." Tejat stated as calm as he could, but also very confident that the culprit weapon behind this ship's sudden power loss was Ion weaponry.

"Ion Cannons? I've never heard of them before." Xin said with clear confusion in his voice, he had learned much from his days as a padawan under Azmo, but it was clear that weaponry such as Ion Cannon's was not in those lessons.

"Ion Cannons are nasty weapon's, able to turn a ship into a silent, drifting hulk. This ship was bombarded by another unknown vessel stocked full of Ion Cannons if I am correct that is. The only thing that I have too go off of, is that this is Imperial work." Tejat said with more confidence in his voice than even he did not know he had.

"What makes you so sure of that?" Xin questioned clearly wanting to know more of this weapon, it was a clear understanding that he wished to know just what could be hunting them out here.

"Ion Cannons are only fit enough to be stationed on bigger ship's, like this one and even our capital ships. It is known that the Empire has this weaponry too, so we might be dealing with a destroyer or a dreadnought." Tejat said with an authoritative tone in his voice, as he was not just explaining it to Xinthiss, but to the entirety of the group in the bridge.

"I believe I understand, there's just one question I have."

"Go on, Jedi."

"If there is a ship out there, why can't we detect it on our scanner's?" Xin's question was met with quite the response as much of the group started conversing with each other, trying their best to think of an answer. Tejat had one such theory however.

"I have a thought, a ship with Ion Cannon's and cannot be detected. We may have a cloaked ship stalking us." Tejat said with uncertainty in his voice.

"Cloaked?!" The group said in unison. 

"It is rumored that the Empire has been developing cloaking technology for their ship's, it's a stretch theory but I think this is a prototype ship."

"So you think all of our ship's are just testing subject's for it, Commander?"

"Yes that is exactly what I think."

Xinthiss seemed silent as he quietly thought to himself, this theory was outlandish and strange. Though with anything out here it was a possible theory that could prove true with the facts given to them within the recordings.

"It would also explain why the ship has no battle mark's or any sign of the crew on board." He mumbled to himself, but soon realized that everyone heard and agreed with him. Within a moment of thinking, Xin had another thought come to mind.

"Hey, Tejat?"

"Yeah?"

"If, the first two ship's were most likely destroyed or captured, and this ship was clearly boarded and disabled. Why did this vessel leave this corvette behind?" The question was a good one that had no merit to it immediately, but within a moment of conversing everyone freeze as they all slowly stared at the Kalee Bastion through the viewport.

"Because it would purposely let our guard down." Tejat said with concern in his voice, before his large red eye's scanned towards something to the left of their ship. A shimmer, that was coming closer by the moment. 

"It's a trap." The group said in unison, before they witnessed what appeared to be a Imperial Destroyer appear from thin air. Within what seemed like a moment, the Destroyer opened fire with the clear intent to disable their ships. However the Destroyer did not fire on the Ruusan Liberator.

It's full attention was on the Kalee Bastion, and with it the group and the entirety of Alpha company was moving back to the main hangar. They had to save their ship and everyone on board from this threat, but it did not happen this way.

That was because a few minutes after leaving the bridge, several explosion's rocked the Ruusan Liberator, and soon enough made it's way to Xinthiss, Tejat, and their two squads.

The last thing that Xinthiss saw before he lost temporary consciousness was the wall panel on his left exploding, and launching him into the wall hard. Tejat soon followed, with only a few of their men managing not to be harmed.

The trap had been sprung and it was clear that none of them were prepared for it.