Chapter 27 - Dark Reaper

"You two will stay here, defend the ship and stop any Separatist ship who tries to escape. My pilots were almost all shot down on Rhen Var."

Dageer had an objection, as he couldn't see a reason why he should stay on the ship.

"Sir, I understand why Steel Company stays here, as they are an air force. However, Hell Squad is an infantry unit. We will be of no help up here."

"Are you sure? Six men would not make any difference down there, but here, if we discover that the Separatist are escaping with prisoners you are the best choice to board the enemy ship."

"But... Ok sir!"

"While you are here you are under Admiral Yazeb."

General Kenobi left, and went to tell Hell Squad their new orders.

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On a closed, dark room, General Kenobi was facing an hologram of General Di.

"Obi-Wan, what I am about to tell you can be known to you and by you only. You can't tell anyone, not even your padawan."

"Alright Master Di, don't keep me anxious."

"Many years ago, as a padawan I came across a piece of information. This information was so terrifying that I told my master, and he decided to tell only Master Yoda and Master Windu. He gave me repeated warnings not to tell anyone.

Not too much later he died, and Master Yoda called me to make sure I wouldn't say it to my own padawan. The information is about a Sith weapon, known as the Dark Reaper."

Kenobi felt a chill when he heard the name. It seemed as if the Force got disturbed only by mentioning the weapon.

"This weapon is capable of harnessing the Force inside living beings and turning it onto rays of energy able to destroy everything. However, this weapon needs a core component to work, known as Force Harvester. It was about this component that I learned. It is, or was, in a Sith temple on Raxus Prime. I believe that is the reason Count Dooku attacked the Tobali System."

"But, if this weapon is so dangerous, why leave it there? Why not destroy it?"

"Only a Sith lord is able to penetrate the temple's defences. Many jedi lost their lives or fell to the Dark Side trying to do what you say."

"So, since we know that Dooku is trying to get, or already got, this Force Harvester, we have to stop him from collecting the other parts of it at all costs."

"You are right. However, I believe that since he went to get the Force Harvester he alredy has the other components, as this is the core one. But for the Dark Reaper to work it has to first collect the Force inside beings, killing them on the process. I think that he will try to escape and use it on a nearby planet. That is the reason I was so insistent on leaving my fleet in standby."

"Then we have to make sure that Count Dooku don't escape us, and that this weapon is destroyed before it is even constructed."

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Admiral Yazeb was on the bridge of General Kenobi capital ship. The battle on the planet below - Raxus Prime - was on full motion. However, in space everything was quiet, as the Separatists seemed to have no intention of supporting their forces.

Before he left General Kenobi was very specific that the fleet should not move, even if the whole Separatists Navy came after them.

Admiral Yazeb looked through the windows, but one of the deck officers called him.

"Sir! Several sh.i.p.s coming out of hyperspace! One, two, five, at least twenty!"

Admiral Yazeb was really calm as he gave the orders.

"Everyone to battle stations. Tell the Steel Company to get on air. I want every pilot we can scrap. Any other troops stand in standby to provide medical assistance and to defende against any droid that board us. Also, get me General Di's special unit squad leader."