Good afternoon, everyone! How are you doing on this warm but rainy day of Tuesday, January 14, 2020? I'm doing well, as I had my first day of class today, and it went well. I did some homework, and now I'm writing the 13th chapter of this story while I wait to get started on the one-shot, as I have to go over the finer details with jojobinks01. So, I finished the Billy Graham book last night, and now got started on the Donald Trump book. It's quite good so far. I think I'll read a bit more tonight and tomorrow. Oh, and, if all goes well, I plan to make this chapter a lot longer than the last one, which means I need to bring my A-game to writing. So, I am excited for the next battle coming up, as there's plenty of missions and battles that need to go underway. Wish me luck, and God bless us all in these troubling times.
(Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Addendum.) Hey, everyone! How are you doing on this warm evening in the middle of the week? I'm doing well, as I did some homework, read a little of my Donald Trump book, which is quite good, and worked on the interlude chapter a bit. Fair warning, I'm almost halfway done with the chapter, and it's rather mature in its content. So, I look very forward to finishing this chapter in a few days, but I'll have to divide my time accordingly due to school, homework, volunteering, and my job. I hope to write another thousand words or so in this chapter before I retire for the evening. God bless us all in these trying times.
(Thursday, January 16, 2020 Addendum.) Good evening, everyone! How are you doing on this warm night? I'm all right, if a bit sad by some heartbreaking news I just found out. As of a few hours ago today, Christopher Tolkien, son and heir to J.R.R. Tolkien's brilliant Lord of the Rings universe, had passed away. I am saddened, as we lost another great literary mind, and a good soul. God rest him, and may he have a speedy journey into Heaven. In other news, I've read fifty pages more of the Donald Trump book, and it's pretty impressive. And, I've worked a bit more in my mature interlude earlier, and should be done with it, and hopefully this chapter, by Monday at the latest. But I have plenty on my plate, as you know from my previous addendum. Well, I'd better get back to work. God protect us all in these difficult times.
Meanwhile, In the Ralltiir System
Onboard the Imperial-Class Star Destroyer Inquisitor
"It is time for us to acquire underworld allies of our own, and begin leveling the playing field against the New Republic." Sidious holographically ordered Grand Moff Trachta. "Prince Xizor and his personal Black Sun fleet have been reported leaving many of their known bolt holes across the galaxy, but for what I have yet to learn. My agents have acquired a set of coordinates in the Mid Rim. I want you and Admiral Volta to take your forces out to discover precisely what this crime lord is up to, and if possible recruit him to our cause."
"It will be done at once, my liege." Trachta replied as the hologram's transmission concluded, rising to relay those order to his pupil… and to the New Republic. There was likelihood of his operation running into theirs, especially given their fortress worlds in the adjacent regions.
One Hour Later
Within Varon Orbital Command
"We understand, and we'll move our operations accordingly. You've done good work, Trachta. Thank you for the warning." Director Yularen replied before ending the transmission.
"How did Black Sun of all groups catch onto our plans?!" Garm growled. "Only a few people outside of High Command knew of this operation!"
Kal offered a suggestion. "Technically, they still don't know of our target, just that we have a recovery and salvage mission underway. My best guess is they want to steal whatever we want and either add it to their fleet, or sell it for a big profit."
"The most logical explanation is that there's a leak in our communications' teams." Berch Teller suggested, "But that's a matter for another time. We need to accelerate our recovery efforts, and prepare the fleet to fight the crime syndicate, and possibly the Imperials."
"This might be a chance to take out Prince Xizor before he finished solidifying his power in Black Sun," Rahm advised, "If he gets the fleet, then he'll have everything he needs to eradicate the last remnants of his opposition and accomplish Force knows what. Never forget that under him, Black Sun rose to its greatest height of power."
"Then we ought to deploy forces from Ryloth and Horuun Kal to speed along your mission." Giddeon responded.
"And if Black Sun has spies in our ranks," Mon addressed, "they might learn of this move, and bring in more forces, or alert the Imperials and sic them on us. Never mind the risk of the Imperials taking the systems if they learn of the depleted defenders of those worlds."
"Those are both fair points. But we should be able to minimize the risk by only alerting the fleet commanders of the mission's main parameters, and restricting comm traffic to the bare minimum if there are more spies in our fleet." Shaak Ti reminded the Chandrilian minister.
"If we don't do something, then we'll risk losing the entire Katana Fleet to one of our main enemies." Bail ended all discussion, before coming to a decision. "I'll alert General Syndulla and Colonel Rostu to prepare their most trusted forces for immediate departure, and only bring them up to speed after they enter hyperspace. We'll have to worry about the leak after we retrieve our prize."
"I hope this plan works. For all our sakes." Garm prayed, with the rest of High Command sharing the Corellian's sentiments.
One Hour Later
On Vermund
Within the Uriel Estate's Communications Center
"All right. It's done. I've scheduled your meeting with the Teutonic Senate. It'll be in two days, and you and your team will have the entire body's attention." Benjen informed Obi-Wan.
"Thank you, Benjen. I just hope they'll be willing to listen to me, given our respective orders' differences." Obi-Wan worried.
"They'll listen to you. Even out here, we respect your deeds before and during the Clone War. However, treat this as you would any sensitive diplomatic mission, and do not under any circumstances draw negative comparisons between our orders or mention Mandalorians. Any of them."
"I understand, Benjen."
Eltariel walked in, and humbly said, "I apologize for the interruption, but I felt it best that I personally tell you both of my new assignment from Lady Galadriel."
"A new mission already?" Benjen mused, "I'd have thought you were supposed to stay for a few more days until Ventis was brought up to full speed."
"I am, but I have new orders. I am to be present and observe the diplomatic proceedings. I must stress observe, Lord Uriel and Master Kenobi. I am an assassin and healer, not soothsayer."
"Well, that's an interesting way to describe me," Obi-Wan smirked as he rubbed his chin, "but why this sudden interest?"
"The Lady Galadriel wishes to know any and all threats that may befall Arda in the future should we remain in this conflict."
"Or could it be you like spending time with my nephew Elias?" Benjen asked. To her credit, she avoided blushing.
"My feelings regarding him are irrelevant to this discussion," she held her hand up to her ear, "Eltariel here."
"Apologies, Lady Eltariel, but Mithrandir is requesting your presence. He says he has new information for you regarding Eriador's fall."
Confused at the request, she dutifully responded, "I'll be there right away." Closing the comlink, she politely excused herself. "I'm afraid we'll have to continue this chat another time, gentlemen. Mithrandir wishes to discuss something with me."
"Mithrandir? Ah, you must mean this Gandalf, Viridian, and Daniel told me about. By all means, go speak with him on your ship," Benjen graciously permitted, "I do have a request though."
"Oh?"
"I wish to meet him. Perhaps I can even teach him Hamon."
"I'll be sure to pass along the message." Eltariel promised before departing the room.
Meanwhile, On the Second Chance
"I don't blame you at all, you know." Tau acknowledged as he gently rubbed his arms over Ahsoka's, with sleep unable to claim the two Palpatines over their anxiety for Connor and his mad plan. Butch noticed this, and kept a careful watch
"I know. We share a bond, and I know you all too well." Ahsoka replied, turning to face him as she gazed into his eyes, "I'd probably- no, definitely, come up with an even crazier scheme to save you and the kids if they were taken. At least this way, we'll be prepared if anything happens to Connor."
"Doesn't mean I should have tried to keep this a secret from you. We're supposed to trust each other, and I didn't do that."
"It was a mission. We can't afford to tell the other about all of our respective obligations and missions, not with the lives of our own people at stake. Besides, I imagine countless married couples went through worse than us, and emerged stronger together for it." Ahsoka rebutted, running her hand near Tau's boxers.
Tau sighed but shook his head, "Not tonight, dear. But you are right. The Solos, Han and Leia, lost their two sons over their decades together, and they died at peace when the end came. We'll find a way to get through this."
"And we need to put our faith in Eru to help everyone get through this. Hmm," she purred, "too bad we aren't on Varon now, especially in the Dramon's fortress. I think I could use some more of their wine to help me unwind from our tension."
"And don't forget your crazy love ritual from that smutty novel the Martez sisters dared you to read." Tau chuckled in agreement, smiling fondly at the memory.
(See the interlude chapter I published shortly after this one if you're interested. Be warned, it's fairly erotic and intended for only mature audiences.)
"Yeah. We ought to do something like that again before the twins are born."
"Heh, maybe. Just out of curiosity, what do you think our kids'll look like when they're born?"
"Don't know, and we won't for a few months," Tau remarked, "but if I were a betting man, they'd probably take on physical characteristics from the two of us. Maybe your facial markings and my hair, for instance? Or maybe a pale-skinned Togruta and an orange Human?"
"Yeah. I think I'll take that bet." Ahsoka agreed before yawning, "Thank you for telling me the truth, even though it was difficult for you. It helps me see why I chose you as my husband."
"Funny, because the way I remember it, I proposed to you after we drove off the Morgulag-Hai from Tatooine."
"And I said 'yes.'" She laughed as she slapped him on the shoulder, and kissed his nose before saying, "Good night, Tau."
"Good night, my love." He whispered as they slowly fell asleep, cradled in each other in their arms until rest claimed them.
Forty Minutes Later
Onboard the Eriador's Legacy
Eltariel's face paled. "That cannot be true. It cannot."
"I'm afraid it is true, my friend." Gandalf calmly, if sympathetically, answered. "From the majority of reports from the Minas Tirith Archives, along with the surviving Elves and their descendants from Eriador, Talion wore one of the Nine Rings of Power designed for men during his travels there, helping your people with preparing to battle Sauron when the Numenorians arrived in force. His actions saved many lives, and preserved much of the land's fertility until this age."
"But there is more. We recently found a diary that belonged to your sister. It confirms all of this, and held much more information that Talion confided in her during their time together."
"Nevanna?" Eltariel shudder, "Mithrandir, what did her diary reveal?"
"I think it is best if you read it for yourself." Gandlaf warned her before adding, "It will challenge much of what you have come to believe about the world of Men, but I know that it will make you stronger when you manage to overcome it."
Just then, a data card was removed from the ship's database, and Eltariel nervously picked it up, before bowing to the Grey Pilgrim, and thanked him, "Thank you, for your honesty, and giving me the chance to remember my sister. Eru be with you, Mithrandir"
"And may He be with you as well." Eltariel bade farewell before the transmission ended, leaving her to hold the data card, trembling at the prospect of facing her past all by herself.
She knew that she needed to know the truth, and find some sense of closure after millennia of solitude and pain. But she felt that she needed someone to help her in this reopening of these wounds, and trusted only one man- no, one person among this world enough to confide in now.
Eltariel transferred the data from the diary into a datapad, and contacted her friend, shakily speaking into it, "Elias. It's me. I need your help."
One Hour Later
In Hyperspace
On the Arquitens-class light cruiser Alexi Garyn
Approximately 54 Hours From the Katana Fleet
"What do you think we're stealing from the New Republic?" Rafa Martez apprehensively asked her sister, Trace, as she finished calibrating the tractor beam emplacements for the pirated Jedi Light Cruiser.
"Whatever it is, it better be enough to square us with these lunatics, and we can freelance again. Somewhere far away from another war the Jedi started," Trace replied, "somewhere very far away from Tano and her husband."
"Come on, sis. You can't blame the Jedi for this one." Rafa groaned, "The Empire was out of control, murdering entire planets and populations! And if the New Republic and Skywalker were right about the Emperor, then he was behind the whole war, and the Jedi were the true targets of the Sith Lord. It makes me wish they did overthrow Palpatine after all."
"That doesn't excuse their behavior in the war, especially their holier-than-thou attitude. You remember how they ignored Coruscant's lower levels for years before they became fugitives, and they didn't do anything when our parents were killed by the Hutts. And now they go and ally with them. Far as I'm concerned, they deserve what they got."
"I think we ought to be more concerned with the mission, and try to avoid killing too many of their people. Last thing we need to get to the top of the New Republic's hit list."
"Don't let the prince hear you say that, Lieutenant Martez," one of the Rodians working on the launch tubes growled, "last thing we need is to lose another woman, let alone one of the most brilliant I've had the pleasure of working with, to his blasted hunger and quick discarding."
"Then don't rat on her, Gorsh. Or you'll find a blaster bold in your thick skull." Trace warned her subordinate.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Captain." Gorsh swore.
"I suggest that we all worry more about the mission and dealing with the Jedi, instead of trying to kill each other." The young Ubese bounty hunter Boushh warned his team. "They, for all their pompousness and sense of entitlement, can get along with their soldiers well enough, so we ought to do the same if we hope to stand a chance against them."
"He's right." Trace sighed, and ordered her most trusted lieutenants, "And besides, we need to finish the systems checks and upgrades in the next twenty-four hours, or we won't get our cut of the spoils. So enough chatter, and more working."
One Hour Later
On Vermund
Onboard the Eriador's Legacy
"Eltariel, I'm so sorry." Elias whispered as he cradled the silently weeping elf in his arms, her face buried in his chest. He reviewed all that he'd seen, trying to make sense of it. Talion, the man Eltariel hated for getting her sister killed, had turned out not to be the man she knew at all.
She thought he'd been a loyal servant to this Sauron, that he'd been granted a ring of power. He had instead taken it from a traitorous Numenorian Lord to stave off death, using its power to fight the Dark Lord over the centuries. Nevanna, Eltariel's sister, had been his one link to his humanity. The one thing keeping him from succumbing to the ring.
Then there had been a mission to rescue an elf named Celebrimbor. Elias didn't know who he was, but he understood he'd made the rings. Talion and Nevanna were sent to rescue him, but they found him near dead in a trap laid by Sauron and his minions.
There, Talion was killed a second time, and yet he returned but far more twisted than before. Elias didn't understand the magics involved at all, but he understood this: Talion would become one of the Nazgûl, Sauron's dark minions. It would take time for this to happen, but it would.
So, Talion refused his fate and continued to fight on. Elias respected him for that, and he got why Nevanna gave up her immortality-a concept he still didn't fully understand-to be with him.
'But she must've known what was gonna happen to him,' he thought, 'though I guess that didn't matter.'
He looked down at the elf in his arms, his chest soaked from her tears. Would he make the same choice as this Talion, or as Nevanna? He didn't have an answer and that chilled him. He looked over at Elf's final entry. Talion had disappeared, right as the Nazgûl showed up. She was going to find him.
"Why didn't she tell me?" Eltariel wailed, "I would've understood. I would've helped! Why didn't she tell me?"
Elias had never seen Eltariel in sorrow before. Somehow, it felt stronger than any human he'd met, and he felt his own tears stream down his cheeks. "She… she wanted you to live your life, Eltariel. She didn't want you to hurt."
She looked up at him, her face a mess. "Well it didn't work, did it?"
He didn't have an answer. He just took her, held her and bade her gently until she finally overcame her grief. Or at least put it away.
"What are you going to do now?" he asked.
"I'm going to find Talion and save him," she answered, "and everyone else Sauron has wrongly ensnared."
"There might not be anything left to save, Ellie. And from what the diary said, Sauron's grip only dies when he dies."
She looked at him strangely, "Ellie?"
He blushed, "Sorry. Just came out."
"No," she grinned, "I… I kind of like it. Just don't call me that in public."
"Perish the thought. Though your name is a bit of a mouthful."
So oddly, she giggled at that, and Elias felt a sudden flash of heat. He'd never felt that with anyone else before. He shook his head and got a hold of himself. "So, are you going back to Arda?"
"No, not yet. I'm here until I'm called back by the Lady Galadrial… are you happy about that?" she asked him accusingly.
"Wha-? No, um I," he sighed, "yes, I kind of am. I like you, Ellie. Sure, I hated you the first time we met but… ah, that's funny to me."
"What?"
"We only met two days ago. It doesn't feel like it."
"No," she whispered, "it doesn't. Um, do you mind if I stay with you for a little longer?"
"Stay as long as you want," he smiled as he held her tighter, Eltariel resting her head on his chest, "I'm not going anywhere."
Meanwhile , in the Uriel Estate
"Elias and Eltariel have been out for a while. I should call them back to the Estate."
Benjen was about to pluck up his communicator when Ventis bade his hand, "No, brother. Leave them be."
"And why not?"
Ventis grinned, "He's courting."
"What are you talking about?"
"Stretch out with your feelings."
"...Oh. Hmm, maybe I'll call them back in maybe twenty minutes."
"Fair enough, brother," Ventis chuckled as he sat back, his hands interlocked behind his head, "fair enough."
Meanwhile, In Hyperspace
Onboard the Recusant-class Destroyer Raxus Remembers
Approximately 46 Hours From the Katana Fleet
"Great. Not only do we have the Imperials on our tail, but a major crime syndicate that may have moles of their own in our ranks." General Cham Syndulla, commander of the Ryloth fleet, griped as he spoke with Anakin, Rex, Rahm, Kal, and his fellow commander of the Horuun Kal, Colonel Nick Rostu, with the Korun and Twi'lek being brought up to speed on the operation.
"Now you understand why we needed this mission strictly off the books, General. But the moles will have to be flushed out later. Right now, we need to prepare to move a fleet of ships to our territory before our enemies find us." Anakin warned the two commanders, before turning to Nick, and advising him, "But perhaps you can make an inroad into our leak situation now by calling up an old friend/adversary of yours, Lorz Geptun."
"No," Nick declared, "for all of his talents, he is venal, self-serving and corrupt. He's just as likely to sell that information to another crime syndicate, if not outright publish it galactic wide, if it meant getting a fatter paycheck for himself. I mean for crying out loud, he sold info on his son's involvement with a damn Sith Lord just to make holomovies about them!"
"I understand that, but he has contacts that not many others have. He basically roots through other peoples' trash."
"With respect, sir, he's an opportunist. He has no loyalty."
"I disagree. My own sources suggest that he might not betray us," Kal argued, "they say he has a healthy respect for the Jedi and no particular love for the Underworld."
"Besides, it would be better for us if this Lorz were on our side," Rahm concluded, "put him to work, and keep a tight leash on him."
They all agreed and Nick just shook his head. "Fine. I'll call him up and make him the offer. But when this backfires in our faces, just remember that I told you so."
Meanwhile, on the Remember Domino
Approximately 45 Hours From the Katana Fleet
Who could it have been? Who sold me out to Black Sun, after all we went through as a team? The Captain fearfully wondered as he went through countless amounts of data in his ship's computer before coming across a communications anomaly.
Pulling up the file, he recognized the communications frequency belonging to three people amongst his twelve-person crew.
So, either we have three moles, or someone's trying to throw me off their scent. He thought before continuing his search for the traitor, hoping that he could find them before he reached the Katana Fleet. If he failed, his plans to free his friends from Imperial servitude on Bracca would completely fall apart.
Well, no point in sitting around in doing nothing. Better get back to work before the trail completely goes cold. The cyborg captain resolved before returning to examining the communications logs.
Well, that ends a big chapter of my story, with ties to Shadows of the Empire, The Clone Wars: Season Seven, and several other works, including Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. As for Shadow of War and the differences between the game Talion and the one I wrote, I got that idea from a YouTube video made by BOOFIRE191 titled "What If Lord Of the Rings Shadow Of War Was Good? Part 1." It's very brilliant, much more so than the actual game, and I give him full credit for the idea. If only Warner Games chose this route for the series. I just hope Squasher and JSailer agree to the idea, as it might lead to some interesting choices going forward. So, how are you all doing on this cool evening of Saturday, January 18, 2020? I'm doing well, as I saw 1917 with my dad early this afternoon, worked a bit on homework, and finished this chapter. Once I send this draft to my friends and editors for revisions, I'll get back to work on my smut chapter. I hope you all enjoy this piece, and I look forward to write more to come. Well, time to move onto the more romantic chapter, as I have four hours before I have to go to bed for work tomorrow from 1-10 pm. May the Force and Iluvatar be with you all, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
(Thursday, January 23, 2020 Addendum.) Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this cold night? I'm doing all right, as I'm almost done with another chapter in this story further along in the plot line, and have revised the draft of Chapter 13 to Squasher and JSailer's specification. Man, was I glad that the bulk of the chapter was kept intact, as I was worried it the relationship between Eltariel and Elias was moving too fast. So, I've got a bit of schoolwork to worry about over the next couple of weeks, so it won't be easy for me to write the next chapter. But don't worry; I'll get it done. Well, I'd better get this chapter to Squasher for the final look over. May God be with us all in these troubling times.