Star Wars: Galaxy of Disharmony

Outskirts of Ponyville; 9:00 am

Twilight massaged the sides of her head in a futile attempt to alleviate the ever growing headache brought on by all that had happened in such a short time. Her fingers pressed hard against her skull, practically digging into her scalp, as she paced across the ground of the alien encampment. Her pacing had already gotten to the point that her hooves had begun digging a series of pits which were becoming a rut. But it hardly mattered as her mind was flooded with a deluge of information.

In the span of nearly two hours, her world had felt like it had been turned upside down twice with the arrival of the alien beings. With so much stimuli input all at once, the recent information she had gotten from the soldiers of the encampment, and the series of political protocols and diplomatic steps to take with the new arrivals, it was a wonder her brain had not shut down by now.

Twilight paused her pacing for a mere moment to look at the trooper who had allowed her to use his communication device. The trooper stared at her in worry, face hidden by the helmet.

“Ma’am? Are you alright?” he said.

Twilight shook her head and grasped it with her hands. She turned and continued her pacing. “No…I mean…Yes. I…Forgive me but I need a moment alone to think.”

She could hear the sigh from under the helmet as the trooper began to turn. “Alright then. Just let one of us know if you need anything.”

Twilight said nothing as he returned to his post. She returned to her musings and attempted to sort through all of the information that her brain had stored up from the past two hours. A contingent of soldiers, each a physical copy of a single being but retaining their own unique personalities. A level of technology beyond anything she had ever imagined. Travel not only beyond the sky but out to the stars beyond. A government that oversaw thousands of planets and tens of thousands of different species. A war between this government and a breakaway faction involving this “clone” army on the side of the “Republic” and an army of machines on the other. And then so much more that time, and Twilight’s over stimulated brain, would not allow for further discussion.

Twilight paused and gripped her head once more, squeezing as though trying to hold everything in. It was all so much to take in and she had not even scratched the surface of it all. The politics and diplomacy that needed to occur only stressed her even more.

A meeting between whoever was the leader of these soldiers, if not Leonis, and the Princesses was to take place. And if the clones were merely the soldiers, a meeting between the Princesses and this “Chancellor” would be required for a greater level of diplomatic talks. That was if such a meeting was even possible.

Twilight gripped her head tighter, feeling her breathing become ragged and her legs loose strength, and leaned against a stack of odd metal crates. A meeting with Celestia and Luna would be necessary if just to alleviate her of some of the stress that overwhelmed her. Politics aside, she needed the council of her mentor now more than ever.

A mere moment passed until the sound of one of the flying crafts approached and the object landed in the center of the small encampment. It continued to make its odd sound as another clone hopped away from the open side and approached her.

“Are you the native called Twilight Sparkle? They told me you would be able to understand me,” the clone said, shouting over the sound of the craft.

“Yes,” Twilight replied, yelling her response and trying to calm herself from dizziness that had come from the warbling sound.

“I’m asked to take you to the main camp. The Captain wishes to speak with you. Please come with me.”

The soldier motioned her to the craft and Twilight hesitantly approached. She had ridden in flying chariots before so the idea of flying in a transport was nothing new. But the strangeness of the alien object, and everything else about them, caused her to take caution. She carefully stepped into the craft, followed by the clone, and the door closed behind her. The craft lurched as it took off and caused her to fall to the floor. The clone helped her up and had her grab onto a handle above, which she gripped tight with both hands as she felt the craft quickly gain speed and lean right and left as it soared through the sky.

After little more than a minute of flight, the craft lurched again as it descended, causing Twilight’s stomach and other internal organs to feel as though they had risen into her throat. A sudden thud put her organs back in place, though they felt rearranged. The doors opened and the clone helped her off the craft, after peeling her hands from the handle. Once off, the craft quickly rose and flew away. To where, the now sick princess hardly cared.

When the clone aiding her stopped, Twilight lifted her head to the kindly smile of another alien. This one bore all of the features of being of the same species as the clones yet was anything but a clone. He wore a rather simple grey uniform with little more than a small rectangular pin bearing a line of three red squares above a line of three blue squares for decoration. Numerous smudges and dust covered the once pressed uniform. Black boots which came shy of his knees covered his feet.

The alien stood about as tall as the clones but appeared older with lighter colored skin. His face was starting to show signs of aging and his short cut mane bore streaks of grey and signs of thinning. In his right hand was a piece from a small tree which he used as a makeshift cane, though seemingly more for the leg injury he seemed to have rather than for a weakening from age. In fact, he seemed quite fit. Perhaps more mid-aged for his species.

The alien turned and presented his left arm to her, never dropping the kind smile. “Come my dear,” he said to her, “I believe we need to talk.” He looked to the clone helping her. “I’ll take it from here son.”

The clone released Twilight to the other alien and provided a sharp salute. “Of course, Sir.”

For reasons unknown, Twilight could feel a level of warmth from the alien whose arm she held and could practically sense that she could trust him. Even to an extent that she nearly tossed out all semblance of caution. Yet the alien never appeared malevolent or harmful even despite the injuries he clearly had. It felt almost like being around her own father.

“My name is Jan Aldair,” he said as they walked. “I am, or perhaps was, the captain of the ship that unfortunately crashed on your planet. I’ll apologize for the flight you just took. They tell me that the pilot is a bit of a thrill seeker and is a bit eccentric.”

Twilight suppressed the urge to vomit at the reminder of her swift flight which still made her a bit sick. “That’s quite alright,” she managed to say. “Are you the leader of these clones?”

“You’ve been informed as to what they are?” Jan said, looking at her with curious amusement. “Good. That removes at least one question you likely have.”

“I had the opportunity to speak with a few of them at the other encampment, so I know a little bit. But you are not…”

“A clone?” Jan said, finishing her sentence. “No, dear. I’m just a regular human. Our species that is.” He looked forward in a prompt for Twilight to do the same. Ahead was Leonis and another clone with armor more similar to the others but with a brim over the visor, something sticking out of the left shoulder plate, and several red markings across the armor.

“I’m afraid that questions will have to wait for now,” Jan said. “We have things to discuss.” They approached the two clones and Jan continued. “These two are Captain Leonis, who I understand you met, and Major Atto. They are the ranking troopers and, unfortunately, the only officers of the unit here.”

“She doesn’t look much like a leader,” the one named Atto said. “Must have low standards here.”

“I’ve seen Jedi that don’t look like much but are actually rather impressive fighters and leaders,” Leonis said.

“Are you really comparing her to a Jedi?”

“You’ve never even seen a Jedi in a fight.”

“Can it you two!” Aldair shouted, sounding as a parent quelling the argument of two foals and ending the bickering. As the two clones went silent, Aldair turned back to Twilight, back to the kind soul with the gentle smile he had when she had seen him earlier. “Sorry about them, dear.”

“No, it’s alright,” Twilight responded, finally feeling herself recovered from the flight and able to focus more. “I’m sorry, but you said that there are no other leaders among you here?”

“I’m afraid so dear,” Aldair said. “The clones here have been shorthanded due to the war and the only other officer died during the crash.”

“You actually met him already,” Leonis said before any other comment could be made. “Back when we first met.”

Twilight thought back and recalled the meeting. But there was no way for her to know which of the clones she had watched die or be dragged out already was the other officer. So much had happened that had her mind still trying to sort everything out. And the clones, being all the same, were near impossible to tell apart. At least for now. She put the thought aside, not wanting to relive that at the moment.

Twilight felt Aldair’s hand gently tighten on her arm. “I’m sorry you saw that dear. Are you alright?”

“Yes,” she said and looked to Leonis. “Are you well? Given the loss of your brothers.”

“I’m fine,” he said without any hesitation.

Twilight thought his reaction curious. The response seemed…detached. As though he hardly cared. But his earlier reaction when they had first met showed that he truly cared. It became blatantly obvious that he was hiding his emotions. Atto on the other hand…

“Of course the droid’s fine,” the Major said, with poorly hidden sarcasm. “Nothing fazes a great ARC Trooper.”

“That’s enough Atto,” Aldair interrupted, keeping his voice calm this time but firm.

“Just kidding around,” Atto said. “You know that.”

“A little decorum in the presence of our local Princess if you don’t mind.”

Atto lazily straightened up a bit and gave a lazy salute, giving clear indication of further sarcasm. “Yes sir.”

Aldair ignored the reaction with a simple shake of his head of disappointment and turned back to Twilight, returning to his kind self. “Well, dear. This is your home, so how shall we proceed from here?”

Twilight thought back to the political proceedings that were needed. But rethought as she recalled that things had yet to be fully resolved regarding the crashed flying objects and clones still within Ponyville. Plus, her thought continued, her friends were probably very worried about her being gone without much, if any, notice.

“We will need to set up a meeting with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, our regional rulers. They will wish to know of your arrival, who you are, how long you shall remain in our land, and the terms regarding your stay.” Aldair gave a nod of approval, maintaining the kind smile.

“But first,” Twilight continued, finding her voice become more sincere and withdrawn, “I wish to return to Ponyville, my home. There are some seriously injured clones still there whom we are treating and I…” Her voice trailed off at the thought of wishing to see her friends and ensure all was well with them and the other inhabitants of Ponyville.

“Of course, dear,” Aldair said, seemingly to understand that there was more reason than the clones to return.

Aldair beckoned for Leonis to follow and informed Atto to remain with the other clones. Atto was about to argue his role to stay but was cut off by a stern glance from Aldair. As Twilight and the two aliens made their way to one of the flying craft – a different pilot, Aldair reassured – Twilight became ever more curious about the visitors.

CIS Munificent-Class Frigate Silent Fang: Unknown Sector, Wild Space; 372 days after the Battle of Geonosis

The holo image of the galaxy bathed the darkened room in a flickering blue glow. The image slowly spun as it hovered above the projector, giving full view of its entirety. The young man’s eyes stared fervently into the white center of the galactic image, yearning. He wanted it. From the core to the rim and beyond. He wanted everything.

Outside the cabin, the mindless battle droids that made up his client's army sat in their holding spaces, deactive and awaiting orders to deploy. A few operated the ship as it sailed through the galaxy towards its prey, hunting. The three other organics, each a fool and satisfied by credits alone, either waited in their own cabin, in the case of two, or commanded the bridge and the mindless droids, in the case of the third.

But here, the young man sat and stared. The act had grown into a ritual over his short span of free reign across the Outer Rim. A daily reminder of what he strove for. What he desired. Credits spoke and power controlled. Fear was a tool to be used. Every being in the galaxy was a pawn in the greater plan. And he would be the master of it all.

The cabin’s com chimed as the commanding fool barked at him. “Your little device has failed! We lost the signal and their trail. This was your idea and if I don’t see results, you pay for my loss of credits.”

Wermo. When will the fool learn to trust in the intelligence of those obviously superior to him? The young man sighed and stood, allowing the holo of the galaxy to fade and the lights of the cabin to return. “I’ll be there in a second.”

After a short trip, he arrived at the ship’s bridge to find the impatient idiot pacing back and forth. The view out the bridge windows revealed they had left hyperspace and were waiting in the middle of open space. The fool probably did not know where he was now.

The idiot, an aging human with pale skin and wearing a relatively clean brown flight vest, dirty white shirt, and dark blue pants, ceased his pacing and turned to glare at the young man. To those who cared, his name was Vahn Tybo, a mercenary with several years of experience as a hired blaster and the hired commander of the expedition for their client within the Confederacy of Independent Planets.

“You have three seconds to give me good news or I throw you out the airlock for causing me to lose out on a huge profit.”

The young man played his part and put on the face of the inexperienced but clever subordinate. “First, there is a backup transponder that I planted and set to go off should the first fail. Since the first did fail, it means the ship has suffered significant damage. Either they were attacked,” Tybo’s eyes rolled in fury, “or something caused them to suffer damage. I can’t say exactly what might have caused the damage. But regardless, this means they are now vulnerable.”

Tybo crossed his arms and began tapping a foot. “So when is this second transponder supposed to kick in? And what do we do if they did get attacked? Huh? Smart guy.”

Steaming pile of bantha poodoo. “Since we are currently stationary, we should receive the signal soon.” He checked a data pad. “Right about…now in fact.” A ping came from a console, prompting the droid at the station to report the new signal. The young man looked back at Tybo. “And if they were attacked, then we find the wreckage and claim we found and destroyed them. They were sent into Wild Space so there will more than likely be none to disprove such a claim.”

Tybo looked over the console that tracked the signal and then turned to glare at the young man again. “You better be right. I’ll have your head if I lose this payout.”

The young man said nothing and turned to leave. E chu ta sleemo.

After returning to his cabin, glad to have satisfied the idiot who called himself the commander of this escapade, the young man shut off the cabin lights once more and called forth the image of the galaxy. A single blinking dot sat on the fringes to mark the new transponder signal planted on the Republic ship. He scanned the rest of the image and took it all in.

One day, it would all be his. Everything would belong to him.