Imperial transmissions to Malachor V had been jammed, as well as to nearby planets just to be safe. Palpatine and Zalax had been talking about the incorporation of the Sith cult into the Senate as well as ruling of Korriban as a vassal of the empire. Zalax had agreed that it was a generous offer but insisted upon destroying the rebellion in the Unknown regions first. The Sith had also lied by stating a new threat is destroying his forces in the region, as they attempted to kill the rebels and retrieve the force key. When in fact, the Yuuzhang Vong, part of the Dark alliance with the the Sith cult, was attacking the Imperials in co-ordination with the cultists.
"According to my agents on Korriban, the Star destroyer guarding our home has been destroyed by this new threat and they are invading the Mid Rim" Zalax informed him.
"That would explain why communications are offline for us, the Imperial communication base must have been destroyed" guessed Palpatine.
"I have ordered my army on Korriban to begin an assault against these aliens, who have overrun the surface, so you can focus on defending the more important areas"
"Every inch of my empire is important! I did not spend fifty years of life for nothing!" shouted Palpatine.
"The invaders must have known about the rebel incursion in the Region and thought it was you" said Zalax.
"Or maybe it was YOUR forces that provoked them" interrupted captain Slyvin.
"This is true, our troops reported several Star destroyers enter the region led by some Grand Moff" agreed Zalax.
So that's where Tarkin's been.
Korriban was the first to fall, since the Sith cult was already there. Zakuul and many areas of the UR were besieged as the Imperial's retreated back inside there borders. The Hutt space was attacked by Vong Worldships, although they resisted heavily. Dantooine was attacked by Sith forces, who destroyed a large rebel base on the planet forcing them to evacuate. Vong and Rebel ships clashed over Alderaan, but the rebels had never had experience with these alien ships.
The Yuuzhan Vong was launching a "micro- crusade" against the empire in order to prepare for the future invasion. They were secretly hoping their attack would allow the rebels to use it to their advantage and destroy the empire, allowing them to take whatever's left- and the rebellion.
Darth Vader's Super star destroyer, Executor, defeated the Vong and Sith ships invading Ord Mantell.
"Tell admiral Thrawn his assistance in defending Lothal is needed" Vader ordered.
"Lord Vader, Thrawn AND his fleet have been called towards the Unknown region!" cried the engineer.
"Tell Governor Pryce to-
"The governor was ordered by Tarkin to take command the 'project' and make sure it safely and secretly returns to Lothal!"
"Tarkin abandoned his post?! But didn't Krennic realise that the project-
"My Lord, Krennic has not been seen and his communicators were destroyed. Squad C of the Death trooper containment are also missing"
Vader looked forward, out the window, watching his fleet destroy the Vong. Just then, two Worldwind ships appeared.
Tarkin captured the rebels and they evacuated to the Star Destroyer Deaths head.
"What do these invaders want!?" demanded Krennic.
"Communications outside the region are offline, they have blocked them" cursed Tarkin.
"Lets not assume these are 'invaders' we are still in their territory, they could be simply protecting their own space" said Thrawn.
"Well whatever the are, they want us dead!" yelled Ezra.
"Pity, we will kill you before they do" smirked Tarkin, as the Death troopers took aim.
"Look this is no time for arguing we need to work together- began Kanan.
"Work together?! Never! Not with the people who enslaved us for years, destroyed democracy and left all non-humans to be subordinates of there totalitarian state! If they die fighting these aliens then so be it! We will defend our galaxy our own way!" yelled Hera.
"Well that was an interesting, long speech filled with...nonsense that just came out of that green face of yours" dismissed Krennic.
"Think about it my rebel friends, had the empire not existed were would we all be? This alien empire has invaded the galaxy and now we are all that stands in their way, not a small band of clowns. You say the Empire is evil, if you think it is, but it's a necessary evil, to prevent this" lectured Thrawn. "But you are right, I believe co-ordination is needed".
"The Sith cult said they needed this force key to resurrect Bendu, but it can't be a coincidence that this happened at the EXACT same time" said Kanan.
"This cult informed us of a plot to destroy the empire, I believe they meant this plot, they must know what to do" said Tarkin.
"No" disagreed Thrawn. "I studied there journals in their worship chamber. It spoke of a dangerous weapon, which I have come to guess was the Mass Shadow Generator, it spoke of the Sith emperor wanting to use it's power in the wrong way and a lone Sith attempted to stop him."
"Darth Marr!" exclaimed Zeb. "We've been seeing these books to!"
"So the cult is trying to use this weapon?" asked Ezra.
"The mass shadow generator was used to defeat the Mandalorians and end the war, it was designed by former Jedi Knight and Sith Lord, Revan" explained Kanan. "From what we read, Marr wanted to use his power in the Dark council to veto it's creation, after originally endorsing it, after believing the emperor was out of control".
"So if we look at all the journals then maybe an answer will be sought out" suggested Thrawn.
The Imperials headed back to into the Empire to collect the books which they had found on Korriban, leaving Tarkin aboard the Star destroyer, while the Rebels studied the force key.
"This key must have be important to the invaders. I just don't know how" said Ezra.
Suddenly Deaths head was attacked by a Yuuzhang Vong Worldship.
"We need to get out of here!" urged Kanan.
"What do they want us for? There's other Star destroyers here too!" shouted Zeb.
"They must want this key" guessed Kanan.
"Set course for Geonoisis and prepare for jump to hyperspace" ordered Krennic.
"Sir, all our co-ordinates are not responding except Malchor V" replied an officer.
"Okay go there then" repeated Krennic.
"Captain Slyvin, our force scanners detected two Star destroyers with strong force energy aboard, one is heading here" a Vong commander informed Slyvin.
"Excellent" smiled Slyvin, turning to an ancient Sith alter. He began enchanting a Sith ritual. "Ancient forces of the past, bring to us that which the Eternal throne held"
Suddenly Krennic and the rebels as well as the Death trooper squad were zapped through a purple hurricane, appearing on Malachor V.
"What the heck?" yelled Hera.
"Look, over there!" pointed Kanan.
In front of them was a the Sith temple with a purple tornado hovering above it.
"That must be the source of this" said Kanan, gritting his teeth.
"Well, now that we are in the Empire again, I do not want anyone thinking I collaborated with traitors, we will part ways now" insisted Krennic, marching away with his Death troopers.
Above the moon, rebel and Sith forces were clashing, unaware the Emperor was below. Suddenly, Executor zoomed in and attacked both sides. Vader had tracked his master to this location, using the force. One star destroyer's engines were destroyed by Sith ships, once belonging to Naga Sadow, causing it to crash into a Sith warship, that Malgus used to invade the Republic capital. Among the chaos, a small Mandalorian shuttle was dodging the chaos and heading for Malachor.
The rebels advanced inside the temple, where they saw the horror that was the Emperor! The man who tales said killed four Jedi masters, crippled the Republic, ordered the death of all Jedi. Anger built up inside of Kanan, his master was killed under Palpatine's orders. But he calmed down, knowing the Jedi way.
Vader and two stormtroopers marched through the carnage of Malachor, heading inside the temple.
"The force key" glared Lord Zalax. "We must have it".
"Is that the- shuddered Ezra.
"The madman himself- yes" nodded Kanan.
"Your little band of rebels are beginning to amuse me, a wild goose chase all to bring us this key" laughed the emperor. "Legends spoke of this weapon, now they are reality".
He used the force to grab the key and give it to Zalax.
"What conflict is going on above the moon?" he asked.
"The aliens know what were up to and now we must act!" lied Zalax. "Were are your men?"
"Those fools!" cursed Palpatine.
Vader suddenly marched in with the Dark key.
"Director Krennic handed this over to me" he announced.
Zalax was alarmed. He was not supposed to be here! He was supposed to die.
"Your arrogance is your downfall" laughed Vader. "Master, it was Sith warships that are leading the assault on us with the aliens."
Sidious turned around to Zalax. From behind him, the Vong commander shot the two stormtroopers and Slyvin kicked Vader to the ground. Slyvin threw the Dark key to Zalax. The cult master turned towards Sidious, unleashing the Dark key's dark lightning on him. He then turned to the crypt in front of him.
"I originally needed these to power the Mass shadow generator but now that I have two Jedi, two Sith and these keys I can resurrect the emperor himself" he announced.
Pointing the force key towards Ezra and Kanan, it began draining their force powers. Well not draining, more like absorbing. In turn, the dark key absorbed the Sith energy inside Sidious and Vader. While Slyvin and the commander dealt with Hera, Chopper and Zeb, Zalax began another Sith ritual. Placing the keys, in the crypt he unleashed his own power into it.
After a few minutes, the crypt lid fell and everything stopped.
"Your plans have failed, now prepare to die!" cackled Palpatine, igniting his lightsabre, along with Vader. Hera went over to help Kanan and Ezra.
Suddenly a hand emerged from the crypt.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" introduced Zalax. "I give you Emperor Vitiate/ Valkorion, emperor of the Sith and the Eternal empire!"