Quantum Shadows Safehouse, Level 923
Coruscant, Coruscant System — New Republic Territory
43 ABY

“We’ve had to retreat over a hundred levels!” Ce’celia yelled. "We've lost more ground than we even had to start! Jerrah, Keeko, P'tah, they're all dead! And we've killed— how many people now?! We didn't sign up to be your murder squad!" She pointed a finger in Bhoc Vedmat’s scaly face. The Trandoshan gave a toothy, calm grin and pushed her hand away.

“Lost ground? We are drawing them in!" He ignored the rest. "We face them on our terms. By the time this is over we will be the most armed force on the planet!”

Only a few of the gang made noise in support of this notion, most remained eerily quiet. They had already lost so many of their comrades, and others lay strewn about the safehouse in various states of injured. Bhoc gave an exasperated look around, surprised by the lack of faith his people were showing.

An Omwati that had been kneeling next to an injured Shadow slowly rose to his feet, hands clinched tight into fists.

“This isn’t what we signed up for, Bhoc. Weapons. Credits. Renown. And now we have both the New Republic and this Brotherhood to contend with. They don’t even operate here on Coruscant and they have torn through us like we are only here for sport,” Qwiti fumed.

He pointed to the various occupied cots around the room. His makeshift triage station. The injuries were grievous. Ce’celia stepped back from Bhoc and asked, “How much bacta do we have left?”

Qwiti shook his head.

“I used the last of it stabilizing Kelott. Unless we can get more, the others will die soon. Painfully.”

Read the complete fiction here.

Welcome to the third chapter of Parabellum, kicking off our second cycle adventure on Coruscant.

Summary

• Bhoc Vedmat and Ce'celia Lathos clash over the recent events on Coruscant.
• Many Quantum Shadows have been horribly injured or killed.
• Their base on level 1138 has been found by the Brotherhood.
• The Brotherhood torch the warehouse and pursue the Quantum Shadows to lower levels.
• The Quantum Shadows fracture, some following Bhoc down to the lowest levels of the planet, others follow Ce’celia to the surface in a desperate attempt to get off world.
• Rath enjoys the chaos as Collective operatives infiltrate Brotherhood Space once again.