FORSAKEN II - Eternal Dawn

CHAPTER ONE

The X'Cal, a CR90 corvette, travelled through the Corellian Run hyperlane, when the crew picked up a distress signal. They had to be cautious as trade routes that far into the Outer Rim Territories were rife with pirates. Though the X'Cal's considerable cargo hold was empty, it didn't prevent it from being attacked. Nevertheless, Space Merchant regulations required all commercial vessels to heed calls for help. With the crew on high alert and manning their turbolasers, the X'Cal locked onto the distress signal, and came out of hyperspace.

Soon, the sensors detected a WTK-85A interstellar transport that appeared to be drifting just outside the hyperlane. Attempts to hail the crew went unanswered, but the instruments showed signs of organic life onboard. This had all the marks of a pirate ambush. But the X'Cal couldn't find an Imperial starship or local authority to take over the rescue.

After conferring with his senior officers, the captain agreed to go on with the salvage. If it was pirates, they had no cargo to risk and enough firepower to repel an attack; the transport itself would bring some extra credits when they arrived at their destination in Sirpar, and there was always the chance this was a real emergency and they could help fellow spacers.

The X'Cal lined up its right airlock with the transport's rear one. A full security detail with body armor and blaster rifles gathered at the entrance ready for the worst. As soon as they had access to the craft, eight guards went in, four went into the sleeping quarters to the left, and another group to the right. The cabins were empty. Once the all-clear was given, another four men searched the central cargo hold. There were twelve black boxes the size of a humanoid arranged six to each side. With the main deck of the starship secured, the senior security officer and three of his men approached the cockpit's door, leaving another quartet of guards by the airlock. On their leader's signal, they move in. The cockpit was empty.

"Bridge, this is Security One," the senior officer said. "The starship is secured. There's nobody aboard—not even a droid. How's everything looking out there? Over."

"Security One, this is the Bridge. Sensors are clear. There's nobody out here but us. Is there any cargo onboard? Over."

"Ah... that's affirmative. We have a dozen man-size security boxes with no markings on them. They look like some kind of stasis pods. Over."

"Send the tech team for forensics. I'll have medical staff take a look at those pods. I want to make sure the ship is not a hazard before letting it inside our cargo hold. Over."

"Acknowledged, sir. We will proceed as ordered. Over and out." The officer turned to his men. "Alright, boys. Clear out and send the techs in. I want a four-man team to stay behind."

Once the security detail cleared out, two technicians went into the cockpit to check the starship logs. Moments later, a pair of medics boarded the vessel. They scanned one of the pods to make sure there was nothing threatening coming from within.

"It's clear," one of the technicians said. "What do you think is inside?"

"Beats me," his colleague said.

"Twenty credits say they have some fancy slaves from Ryloth."

"More fancy? You're on."

At the cockpit, one of the technicians checked the central computer. "The log was erased."

"So was the nav computer." Her partner checked the diagnosis on his datapad. "Wait... there's a program running."

Every control panel on the stasis pods changed to green and the lids lifted up. The medics saw a humanoid figure lying inside; a cyborg of some kind, donning armor. The helmet had no visors or openings. It seemed to be missing the top of his head as it was flat, and half a breathing mask jutted down. A small viewport over the heart glowed with a purple light.

Before the medics could say anything, the creature's hand gripped one of them by the throat, cutting off his frightened shriek. A blade impaled the second medic from behind, as he stepped back in terror.

"What the—?" said one of the four security guards aboard, watching the strange warriors emerge from the black caskets, wielding joint twin vibro-arbir blades. "Heads up!" He lifted his blaster, but was killed before he could pull the trigger.

"What the mradhe muck—?" One of the technicians peered into the cargo hold.

Blood sprayed onto the viewport as one of the slayers sprang inside the cockpit, goring the tech with its blade. Covered in blood, the female technician leaned against the control panel, screaming, as the creature retrieved its weapon and closed in.

"Scanning party, this is bridge. What's your status? Over." The first officer said from his station aboard the X'Cal. There was no answer. "Scanning party, do you copy? Over." The comlink remained silent. "Are the comms down?" He asked the communications officer.

The man checked. "No, sir. Everything's five by five."

"Is something the matter?" said the Captain.

"I can't hail the scanning party, sir," the first officer said.

Still wary of an ambush, the captain addressed her multi-sensor array officer. "Are we still clear?"

"Our rectennas are not picking anything out there, sir," the woman responded.

"Contact security."

The lights began to flicker, making everyone pause.

"What's happening?" the captain looked at the engineering officer.

"We appear to have a short-circuit originating from the right airlock, Captain," said the engineering officer, checking his computer.

Everything went dark and then red emergency lights beamed.

"Main lights are down," said the engineering officer. "All other systems are still green."

Static came up on the comlink, followed by frantic yells and the sound of blaster fire. Then the bridge heard, "All stations, we're under attack! Repeat, we're under attack! They came from—" There was a thump. The comlink remained open, transmitting the sounds of frantic battle, fading away.

The captain cursed herself for not hailing the distress signal. "Seal off the forward deck, sound the alarm, and send a distress signal." She rushed over to the communications officer. "I want all crew members on lockdown and every security guard at the stern access door."

"Yes, sir," the first officer said.

"Captain, all external communications are being jammed," said the communications officer, working around the problem.

"What? How?"

"The interference seems to be coming from the transport ship herself. We can't hail anyone."

"Captain, the mid-ship has been compromised," said the engineer officer, trying to remain calm.

"The Force help us," said the Captain. "Initiate evacuation procedures. Prepare to abandon ship. First officer, unlock the armory. We're going to have to fight our way to the escape pods."

"Captain, why don't we seal off the cockpit and try to repel the attack from here?" said the first officer. After all, they were merchant marines, not naval infantry.

A banging sound came from down the hall. The assailants were at the forward deck access door.

"Grab your blasters," said the captain. "And may the Force be with us."