Reflections and Endings

At the insistence of the harassed-looking officer, Bao-dur headed immediately to the bridge, the remote bobbing and beeping as it struggled to keep up. Noting the panic of the crew, and the aura of desperation that filled the corridors of the ship, he could sense that the time was near.

With a whoosh the doors to the Titan Mar's bridge slid open, and his eyes focused immediately on the lone figure upon the raised observation deck. Quietly and calmly, he picked his way through the officers and crew dashing hurriedly in all directions and shouting orders above the sirens, and ascended the platform to stand by his General's side. Her face was stone, her body rigid in her amber and black armor as she stared into the void of space. Bao-dur did not know a great extent of the ways of the Jedi, but he could tell there was something within her she was listening to, something only she could hear.

'There are so many of them out there,' She spoke, without turning to him. 'Is this the price at which victory will be achieved?'

Bao-dur was hesitant in answering her.

'War...is sacrifice, General...I think these men followed Revan and Malak knowing that.'

She did not reply, the tightening grip of her gloved hands on the railing the only outward sign she had heard him. It didn't take the force to know she was deeply conflicted, looking more like a lost youngling than a powerful commander of the Republic Army. While Bao-dur had only spoken at depth to the General a handful of times, and Revan even less so...the difference in the two women was subtle, yet at quite at odds.

Revan had the assurance of an aged veteran in her actions. When she commissioned the tech to create the Mass Shadow Generator, it was in full knowledge of its possible results, and she had clarified that should it be required, the need for victory would overshadow the necessary sacrifice. Her confidence had so impressed him, Bao-dur considered anything less than Revan's level of assurance to be a weakness. As the war had raged on his anger and hatred for the Mandalorians had surmounted to a smoldering rage within him, and when he was summoned to hear Revan's battle plan for Malachor V, he had been sadistically joyful for the chance to requite all the suffering Mandalore and his warriors had caused him and his people.

But now, he was not under Revan's, but her General's. Where she lacked in charisma she made up in aptness in battle and devotion to the men under her command - who - from what he noticed over time, had a deep respect for her. It was then that he realized the burden that had been placed upon her, and the choice she was being forced to make. He was suddenly unsure of himself, unsure of his role in this culminating battle which he had so unhesitatingly placed himself in. Bao-dur didn't know the exact effects the generator would have, only that countless lives - Republic and Mandalorian alike - would be ended for the sake of a quick and clean victory. All his responsibility...all his fault. The idea didn't sit with him, not as it had before.

The difference, he thought, is that where one has the charisma to lead her people, the other has the compassion to care for them.

I've served only my hatred.

'General-' he began, but was abruptly halted as an explosion shook the ship, splashing sparks from the wiring and causing even more alarms to wail and scream in his ears. The remote trilled shrilly and frantically zoomed around him.

'We've been hit!'

'Shields down!'

Cries from the crew rose in a crescendo, and the pandemonium deepened.

'Hold your stations men! I repeat, HOLD YOUR STATIONS!' A woman in scarlet republic dress shouted at the panicking men, running towards his and the General's position on the platform. 'General, our shields have been breeched and the bastards hit an engine! Red Leader's down, call for assistance!'

'There will be no assistance, Captain Karis.' The General spoke. Even after the explosion, she remained archored where she stood, unreadable and unfocused eyes still staring to the outside of the command deck window. 'The Leviathan has left us, and the Ravager is disabled...begin evacuation of the ship, there will be no mercy from the Mandalorians once they've learned they've crippled us.'

'Evacuate?' The Captain was clearly shocked by the order, 'But what about all the troops on the sur-"

'I have no choice.'

'But Vale-"

A massive second blast rocked the ship again and this time Bao-dur lost his footing and flew forward into the railing, his chest colliding with it with a sickening thud. Momentarily breathless, he watched as his General turned to Karis, and with a deft movement of her hand spoke,

'You will begin the evacuation of the Titan Mar now, Captain.'

"I will begin the evacuation of the Titan Mar now...' the woman answered as her eyes glazed over, calmly walking away.

Bao-dur pulled himself up and clutched his aching side, the sharp pain suggesting it was more than likely a broken rib. With a whisper of her cape his General was beside him, laying her hand on top of his where he clutched his injury. As he was washed over with an icy relief he looked into her eyes and found her staring intensely, penetratingly, back at him. Whispers, sensations, and emotions brushed and caressed his mind, and he found himself completely unable to turn away, even when his rib had mended, and the General removed her hand.

She said nothing. She had no need to.

'For every death here, there will be another life somewhere saved, General.' He said, softly. There was a pause, and then slowly she nodded to him. The time had come.

Breaking the gaze, he clicked on the comm link attached to his wrist. A droid's faint beeping answered him.

'If you can hear this,' He spoke, 'Then it is time, my friend. Activate the Mass Shadow Generator.'

Here goes everything

Looking back to the woman beside him, he was startled to find her still staring at him, but now in the red glow of the emergency lights, he could see the twin rivers of tears running down her cheeks. Before unreadable, now her eyes were filled with a sorrow and regret Bao-dur could feel reflected inside himself. As he stared, he could see her pupils widen immensely to become black hollows, and suddenly the whispers touching his mind became louder and louder until they roared inside his head like a charging bantha...

And then the General began to scream.