Assault on Csilla: Book I of the Kethonian-Alliance War
Note: This story completely ignores NJO and anything that happened afterwards. You have been warned.
Summary: The galaxy is at peace. The New Republic and Imperial Remnant no longer at war, with the Empire applying for admission to the New Republic. In the Unknown Regions, the Chiss Ascendancy is sending diplomats to the New Republic. On Yavin IV, Luke Skywalker's Jedi order is prospering, and expanding rapidly has new Jedi are trained. However, it is only the calm before the storm.
Somewhere, in the Unknown Regions of space, trouble is brewing. The Kethonians are a generally peaceful and private race. However, their private nature will be put to the test. A simple misunderstanding with the Chiss Ascendancy will ultimately lead to a devastating war with the New Republic and Imperial Remnant.
Disclaimer: Seriously guys, do you think that if I owned Star Wars I'd be writting fanfiction?
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Chapter One
Setting: Yavin IV orbit, onboard the Jade Saber.
Luke Skywalker sat in the copilot's seat of his wife's ship, the Jade Saber. They were on their way back to Yavin IV, after a peacekeeping mission to the Imperial Remnant. "It seems that's all we do lately", the Jedi Master thought to himself has he leaned back in his seat. Ever since the Imperial Remnant, under the leadership of Admiral Palleon had announced their plans to join the New Republic, it started in instant uproar.
In the New Republic, there were still people who wanted the Empire completely destroyed while people within the Imperial Remnant still viewed the New Republic has rebels. One good thing though was that the Jedi had been dispatched all over the galaxy to keep the peace. The bad thing about this arrangement was that it meant more time away from the Praxeum for Luke.
"Do you think the temple will still be there when we land?" Luke asked his wife.
"I'm pretty sure that Tionne can take care of the students while you're away Luke", Mara replied.
"It's not Tionne I'm worried about"; Luke said looking at his wife.
Mara knew whom he was talking about. One of their latest students had quickly earned a reputation for being a troublemaker. Ever since his arrival, the normal order of the Great Temple had been filled with chaos.
"If you're so worried about Mikkel blowing up the temple then you could've just taken him with us?" Mara said with a smirk on her face.
Luke's face went white at the thought of that and Mara laughed at her husband's expression.
"I was only joking Farmboy", Mara said.
"That's nothing to joke about", Luke said, "besides he's your problem since you're the one who brought him here"
Mara just laughed has she flew towards Yavin IV.
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On the surface, Jacen and Jaina Solo sat in the mess hall with their friends, Tenel Ka and Zekk. The four had recently returned from a mission and had been rewarded a week to relax.
"So what are we going to do today?" Jaina asked her friends.
"We could always go swimming", Zekk suggested.
"You just want to see me in a bathing suit", Jaina said a slight twinkle in her eye, "again"
"Could you lovebirds stop it", Jacen said, "I really don't need those thoughts in my head".
Jaina laughed and kissed her boyfriend lightly. Jacen looked away from the scene and at the red headed princess that was sitting next to him. Tenel Ka sighed out of boredom and turned to her friend.
"Friend Jacen, are you has bored has I am right now?" she asked him.
"Probably more so", Jacen replied.
"In that case, why don't we go outside", Tenel Ka suggested standing up.
"Sure", Jacen said, "anything to get away from this"
Jacen motioned to Jaina and Zekk who had stopped kissing but were now holding hands. The both looked up at their friends.
"Where are you going?" Zekk asked them.
"We're not going", Jacen said has he and Tenel Ka walked out of the mess hall, "we're just trying to give you two some privacy".
Behind them the doors to the mess hall slid shut and Jacen shook his head. "Honestly, they really don't have to do that in front of me", he thought to himself. Tenel Ka and Jacen walked through the halls of the Great Temple, the two friends making their way outside. Yavin IV's humid environment enveloped them has they stepped into the sun.
"Jacen my friend, would you care to take a jog through the woods with me?" Tenel Ka asked him.
"Sounds good to me", Jacen said.
"Mind if I tag along", a gravelly voice said from behind them.
"Oh no", Jacen thought to himself.
"Hello Mikkel", Tenel Ka said trying to sound polite.
Jacen turned around to look at his fellow student. Mikkel Tanner was the newest student at the Jedi Praxeum, and probably its most disliked. He was a year older than Jacen and a full head taller. His unruly brown hair dangled in front of his eyes, giving him a somewhat sloppy look. A scar ran from his forehead through his left eye.
"How's it goin' Princess?" Mikkel asked casually.
Tenel Ka stiffened and said coldly, "my name, is not princess"
Mikkel ignored her. They didn't like him, and he knew it. Mikkel was a disrespectful, rude person who had somehow gotten himself into the Jedi Praxeum.
"What do you want Mikkel?" Jacen asked, calling him by his nickname.
"Nothing", Mikkel said, "I'm just bored and want something to do"
"In that case why don't you go find Master Tionne", Tenel Ka suggested, "I'm sure she would appreciate your help in cleaning up the mess that you made"
"Speaking of that, aren't you supposed to be doing that has punishment anyway?" Jacen asked the taller boy.
"Uh, No", Mikkel said, "what are you talking about Jacen?"
Jacen rolled his eyes. Mikkel was a liar too, generally a bad one. He was also reckless and headstrong, something which frequently got him into trouble.
"You know what I'm talking about", Jacen said, "you practically destroyed the library and nearly put Tionne into a state of shock!"
"No I didn't", Mikkel said matter-of-factly.
At that moment, Luke and Mara, having just landed appeared behind Jacen and Tenel Ka. Mikkel's eyes widened for a split second has he saw the two Jedi Masters approaching. He turned back to Jacen and Tenel Ka.
"I see you're auntie and uncle are back", he said sarcastically, "guess that means I better make myself scarce before they get over here".
"You do that"; Jacen said has Mikkel hurriedly made his way back into the temple.
"I cannot stand him", Tenel Ka said angrily once Mikkel was out of earshot, "he's always so rude to everyone"
"I know what you mean", Jacen said, "he's a jerk alright but Uncle Luke still keeps him around for some reason"
"You know why he's here," Tenel Ka said, "why he hasn't been expelled yet is a mystery to me"
"If it were up to Master Horn and the other masters he'd already be gone", Jacen said, "the only thing stopping them is Aunt Mara"
Has if on queue, Mara and Luke walked over to them. Jacen went over to greet his aunt and uncle.
"Welcome back Uncle Luke", Jacen said.
"Jacen, how many times do I have to tell you, its Master Luke", Luke said trying to sound stern and hide the smile forming on his face.
Jacen and Luke embraced while Tenel Ka greeted Mara. Mara Jade and Tenel Ka always got along well. The fact that they had similar personalities attributed to this. Mara had always liked the young warrior princess and thought of her has sort of a surrogate niece. Mara glanced at Jacen out of the corner of her eye. "If things keep going between those two she just might become one", Mara mused to herself.
"Master Skywalker", Tenel Ka said politely, "how was your assignment?"
"Tiring", Mara replied, "I just want all the nuts in the galaxy to take a break so I can get some rest"
"That's how we feel here", Jacen said thinking of Mikkel and Mara's hand in bringing him to Yavin.
Luke, who suddenly had a worried look on his face, ended his thoughts. Mara concerned over her husbands well-being, put a hand on his shoulder.
"Luke, what's wrong?", she asked him.
Luke didn't hear her. He was in a trance like state, with his eyes closed. Time seemed to slow down until Luke's eyes opened after what seemed like hours. He nearly collapsed and would've fallen to the ground had Tenel Ka and Jacen not been there to support him.
"What happened?", Mara asked.
"I just felt a disturbance in the force", Luke answered.
"What kind of disturbance?", Tenel Ka asked.
"Something very bad is going to happen to the galaxy", Luke answered, "unless"
"Unless what?", Jacen asked.
"Unless we stop it"
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Setting: Mandalore
Ailyn Vel sighed has she stared out the window as it rained. "It looks the way I feel", she thought to herself has she watched the rainfall. It was depressing to watch, which matched her mood just perfectly. She was also furious at the one man in the world who was supposed to care for her the most.
Her father had left, again. She had gotten used to it by now. Her father would often go on long "business trips", and he would be gone anywhere from a week to years. She hated it, but her mother didn't seem to care, and neither did he. This was how her mother found her when she entered the sitting room.
"Are you just going to sit there and mope until he comes back?", Sintas asked her daughter with her hands on her hips.
"He could've at least said happy birthday before he left", Ailyn said bitterly.
Sintas sighed has she sat down on the couch next to her daughter. Yesterday had been her seventeenth birthday. Ailyn had been in a good mood then. Her father had recently come home from one of his jobs just in time to celebrate his daughter's birthday. For once, everyone had been together, and Ailyn was happy. At least until yesterday morning.
Ailyn and Sintas had woken up to find the most important man in their lives was gone, again. He had left a note saying something about a bounty for the Hutts and that he'd be back soon. Ailyn had been heartbroken.
"I'm sorry Ailyn", Sintas said putting a hand on her daughters shoulder, "I didn't think he would leave for at least another month"
"Guess you were expecting too much from him then", Ailyn said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Sintas didn't know what to say without upsetting her further. Instead, she hugged her daughter. Ailyn suddenly took in a breath. It was happening again. Suddenly Ailyn could feel everything her mother was feeling. She could feel her mother's anger and sadness towards her father has if they were her own emotions. Then the floodgates opened and she could suddenly feel the emotions of every being in the city of Keldabe. It was more than she could take.
Ailyn shoved away from her mother and practically ran out of the sitting room. She ran until she was out of the house. She ran until she was outside of Keldabe, until she had come to a small clearing in the middle of the forest. Once she stood in the middle of the clearing she stopped running, suddenly realizing how exhausted she had become. Ailyn fell to her knees and tried to catch her breath.
She lay down in the soft grass and looked up at the sky. Has her head cleared, Ailyn closed her eyes and relaxed. Growing up, things like that had happened all the time. Ailyn had always been able to sense other people's feelings and emotions. It was even worse with her parents around, especially her mother. She couldn't stand it when it happened. She hated having to feel other people's pain and suffering. That was why she came here, to the little clearing outside the city. Here she could be at peace.
Ailyn hated her life on Mandalore. Although she loved her mother, she couldn't stand the way her father treated the both of them. Opening her eyes, Ailyn could see the faint outline of a spaceship leaving the planet in the night sky. "Probably another bounty hunter going on a hunt", Ailyn thought to herself.
Despite the fact that both her parents were bounty hunters, Ailyn didn't find the career appealing at all. She'd been on a few hunts with her parents, and she hadn't really liked it. "There's no purpose in bounty hunting", Ailyn thought to herself, "I don't get how anyone can devote their life to it".
Starring up at the sky, Ailyn suddenly got an idea. Has she watched the ships coming and going to the planet, Ailyn felt something calling her to outer space. Standing up, Ailyn turned towards Keldabe and stared at the city. "I've lived here almost all my life and yet, I've never really felt home here", Ailyn thought, "it's like I don't even belong".
Ailyn looked back up at the sky. She had decided what she would do. She would run away, and find her purpose in life.
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Setting: Unknown Regions, Chiss/Kethonian border
Sash'asa'Nuroudo stood on the bridge of the Chiss corvette. The Chiss officer assigned to duty on the Chiss/Kethonian border suppressed yet another sigh of boredom. He hated patrol duty, but it was his assignment. He just wished he could've been assigned to a more exciting sector of space. The Chiss/Kethonian border was the most desolate/most-deserted area of space in the Unknown Regions. The only contact those assigned to this sector ever had with other people was the supplies shipments and the occasional Alien merchant vessel.
Hasan surveyed the crew of his ship and fought to keep a look of disgust from appearing on his face. All of them, including him, were the dregs of the Chiss Military. All the soldiers who had somehow ruined their careers were whisked away to the farthest corner of Chiss space, where they'd be out of sight and unable to further blemish Chiss society.
"Just another boring day on the border", he thought to himself. Little did he know how untrue that was going to be. Hasan was about ready to leave the bridge when suddenly his Sensory Officer informed him of several approaching vessels.
"Captain, I'm detecting several Kethonian ships heading this way", the Officer informed him.
"They're probably just traders from Alxia", Hasan said waving it off, "let them pass on"
"Yes Sir"
Allowing a small grin to appear on his face, Hasan casually walked off the bridge. Rather than fulfill his duties as Captain, he decided to go to his quarters and drink some of the champagne he had hidden there. "You'd think by now I would've learned to keep away from the stuff", he thought to himself has he made his way to his quarters, "after all, it's what got me sent out here in the first place".
Hasan had just entered his quarters and opened his bottle of champagne when his commlink started buzzing. Cursing in Cheunh, Hasan raised the commlink to his lips. Before he could say anything however the voice of his Executive Officer filled his ears.
"Sir, one of the merchant vessels just exploded!", the Officer practically yelled.
Instantly any thoughts of alcohol were thrown from Hasan's mind.
"What happened?", he demanded, "what caused the explosion?"
"We don't know. We're hailing the Kethonians now and asking their permission to investigate the remains to determine the cause"
"You do that", Hasan said, by now he was in the lift that would take him to the bridge, "contact the Ascendancy and let them know what's happened"
Hasan stepped onto the bridge where the smoking remains of what had once been an Alien freighter could be seen floating in space. The other eleven ships were still there and, they were moving.
"Have you tried hailing them?", Hasan asked.
"Yes Sir, so far they've been unresponsive but we've picked up lots of communication between them"
Something inside Hasan told him that that wasn't a good thing. Looking back at the eleven remaining ships, he saw them and realized what they were doing. They were getting into an attack formation.
"Shields up!", Hasan ordered before even thinking about it, "have all ships get ready for—"
But it was too late. Before Hasan could even finish his sentence, his ship exploded. And everything went black.
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Well that was chapter one. Please read and review and tell me what you think of my story.
Dark Mastermind