Operation Darkness: His Generation
by Majick

My name is Thayer Atner. To some people, I am a King. To one tiny, helpless,
pink cheeked little child, I'm a father. And I know what role I wish to
excel at the more.

As I look at my son, so peaceful in his slumber, I feel a great wave of
peace wash over me. In any galaxy in which something so perfect could exist,
there was no place for defeat. Such comforting feelings were just one more
thing for which I was grateful to my son.

Only a few months before, I had thought my life as complete as could be. A
new wife, a happy family, with my mother on our side again, good friends, a
settled nation. What more could a man ask for?

One month to the day of our wedding, Becki had awoken nauseous and dizzy.
I'd taken her to our infirmary, and sat anxiously as the doctor subjected
her to a barrage of tests.

The eventual result, I must admit, was one I hadn't considered. When your
own beloved falls ill, rarely do you consider that there will be good news
come from it.

Eight months later, our son was born. The doctor complimented Becki, midway
through the delivery, on her remarkable sense of timing. She swore at him. I
laughed. She swore at me, at my mother, at Terra Group for ever getting her
into 'this mess'. But never at the baby.

Riehn Enad Atner arrived into our world shortly before midnight on our nine
month wedding anniversary. I believe I can safely say that our lives have
never been the same since. Now the Yuuzhan Vong are attacking, and once
again our lives take a change for the different.

And yet I wonder if the Vong understand what it is they have unleashed?
Whatever forces they bring, whatever numbers they muster, I cannot honestly
believe they will triumph.

I sit by my son's cot, stroking his hair as he dozes, oblivious to
everything but the sweet dreams I hope he is dreaming. Meanwhile, his
parents prepare for war. There is no option, we believe. His parents will go
to war, and return to him different people than we are now.

But our love for this single being, this vision of the future, that will
never change.

The Yuuzhan Vong have come to make bloody war, to purge our planet of what
they see as a disease.

But they won't succeed. They bring war, and hatred, and death, and
destruction.

And we fight with love. I will go to war with these Yuuzhan Vong, and
whatever part I play in the battle to come, my thoughts will be with my
friends, with my wife, and most of all, with this perfect specimen in front
of me.

My mother comes to me, and lays a gentle hand on my shoulder. She is to take
my son into hiding. I know she will fight to the last to protect my son. And
so will I. Every soldier under my command has something they love for which
they will fight. Not glory. Nor honour either. These are passing thoughts.
But love, that is something my people understand. That is how we will combat
our enemies. We have more to fight for.

As my mother takes my son into her arms, I see one more example of what we
fight for. My son awakens, and sleepily reaches out to touch my mother's
face. Smiling, she bows her head, and kisses his hand.She has come a long
way, and love has been what drives her.

The Yuuzhan Vong are driven py pain, by death. We are driven by love.

And that is why I believe we will win.