Daran sat at the controls of the Lambda class shuttle and waited till he got clearance. "Corperal Trist t3227 Requesting clearance for departure."
After a few moments a filtered voice came back. "Permission denied, I'm afraid the shield generators have been activated."
Daran pressed the button for com. "Whats going on?"
All across the base alert klaxons sounded. PA: "Attention! Alert status! Unidentified fleet approaching in hyperspace. All defense crews to your stations! All pilot to report to your designated hanger!" The voice repeated a few times as it echoed through the ice caverns.
"Well our trip has been delayed, c'mon." He opened te ramp and hurried out, taking Satana's hand as he passed. "Lets check it out."
***
Admiral Marcell was on the bridge of his class III Star Destroyer; Detester when the alert came in from the sensors that detected a hyperspace anomaly. "Report!!"
An officer who just arrived the bridge ran over to the sensor station. "Reading a large fleet in hyper-transit to this star system. Our orbit makes it such the they will arrive on the night side of the planet, we need to get the flee-"
The Admiral looked at the officer as if he'd grown an extra head. "Do not dare tell me what I know to do... Captain, prepare the ship for combat."
"Yes, Admiral. Communications get me a line to the fleet. Fleet, prepare for combat, I want the Interdictors and the Super Star Destroyers to stay on this side of the planet with four Mon Calamari cruisers and the smaller battle frigates."
He got a chorus of responses as the ships all checked in but the Blue Riot who need not comply to orders given by an ally.
Marcell sat in the captains' chair and stroked his graying beard administerly. "How soon till the fleet arrives?"
"Two minutes."
***
General Derbus was in the battle room on Hoth moments after the alert came in. "Are the shield generators up?"
"All defensive measures in place, the fleet is responding."
"Put a call out to Sluis Van, tell them we need reinforcements."
"Done, sir. They are sending six support ships. However they didn't specify on the type of ships being sent."
"Only six? Why six, we have over twenty Star Destroyers in the ship yards alone, including ones under construction." Derbus looked bewildered.
"Apparently they were attacked by ships which were packed with explosives. They destroyed part of the shipyards and several docks. That leads me to the assumption that at least half the fleet around Sluis Van was wiped out."
Derbus accepted the explanation, but wasn't happy. "They must have found out the information from the men they captured. Which means they may know about..." Wayland! He quickly hid his look of hopelessness "...our other secrets."
"I doubt it."
Captain Juion entered the room. "Whats going on?"
Durbus turned to him with a look of 'isn't it obvious' on his face. He straightened his uniform and uncomfortably addressed the lower ranking captain as a higher ranking officer. "Well..."
Daran slowed his pace to a walk. "I can carry you," he joked, "if you can't keep up." They continued walking across the hanger, through some doors and into the hanger control room. "Whats going on Deck Officer?"
"Ah, they say there is a fleet been detected by our sensors. I say its another glitch. Daran..."
Daran looked foggy for a moment. Then his eyes snapped back into focus. "It's no glitch. Get your crew assembled and get tgose piots in the air."
"Since when did you go all Jedi on us- urg!" The man was suddenly lifted from his chair and he started choking to the astonishment of those around him. "Urk... gak."
Daran's voice sounded dark and vader-ish. "I am a little confused on the subject of Jedi and Sith. Do not bring that subject up again." He released the man from the Force grip and strode out of the room, leaving Satana where she stood.
The man fell back into his seat gasping for breath. Several troopers rushed ove to help him. "What the hell was his fragging problem."
"Arrh.. I don't know." He rubbed his neck. "But somethings up, report this to command."
A Stormtrooper nodded. "Yes, sir." The trooper turned to face Satana. "Are you okay, ma'am?"
Satana looked over at the trooper. "Hm? Yeah Im fine. I'll be right back." She turned and started out after Daran. Eventually she caught up with him. She should have realized what was up when she saw the yellow in his eyes. "Daran!" She gently grabbed his arm and turned him to face her. "Daran who did this to you? Where did you get this power?"
Daran nearly burned through her with his spirit alone but something stopped him. Weather it was the look on her face, or another factor, more Force related. He let her turn him around. "I..." he looked at her like a child would his mother "...need guidance. I'm confused Sat', I'm not sure what I'm doing but I want to scream. I'm waging a mentle battle with myself for control. I don't know how else to explain it," he moved to the side to let an officer pass, "I'm scared.."
She sighed softly, reaching up and running her hand over his cheek. "I don't know what's going on, and I don't know much about being a jedi or a sith, but I do know that these men need you. So put on a smile and face your fears. I'll be right beside you. I promise." She kissed his cheek and took his hand. "Come on."
Daran looked away for a moment, trying to un-jumble his thoughts. He was utterly confused but shook it off. More important things were happening, not just him. As he turned around he looked into Satana's eyes and he moved quickly forward, wrapped his arms around her and planted his lips on hers. "Mmmm."
***
"The fleet is dropping out of hyperspace beyon- sir, this is impossible. The Asteroid sensors read over two hundred ships. This has to be a glitch." The sensor operator started a frantic act of hitting buttons and flicking switches to no effect.
Admiral Marcell turned to the sensor operator as did the captain. "Report." Marcell said cooly.
"No glitch, there are exactly two hundred and eighteen vessels beyond the outer orbit of the asteroid field." An alarm started ringing.
"What the frag-"
"Admiral! Another fleet is dropping out of hyperspace on the otherside of the planet! I count eighty frigate class battle cruisers."
"Red Alert! All ships Red Alert! Communications send out a call for help on all frequencies." The Captain barked. "Launch all fighters!!"
"Y- yes, sir!"
The fifteen Imperial Alliance vessels immediatly dispersed into a defense formation as their fighters launched.
Daran immediatly faltered. "I..." The base suddenly reverbrated as the defensive cannons opened up on the ships above. "...was confused." Was his excuse. he glanced at the locked hatchway and was suddenly aware of something sinkening... were they going to lose? No. They couldn't lose Hoth... couldn't...
Trust in the Force, Jedi Daran. Here lies your true destiny. Echoes a granduer voice.
"Master?"
In the seeming seconds between talking to Satana and the vision of the possible outcome of this battle, ten minutes had passed. In which time he found himself lying on the cold floor, with Satana looking concerned down upon him.
Daran offered an smile. "I know." He began as if he had just learned the true meaning of life. "Strength does not come from hate, jealousy, anger, or fear these are quick and easy emotions but they are weak and areof the Dark side, nor does the light side of the Force come from impassive emotions. The strength of the Light side comes from positive emotions- instead of fear, hope. Instead of anger, love. Instead of jealousy, compassion. Those are the true meaning of the Force." He looked up at Satana. "I sense the Force is in you, Satana. You have a strong preasence within the life flow of the Force." Daran's voice had lightened to how it had used to be.
Daran nodded slowly. "That explains why I'm on the floor..." he rubbed the back of his head as she helped him into a siting position "...you may not know it now, but depending on the outcome of ths battle your powers will begin to flourish." He saw her blank stare and eliterated. "I just had a vision."