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Hello, Star Wars Expanded Universe enthusiasts! How are you doing on this warm evening of April 6, 2017? I am well, as I have arrived in Florida and am with my grandparents right now, and so far, I am having a pretty good time, as I recently had a very intelligent conversation with my uncle who lives near my grandparents about ethics during wartime, as well as the current state of things in the United States. Anyway, did you guys hear about Operation: Blue Milk from The Star Wars Underworld, because I sure did, and I am beyond hyped for the release of more Star Wars literature, especially on the off chance that it is Expanded Universe content. I cannot wait for the official announcement that is rumored to come tomorrow, which better be in less than six hours, as it is 9:16 pm where I am right now. Too bad that I'll be asleep for that. By the way, as of today, I have finished two books, a novel that I had nearly completed as of yesterday, that was written by a former Navy Seal that you might know as Marcus Luttrell (And no, it is not Lone Survivor, in case you were wondering.), and the new Mass Effect novel, Mass Effect: Andromeda: Nexus Uprising, and boy, was it a doozy. I really enjoyed both books, especially the latter, as it revealed facts about the game that I didn't know, and it might have made my decision about certain things in the game once I get to them. Oh, before I forget, I am currently on Sequart Organization's A Galaxy Far, Far Away: Exploring Star Wars Comics, and am over a third of the way through the book. So, I'd better get to writing this chapter, as I have no idea what I'm going to write for it, and I think that I should finish this story before I get too busy with regards to work and school, not to mention my volunteer work. Oh, before I forget, the reason that I included the discovery of the Sith shrine in the last chapter is because I wanted that storyline wrapped up as quickly as possible so that I could focus on the upcoming Siege of Korriban, which made me just realize that maybe, just maybe, I can finish this story in one final chapter if I make it longer than my usual chapters. Well, may the Force be with me, because I have a lot of writing to do if I'm going to finish this chapter in a matter of days instead of weeks. Anyway, on with the story!
(April 7, 2017 Addendum.) Hello, everyone. What are you doing right now at 8:10 PM? I am currently watching The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on TNT as I write more of what should be the final chapter of Star Wars: Jedi Odyssey: Shadow War III: Tribulation, and let me say that I am enjoying what I've seen so far, and the movie's only just begun. Anyway, on to more important matters. Have you guys found out what Operation: Blue Milk is all about, because I have, and let me just say that I am more than a bit disappointed, as I did not expect it, or hope, for a more appropriate word, to be more A New Hope content, even if it is an anthology of short stories written by over forty authors, many of which are legendary figures in the galaxy of Star Wars literature. One more thing, I am now done with Sequart Organization's A Galaxy Far, Far Away: Exploring Star Wars Comics, and tomorrow, I plan to start Naruto: Itachi's Story: Volume One: Daylight. I can't wait to read the three latest short Naruto books that have been released.
Three Days Later
1630 Hours
Day 100 Since the Shadow Alliance's Formation
450 Minutes Until Operation: Endgame
In the Horuset System
On the Planet Korriban
Within Darth Krayt's Citadel
Edaan Palpatine was more on edge than usual, since the Shadow Alliance would be launching their entire navy and armada in less than eight hours, and the war that Edaan had forced to begin would come to a dramatic conclusion that would decide the fate of the galaxy for decades, if not centuries, to come. He was so nervous that his right hand was unconsciously twitching from the anxiety that he was feeling at the exact moment that Chopper rolled up behind him and warbled rather happily, which scared the life out of the cyborg Jedi Knight, as he nearly shrieked like a five-year-old girl.
As Chopper enjoyed seeing people react in fear to his presence, he had a mission to complete, and began to warble in droidspeak for two minutes, telling Edaan of how he managed to smuggle several lightsabers, including the one-of-a-kind Mandalorian lightsaber known as the Darksaber, to Sabine, Vestara, and the majority of the former members of the Lost Tribe of the Sith, while managing to get a variety of melee weapons such as vibro-shivs, ancient Sith swords, and poison darts with the blowers in order to launch them at any unsuspecting enemies. In addition, he had managed to reprogram over one hundred and fifty droids of the various five classes to the Shadow Alliance's cause, which would provide a distraction for the second prison break, and hopefully, the first to succeed, that would have occurred within the last month. Showing even more initiative, Chopper had used one of the droids to download a highly encrypted list of each Sith Lord's position during the Jedi's invasion of the planet.
"Well, Chopper, if I were a gambling man, which I'm not, I'd wager that Kanan and Hera would be immensely proud of you for taking such initiative, and doing it without any screw-ups to boot." Edaan said with just a hint of humor lacing his voice at the end of his sentence.
Chopper then shocked one of Edaan's ankles with his electroshock prod, which the young Jedi Knight did not feel due to the armor that protected his body, and said Jedi Knight merely chuckled in amusement at the astromech droid's grunts of frustration at not being able to hurt him anymore.
"Okay, Chopper. I think that we'd better get ready for the rest of the Shadow Alliance to arrive within the next twelve hours, as you've got to organize a prison break, and I've got to make my way to the rest of the Sith troopers in order to maintain my cover. As you no doubt know, we're going to be the first wave of Sith that assault the Shadow Alliance, which is going to make Tau and my escapes all the more difficult. But, hey, this mission had to get hard somewhere, am I right, or what?" Edaan said after he calmed down. Chopper simply responded by rolling away in irritation, leaving Edaan alone with his thoughts as he began walking to the deployment area, where the forty-one other Sith troopers were awaiting their traitorous leader.
1800 Hours
360 Minutes Until Operation: Endgame
Darth Krayt was just finishing up his final meditation to prepare for the siege of Korriban when he sensed that Darth Wyyrlok, as well as his daughter, Sorzus, White Eyes, Darths Snoke, Malleus, Sedriss, and See-Chok, Chelli Lona Aphra, Nala Se, a fully repaired 0-0-0, and Jaden Korr's Iteration entered his private chambers. He opened his eyes and stood up from his sitting position, where he then said, "Thank you all for coming. You are my top lieutenants, and I am going to trust you with the knowledge that I am about to divulge to each of you. As Wyyrlok and Sorzus know, I suspect that Edaan Palpatine and his Iteration are spies for the Jedi Order." Upon hearing those words, the room erupted into an uproar with most of the Sith, as well as Doctor Aphra and her sole remaining assassin droid, yelling and shouting their disbelief or shock that their master would make such a bold accusation.
After he raised his hand to quiet the crowd, he said, "I do not know how the two managed to adhere to the Light Side of the Force, but I have taken steps to expose the two of them, should they indeed be traitors to the One Sith, as well as neutralize their impact on our machinations. For Edaan, I have placed his in the front lines, surrounded by the other Sith troopers that I have programmed to kill him if he makes one wrong move. As for the Iteration, I had Doctor Nala Se install an inhibitor chip in him that will make his head literally explode if he attempts to reveal any intelligence of any kind to anyone, especially the Jedi. And, just in case any of our captors try to escape our hospitality, I have two hundred assassin droids stationed around the cellblocks with orders to execute them if they make even one wrong move. The echoes that will emit from the Force should serve to demoralize the Force-sensitive memebers of the Shadow Alliance, as well as make them more prone to poor calls of judgment. Now then, everyone knows their assignments, and we only have less than twelve hours before the Jedi and their minions get here, so prepare for a battle that the galaxy hasn't seen since the Battle of Yuuzhzan'tar. VICTORY OR DEATH!" Krayt said, shouting by the end.
"VICTORY OR DEATH!" Each of Krayt's subordinates roared in enthusiasm as they raised their fists in the air to support their master, and then went to prepare for the carnage that would soon unfold.
2100 Hours
180 Minutes Until Operation: Endgame
In the Mandalore System
On the Executor-Class Star Dreadnought Megador
In the Briefing Room
"You all know why we're here." Nek Bwua'tu, supreme commander of both the Galactic Alliance and Shadow Alliance's navies, grimly said as he had a lieutenant at the holographic projector pull up an image of Korriban, with the city of Dreshdae in the center of the projection of the ancient city.
Everyone was physically present for this final meeting: the leaders of the Shaodw Alliance's High Council, Hutt Lord Azzim Anjilic Atirue, Confederacy Admiral Treast Kre'frey, former Neo Death Watch captain Armand Vorn, Mand'alor Boba Fett, Fel Empire Empress Jaina Solo Fel, Jedi Council Member Corran Horn, Galactic Alliance Admiral Gavin Darklighter, and the Hapes Consortium Queen Mother's advisor and bodyguard, Trista Zel; the Jedi Council sent the bulk of its members: Jedi Masters Barratk'l, Saba Sabatyne, Cighal, T'ra Saa, K'Kruhk, Kyp Durron, Leia Organa Solo, and Jedi Grand Master Kyle Katarn, while Ben Skywalker attended due to his efforts in ending the Lost Tribe of the Sith on the planet of Kesh; Luke Skywalker, along with Han Solo and C-3P0, three of the five surviving Heores of Yavin, were in attendance as well, as were the members of the reconstituted Grey Cadre: Galactic Alliance general Etahn A'baht, admirals Kir Vantaind Firmus Nantz, senators Ponc Gavrisom, Releqy A'Kla, and Ta'laam Ranth, and Galactic Alliance commodore Turk Brand; Mandalorians Venku Skirata, Sintas Vel, and Ghes Orade; finally, Rogue Squadron Leader Syal Antilles Syal Antilles, as well as Wraith Squadron Leader Voort sa Binring, Galactic Alliance commodore Kral Nevil, and Fel Empire Grand Moff Ephin Sarreti, rounded out this final gathering of leaders within the Shadow Alliance's High Command before they launched for the soon to commence invasion of Korriban.
"In a short three hours, Operation: Endgame, the long-awaited invasion of Korriban, will finally begin, and, hopefully, we will have wiped the scourge of the Sith from the galaxy, once and for all. The fleets are finishing restocking and refueling their stores and ships, and all of the personnel and soldiers are accounted for." Bwua'tu said as he continued his speech, with everyone listening intently, as they knew that their lives could depend on whether or not they listened to what the legendary Bothan had to say.
"The first phase of the battle should go straightforward enough. Our armadas will attack the One Sith's weakened navy, which, according to the reports that Atai Molec, Kallus Orrelios, and the records from the Chuundar's Legacy, is comprised of one wing of Kom'rk-class fighters/transports, one wing of Bes'uliik Starfighters, a wing of lethal Mandalorian Fang Fighters, two Keldabe-class battleships, eight heavily modified Pursuer-class enforcement ships, thirteen Dreadnaught-class Heavy Cruisers, three Imperial II-class Star Destroyers, five Invincible-class Dreadnaught Heavy Cruisers, and the remainng corporate and slaver forces that managed to escape the Defense of Mandalore. With our influx of reinforcements from Daala's former troopers, as well as our Yuuzhan Vong allies, we have the numbers to easily break through the blockade that they have over the planet of Korriban. From there, we move on to Phase Two of the battle: the ground war. We will land three kilometers outside the city of Dreshdae, and make our way to the city, eliminating any resistance that we will face. Once we have secured the city, we will scour the city for any useful information regarding the One Sith's plans and agents, but we expect the bulk of that knowledge to be stored in Darth Krayt's citadel, which is buried deep witin the catacombs of the planet. Which brings us to Phase Three of Operation: Endgame, which will have us send in the bulk of our ground forces, as well as eighty percent of our Jedi and Imperial Knights, within the catacombs in order to eliminate any members of the One Sith, as well as their creatures and minions, that stand in our way. We will also use every resource availiable to us in order to attempt to rescue Edaan Palpatine and the remaining survivors of his improvised strike force. Phase Four will begin once our forces arrive at Darth Krayt's citadel. Thanks to the expertise of Sabine Wren's Vindicator Brigade, we have the explosives that would be required to bring the citadel, as well as the entire network of catacombs that reside beneath Tulak Hord's tomb down under." Nek Bwua'tu explained in a crisp and professional manner, impressing everyone with how calm he kept himself so calm, cool, and collected in light of the inevitable battle that would begin.
The Bothan supreme commander continued, saying, "Once we have penetrated the citadel, we will eliminate every Sith that we come across, while acquiring all of the data that we can find from the Citadel's databases, and capturing key non-Sith personnel, such as Chelli Lona Aphra and Nala Se, so that we may put them on trial for their crimes against the galaxy. But, our primary objective is to eliminate Darth Krayt and his top lieutenants, so that the One Sith cannot reform after their deaths. Finally, everyone will know their positions and deployment patterns during the battle from the ten previous briefings, and anyone who may have forgotten their place in the battle will find the necessary information in their personal datapads. That is all, any questions?" Once Bwua'tu stopped speaking, all he received was complete silence, as everyone understood that the fate of the galaxy was at stake with this soon-to-begin battle.
"No questions?" Bwua'tu surprisingly said, as he expected a myriad of questions about the strategy and commencement of the invasion of Korriban. He then gripped both of his hands together behind his back and solemnly said, "Excellent. Then get to your ships, get a few hours of much-needed rest, and may the Force be with us.' Everyone then left the room in an orderly fashion, and, as Ben left the room, he silently thought to himself, Edaan. Ves. Hold on just a little longer, because we're coming to save you!
2359 Hours
1 Minute Until Operation: Endgame
In the silence of space in the Mandalore System, the massive Shaodw Alliance fleet of various ships of dozens of designs completed their final preparations for battle. The fleet, comprised of the ships and soldiers of the Mandalorians, Hutts, Jedi, Hapes Consortium, Galactic Alliance, Fel Empire, former Neo Death Watch, and various planets, was doing its final calculations for the jump to hyperspace, when the commanding voice of Nek Bwua'tu said into every ship's intercom, 'All ships, launch!"
With those three words uttered, every ship, ranging in size from the Millennium Falcon to the Megador and Nossor Ri, activated their ship's hyperdrives, and made the jump into hyperspace, leaving nothing but fuel exhaust in their wake.
And, that's a wrap! Well, the final chapter of Jedi Odyssey: Shadow War III: Tribulation took much less time than I expected, but I guess that I didn't need as many words as I thought, which is a shame, as I love to write, as I wrote two hundred and ninety pages of this glorious fanfiction. And to think, my final story will hopefully be even longer than this one. Anyway, tell me what you guys thought of my fifth story, as I desperately need more input. So, what are you guys doing on the afternoon of April 9, 2017, as I am relaxing at my grandparents' house? I also saw that MandoCommander's Star Wars Rebels: The Promised Day was updated yesterday with its final chapter, and it is a very powerful chapter, a near-perfect blend of Expanded Universe and Disney Canon. Anyway, are you guys eager for Star Wars: Celebration Orlando to begin, because I sure am, as I can't wait for the Internet to reveal all of its secrets to me, especially about most of the comics, novels, video games, and TV shows that are being unveiled at Celebration Orlando. Oh, and before I forget, I finished Naruto: Itachi's Story: Volume One: Daylight today, and plan to begin The Witcher: The Lady of the Lake tomorrow. I can't wait to read the final book in The Witcher saga. Well, I'd better log off, as tomorrow or the day after, I plan to get started on my final story, Star Wars: Jedi Odyssey: Shaodw War IV: Omega. Hey, did any of you guys catch the Biblical references in my last four story titles, because they were intentional? So, I gues this is time for me to sign off for now. May the Force Be With You, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!