Chapter 18 - Battle of Takodana - First Part (1/2)

Western Reaches. Planet Takodana

Finn was lifting cargo into one of the trasporters which the smugglers who have hired him were bringing with them. Finn would lie if he were to say that his decision did not cause him discomfort. Even though he was using the physical work to distract himself in the moment, his mind still lingered to Rey. She had been the first person to believe in him and she had accepted him even after knowing he had been a stormtrooper. Her sad and pleading eyes still caused him to feel a sting of pain in his heart.

- ”What if I return...”- he thought without stopping- ”maybe I can start anew in Jakku.”

Just when he was thinking about this possibility, he heard screams in the distance. Finn turned around trying to find the source of the desperate pleads but it seemed as if they came from all directions around him. The strange thing was that the screams seemed to be intensifying every second until he felt that they were screaming right next to him. Suddenly the voices sounded from above him and Finn looked up to the sky where he could see red beams crossing the skies slowly. Any other person would think it was beautiful and interesting but Finn knew better since he had been forced to ȧssist to the practice drills in the StarKiller Base.

- ”Mother...”- said a male and young voice and Finn could feel the love in his voice.

- ”I love you...”- said a pair of voice who Finn knew were a couple for some reason and their voices transmitted joy and great expectations.

- ”Calm down everyone... let's eat while enjoying the spectacle”- said a female and old voice who tried to soothe and protect her family even knowing something wrong was happening.

- ”Just wait for my vengeance”- said a male voice whose tone distilled hatred and thirst for retaliation.

- ”Yahoo! Ambassador Linaki...”- shouted a young female voice who had great aspirations for her future.

Finn panicked when he realized that he could hear not only the voices but he also detect their feelings. Almost immediately he felt even more voices and emotions reaching him out. It was as if he was drowning in the middle of a stormy ocean full of countless voices shouting inside his head before dying and as if he could feel a portion of all their pain, dissapointment, fury and reluctance to go. He could not help but kneel and give a small groan. The maelstrom of emotions made him believe he was going to explode so he started to punch the ground with all his strength.

- ”Nooooooooo!”- Finn did not know if he was the one screaming or all those voices together but suddenly all of the voices vanished and the pain went away leaving behind traces of memories that still floated in Finn's mind.

Finn looked up again and saw very clearly how the beams destroyed something and he knew, even if he could not see that the Hosnian System had been destroyed along with its billions of inhabitants. Finn noticed tears in his eyes and he just then how much this had affected him.

- ”It was still supposed in experimental phase”- Finn said trying to deal with the feelings that still lingered in his ċhėst. He felt dizzy and nauseous- ”when did they finish it?”

Finn saw the red lights and he recognised it as the super weapon the First Order had created but that was supposedly still in experimentation process. He stood up and wiped out the tears he had and the he saw people started to get out from the castle and see into the sky to the remnants of the powerful red energy that still did not disperse. Finn saw Han and he walked towards the old General to tell him what had happened since he thought he would explode if he did not tell someone.

- ”It was the Republic...”- said Finn feeling his voice very weak and looking for Rey- ”The First Order did it... Where's Rey?”

However, Han did not seem to hear him, his eyes showed horror and a huge dismay. He immediately activated his communicator.

- ”Chewee, open the emergency channel and contact Leia”- he said with desperation in his voice.

Just then Finn remembered that Leia Organa was his partner and that she was in Hosnian Prime waiting for the voting against the First Order. Finn felt bad for Han since he knew that none inside the Hosnian System had any chance to survive such massive attack. Of course, he did not say that aloud since he did not want to be the messenger of the bad news.

- ”What do yo mean there's no answer!”- shouted Han with fury- ”It's the best communication device we could buy! Try again!”

- ”Grrrr”- the voice of Chewee came from the communicator.

- ”Alright! Keep trying!”- said Han and then he dashed back to the castle.

Finn decided to follow Han just in case and then he saw that he was going to Maz office. Han seemed to know the building very well, since he ran through many hallways without getting lost. After some minutes, they finally arrived to the gate which gave entrance to Maz office. The guards did not stop them from entering.

- ”Maz I need you to contact Leia!”- Han said while storming into the room.

- ”It will have to wait!”- said Maz who seemed to be receiving a transmission while many of her workers were running inmany directions- ”we have no time to spare.”

- ”Do you understand whats happening, Maz?”- said Han and Finn was shocked to see the rage in his voice- ”The New Republic has been destroyed!”

- ”Yes, I know... better than you I must say”- said Maz not minding the outrage of his old friend- ”but I'm afraid i can't do anything about the dead... I can only try to help the living and now there's a more pressing problem.”

Finn felt a shiver in his spine when he heard Maz's words. He could not believe the thretening power this small person could transmit. This, in combination with Han's bloodlust aura made Finn sweat.

- ”What happened?”- said Han whose tone seemed to indicate that he would take out his blaster unless Maz gave him a proper reason.

Maz just grinned and her eyes seemed to be answering with a ”you're most welcome to try, kid” and pressed the red buŧŧon she had next to her. Immediately a red alert was given in all the complex and she took the intercom next to her.

- ”This is an emergency announcement to all the guests in the Kanata Castle”- Maz said and her voice resounded all over the building and exteriors- ”the First Order has destroyed the Hosnian System including its planets and Sun. This has effectively left the New Republic headless and vulnerable. Furthermore, the First Order is in its way to Takodana with intentions of attack and possibly seize the planet.”

Finn was amazed at Maz' stoic and relaxed way to face the situation. She was saying all of this as if she was talking about something unrelated to her. Wasn't this Takodana? Wasn't this the planet that was going to be invaded? How could she mantain such laid back attitude?

- ”Personnel Levels 1 to 3 guide our VIP guests to the emergency shelters and be ready to escape at any moment. Continue giving the best service until the end.”- she said grinning and Finn had the impression she was enjoying the moment. He had heard about the Crazy Queen of Pirates and he supposed this was the reason of her nickname- ”Guards and level 4 personnel, ȧssume battle positions level 1. Level 5 to 8, prepare your toys and hold positions until orders are given.”

Immediately all the castle started to shake and move. Finn saw fo the window and he saw many immense cannons, blasters and other weaponry appearing in different places including from the lake who had been very calm until now.

- ”Are you seriously planning to figh, lad”- said Maz grinning with a crazy expression- ”It's been a while... I was about to die of boredom...

- ”It's the First Order!”- said Finn trying to put some sense in her.

- ”And I'm the Queen of Pirates!”- said Maz and her eyes seemed to ignite in flames all the people running around stopped in situ and they did not dare to even breathe- ”If the First Order thinks that they can take my castle, they will have to show they have the skill!”

She said this with such conviction that left Finn speechless. It was as if that name explained it all. A powerful aura of incincibility radiated from Maz and for a moment Finn really believed that they could win if she said so. However, Finn returned to reality and he knew that even thousands of cannons would not be able to stop a Star Destroyer.

- ”Sweetheart... I've not been here so many years drinking and gambling, you know?”- she said using a more relaxed voice and the surroundings- ”well not all the time... I've made plenty of preparations for a day like this,.. To be honest I already want them to start attacking.”

- ”All civilian and VIP guests have been evacuated”-a voice through the communicator said.

- ”Good”- she opened the comm again- ”now that the weaklings are gone, this is a special mission under my name. Everyone who participates in the battle will receive a sum of credits and their priviledges level will be risen by three ranks in all the establishments of Kanata Enterprises across the galaxy. If you are interested, contact any dealer near to you.”

- ”Never cross Maz kanata”- he had said to them- ”this is an unspoken rule that even the most dangerous thug respects.”

(...)

Inquisitor Star Destroyer

- ”Arriving to Takodana in 10 minutes, Lord Ren”- informed an officer using the speakers in the hangar.

- ”Good”- said Kylo Ren and then he turned to face the soldiers and pilots that would participate in the attack to Takodana- ”You have your orders already. Mistakes are not allowed. Maz Kanata is more formidable than you can even imagine so be prepared... in this mission The Black Team of the Knights of Ren will accompany me.”

Four figures in black garments stepped ahead and knelt in front of Kylo Ren. The rest of the soldiers gulped and felt the air getting very heavy. The four people in front of them were part of the most dangerous, secretive and elite corps of the First Order and it was a corps under the direct command of Lord Ren. They were part of the Knights of Ren and the simple mention of the name would provoke different reactions depending of who heard it, however, being enemy or ally, both groups would still feel the same... Horror. Every and each member of this group was considered the best of the best and they were famous for being ruthless and approachable. They were invincible and undefeatable due to their inhuman physical abilities and it was a very well known fact that one knight of Ren could destroy entire batallions of enemies and some of the darkest rumors say that they could control even your mind and force you to do things against your will. Their mere presence could turn battles in their favor but the rest of the soldiers did not feel any happiness about this since they knew that in the case they deemed them an obstacle in the battle, they would kill them without hesitation nor mercy.

- ”You will fly with me leading the team 1”- said Kylo Ren and the soldiers were excited since they had heard of the top notch flying abilities which were according to many in the same level as the legendary Rebel leader Luke Skywalker- ”Our mission is to destroy their defenses and prepare the field for the rest of the teams... Everyone, prepare.”

Kylo Ren and the knights of Ren boarded their TIE silencers which were upgraded versions of the typical TIE fighters that common pilots would use, being the TIE/VN Space Superiority Fighter the best and personal starfighter of Kylo Ren. Its capabilities were vastly superior due to being a prototype created by Kylo Ren himself. The variations of his Fighter allowed a superior speed and maneuvering but it was extremely difficult to control and only Force users would be able to keep with it. Even other Knights of Ren were unable to fly in it which made them fear and respect Kylo Ren even more.

- ”Takodana arrival in 40 seconds”- said the voice.

- ”Expect heavy defense”- said Kylo Ren while preparing the systems in the ċȯċkpit- ”Black team will attract their fire so the rest do as much damage as you can.”