Contest entry for Stock image is © c2usaf2004 and used with permission.

Edit: Forgot the copywrite info and credits. Did a little touch up with the smoke, try to make it more foreboding, but meh, gave up that effort in a hurry. Worked slightly here and there, but not anywhere else.

Full View recommended. Enjoy the new and improved story to go with it (sorry for those who are not well versed in Star Wars lore).

Mini-story:

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

It was a time of conflict once more. A new menace threatened the peace and stability of the New Republic. The alien race, known as the Yuuzhon Vong, scoured all in their path, destroying entire worlds and reshaping others into their form of perfection. The New Republic military was completely unprepared for the unorthodox tactics and bio-technology of the Vong, and were steadily pushed back by the onslaught.

The New Jedi Order, lead by Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, were caught unprepared for this new foe, for they could not be sensed in the Force. Many Jedi fell in battle, yet only they offered the strongest resistence to the annihilating menace of the Vong. Through their valiant efforts, the Jedi bought the New Republic time, and learned much about their opponents, to include the Vong's intense hatred of all things mechanical, especially droids.

Despite their efforts, the Vong forced the New Republic back, until finally, a coalition of Jedi, New Republic and Imperial Remnant forces make a stand over the lush planet of Ithor. The inhabitants of the world, the peaceful Ithorians, maintained their world in perfect harmony, allowing none to touch the soil of the world. Desperate times called for desperate measures though, and the Ithorians granted permission and allowed a strike team on the ground to deal with the alien invaders. Lead by Jedi Knight Corran Horn, he leads his forces to the planet. Joining him, was a relatively unknown and reserved Jedi Knight, known as Jacen Nojes. A man with a mysterious past, dual sabers and a tendency to use any and all aspects of the Force as necessary, and very impressive lightsaber skills, Jacen Nojes went with Corran Horn where he knew he would be able to have the most effect in the coming battle.

Now, with only the great lightsaber skills of Nojes will be put to the test as never before, his unshakeble confidence in his skill, and his faith in the power of the Force to be his guide as his best and only weapons against an implaccable foe......




Space exploded into a cornacorpia of light and debris as Yuuzhon Vong bio-engineered fighters, known as skips, flew through the black void over the planet Ithor launching multiple plasma blasts at New Republic and Imperial starfighters. Warship analogs dueled with Mon Calamarian cruisers, and Imperial Star Destroyers. The combat was fierce, and was not going as well as originally envisioned. An ancient soldier's wisedom came to many an officers' minds; no plan survives contact with the enemy.

Down below on the planets surface though, the plan managed to survive contact, and even thrive, much to the consternation to the opponents.

------

The cries of the wounded filled the air, many of which were suddenly cut off as a precise strike by an amphistaff finished off the individual making it. Battle cries replaced them as blaster fire filled the air and combat was rejoined. Bodies fell on both sides, while the lush and verdant foilage around them caught fire from the explosions and weapons fire.

As the fires began to burn, a thick, cloying smoke filled the air, lowering visibility in this part of the forest to a few meters in any direction. Apart from the main combat zone, a group of ten specialized Yuuzhon Vong prowled, hunting their elusive quarry through the endless, burning forestlands of the planet.

They walked cautiously, but not fearfully, amphistaffs wrapped around their arms, ready for immediate combat if needed as they gazed through the thick smoke intently. A crackling sound from a tree ahead caused them to pause, gazing strongly in the direction of the crack, hands on their coiled amphistaffs, ready for instant combat.

Nothing followed though, and they began to slowly rise and move forward, sensing their quarry to be near.

Suddenly, a thick, heavy branch weighing several tons crashed down, crushing one of their number. Instantly the rest drew thier amphistaffs, which hardened, hissing slightly. One of them silently looked at the damage on the branch at the point of the break, and barked in their language at the leader of the party, and pointed. The break was fresh, splintered badly, as if a great weight pulled it to the ground. There was no charring or any other external damage to it.

The leader growled, and looked around the area, before calling out loudly in a rough form of Basic, "Jeedai!! Come out! Know you here! Face the warriors of the Yuuzhon Vong and die with honor from being killed by us!"

His voice echoed, in the area, while in the distance more battle cries and blaster fire filled the air, the larger battle seemingly completely seperate from this drama.

A figure suddenly appeared out of the smoke, as if born of it. A human, dressed in dark leather and rough cloth, a thick belt around his waist with two silver cylinders connected to it. He reached down and unclipped one of them, pressing a small activator switch. With a snap-hiss a brilliant white blade appeared as he gazed dispassionately at his foes, who gazed back with barely controlled fury.

"You shall go no further." He said simply as fires burned in the trees around them, the smoke thick and swirling, seperating them completely from the rest of the battle.

"So be it...Jeedai!"

With a combined battle cry, the warriors rushed forward, their feet plowing up the soft loam beneath them as the trees shook from their cry.

Jedi Knight Jacen Nojes raised his saber in one hand, the great silver blade humming with a crackling energy as he rushed forward, the other near the hilt of his second, shorter hilt, his face set in stone as he moved with the power of the Force as his guide...

...and battle was joined.