*duck* *run* Help! *GRIN* yes, it's true. I am writing this (god knows
why)

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                           Tenchi Wars

                     Episode XIV: A New Hope

              It is a period of civil war.
              Rebel spaceships, striking 
              from a hidden base, have won
              their first victory against 
              the evil Galactic Empire.
  
              During the battle, Rebel
              spies managed to steal
              plans to the Empire's
              ultimate weapon, the Tsunami,
              a massive battleship with
              enough power to destroy
              an entire planet.
            
              Pursued by the Empire's
              sinister agents, Princess
              Aeka races home aboard 
              her spaceship, the Ryu-Oh,
              custodian of the stolen
              plans that can save her
              people and restore freedom
              to the galaxy....

                               * * * * *

      Above a small, insignificant planet known only as Earth, war
raged.  The spaceship Ryu-Oh traded blows with its larger, faster
pursuer.   Though the Ryu-Oh fought desperately, the battle
was already lost, and the Ryu-Oh and its crew knew it.  Their pursuer
overtook them and prepared a boarding party.

      Aboard the Ryu-Oh, the crew took position and waited, weapons at
the ready.  There was a hiss, and a bulkhead blew open, allowing the
platoon of enemy soldiers in.  The fighting was fierce, many
falling--but the invaders pressed forward, inexorably.  In their wake
stepped Lord Kagato, servant to the Empress Tokimi.  As the invading
soldiers spread out through the ship, they searched for the Princess
Aeka, to take her back to Kagato.  

      In one section of the ship, two of the Jyurain Guardians were
arguing.  "Go out there? Are you crazy? We'll get blown to bits!"
Kamidake didn't say a word but serenely floated through the
battlezone, giving Azaka no choice but to follow, sputtering
incoherently.  Once they crossed the scorched passageway, Kamidake
made for the bowels of the ship.  Azaka continued to spout nonsense
the whole way, irritating Kamidake to no end.

                                * * * * * 

      Lord Kagato scooped up one of the many injured soldiers, lifting
him well beyond the soldier's ability to touch the floor.  He smiled,
an unpleasant sight, mouth twisted into a cruel perversion of that
expression of happiness.  Two small fangs showed themselves.  "Where
are the plans for the Soja?"  

      Shaking in his boots, literally, the man said, "This is a
counselor ship on a mission to Jurai.... we received no
transmissions..."  

      Growling, Kagato crushed the man's throat, "If this is a
counselor ship... *where* is the Ambassador??"  Kagato continued to
squeeze long after the man stopped convulsing.  With a sound of
disgust for weaklings, Kagato threw the lifeless body against the
wall, watching it crumple bonelessly.  "Commander, tear this ship
apart until you've found those plans, and bring me the passengers, I
want them alive!"

                                * * * * *

      Kamidake had managed to lose Azaka, and came upon the Princess.
She smiled, and, in the smoke-filled corridor, fed him a special
programming chip.  With a whisper, she sent him back to Azaka, then
hid, hearing the goosesteps of an approaching squad.

      Princess Aeka peered around the corner, then ducked back. The
squad was getting closer.  She gripped the blaster in her hands,
sweating, and sprung out.  "It's her!" *ZAP* Time enough for one shot,
before she turned to flee.  The last words she heard were "Set for
stun" before an impact slammed into her, shortcircuiting her nervous
system painfully.   

      "Take her to Lord Kagato, she'll be alright." ordered the
commander. The squad turned, leaving the holed body of their comrade
to rot.  No one would care. 

      Unnoticed, Azaka and Kamidake vacated the ship in an escape pod.

                                * * * * *

      "Lord Kagato. Only you would be so bold.  The Imperial Senate
will not sit still for this.  When they hear you've attacked a
diplomatic--" 
  
      Kagato harshly cut her off, "*Don't* act so surprised, your
Highness, you weren't on any *mercy* mission this time. Several
transmissions were beamed to this ship by Rebel spies. I want to know
what happened to those plans."

      Aeka opened her mouth. "I don't know what you're talking about.
This is a counselor ship on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan."

      Kagato sounded furious. "You are part of the Rebel Alliance and
a traitor. TAKE HER AWAY!" 

      "Holding her is dangerous. If word leaks out, it could generate
sympathy for the Rebellion."  Zero struggled to stay abreast of
Kagato.

      "I have traced the Rebel spies to her. Now she is my only link
to finding their secret base."

      Zero looked worried. "She'll die before she tells you anything."

      "Leave that to me.  Send a distress signal and then inform the
Senate that all aboard were killed."
    
      "Lord Kagato? The Tsunami's plans are *not* aboard this ship.  A
escape pod was jettisoned, but had no one aboard."  The commander in
charge of performing the search saluted Lord Kagato smartly.

      "She must have hidden the plans aboard that pod. Commander, send
a detachment to retrieve those plans, see to it personally. There'll
be no one to stop us this time!"

<more to come>


Kevin Eav--First Deacon of the Church of Ryouga, Keeper of the Compass,
                          Member of C.A.S.K.E.T.
email:geist@holly.colostate.edu -- Ishido@ManyMU*, Manynames@ManyMU*S
"The world..is a dark and lonely place..beyond hope, beyond care.."-Ryouga
                 Member of Okonomiyaki Addicts Anonymous
"C'mon kiddo. You've got to *find* Akane. You really are a pain in the
                 fanny sometimes, ya know, Ryouga?"-Ukyou