The stealth ship entered the Mandalore system. Commander Blackout piloted them into the system. Spark watched the radar and systems of the stealth ship. Ahsoka rubbed her shoulders feeling extreme guilt for what she was about to do. The scans lit up brightly and Spark looked them all over confused. Blackout heard the loud noises until his hud began to beep.
"Sir. I think…. I think they found us when we entered the system." Blackout told Anakin nervously. "They're… hailing us sir."
"Um. Open communication. I'll think of something." Anakin answered. The call opened up to a very disappointed Davican.
"Skywalker. This better be good. Your stealth ship's systems aren't exactly state of the art to us so finding you wasn't a problem." Davican started. "I assume there's a good reason why our neighbors are 'visiting'."
"Why yes there is. We're here on an emergency jump from…"
"Master. Look we were told to spy on you. The chancellor is worried about this project of yours. He thinks it's some kind of super weapon." Ahsoka came out truthfully.
"Ahsoka…. Alright then. Your ship best head to these coordinates. The Invictus will be at the station shortly." Davican turned off his comm.
Anakin looked at Ahsoka with disdain. "Ahsoka! You just ruined the mission!"
"Well it's better than lying to our friend!"
"Sir, we got coordinates just now." Blackout interrupted calmly.
"...We'll talk about this later."
Anakin stormed off to the pilots seat. Ahsoka felt disappointed, but at the same time she felt relieved that they were caught. The stealth ship flew towards the given coordinates. Once within range, they saw it. A giant egg like bio dome floated over the world. They didn't have much time to marvel over it. Out of hyperspace, came a ship. It's size rivaled that of everything in the Republic and Separatist fleets. It was at most twenty kilometers in size alone. It didn't have miniature yamato cannons. All were full sized variants, armed, armored, and upgraded. Thousands upon thousands of point defence turrets from turbolasers to missile turrets. Armed in two alcoves of the ships front and back was a strange cannon. Its superstructure hidden by a mass of armor. The cannons themselves looked similar to the design of the Silencer. Fleet killers. However these were much bigger and much more updated with the modern technology. The ship itself was mostly flat. It was hard to tell where anything important was, or how many there were. Several dozen hangers lay aboard the ship, all supplied with an unknown number of starfighters.
Ahsoka marveled at the massive ship. Anakin wished he wasn't trying to lie now, seeing how they were on scanners of that mammoth. Docking clearance was given and the stealth ship landed aboard the station. Once aboard they saw many several types of droids that weren't registered in the galactic records. One of which approached.
"Hello. I am the caretaker of the Ironshell station." It stated in its femenine voice.
"What model are you?" Ahsoka marveled looking the bot over.
"Oh dear. How embarrassing. I am a CV-01 series droid. The first of the three CV series built under the supervision of magister Davican. He has instructed that you join him on the biodomes observatory. Please, I will guide you. However all other armed forces must remain here."
"Don't worry about us sir. We'll be fine as long as none of these clankers try coming aboard." Blackout assured Anakin.
"These clankers are armed and armored, as well as emp shielded. So please try not to fight."
The droid began to lead the two Jedi. It had a body similar to a super tactical droids. 'Her' head was shaped like a humans. Except it didn't have the indents were the eyes were, no mouth, ears, or nose either. Instead of eyes it had a singular visor. On its body were several white dots that seemed to illuminate it a little. Its arms were built completely like a humans would be. The legs however had a four toe design. Three up front and one in the back. This one, unlike the others of its model, was painted in patterns of green and blue. On its back however was something clear. Painted on its back in royal purple were wings. The droid lead the two into the observatory located to view inwards into the biodome. Davican and Atia stood there in wait. Atia waved slightly at Ahsoka with a nervous smile. Davican however didn't look back.
"This project was hidden for a reason Skywalker." He began. His voice filled with disappointment. It kinda hurt skywalker to hear.
"I'm sorry but... we had our orders. The chancellor doesn't trust your work." Anakin spoke sincerely.
"TO HELL WITH YOUR CHANCELLOR!" Davican yelled. The room shook with his anger. Then he collected himself. "The Chancellor doesn't need to know. Why? Because we were going to show them on our own terms. Not theirs."
"Sir? Are we going to show them why they came out here? Project Nighthawk." Atia asked him nervously.
"I think it will show itself soon."
With a smile, Davican moved away from the glass. Just as he moved, a winged figure flew past with astounding speeds. Ahsoka and Anakin hurried over to the glass to try and catch a glimpse of what that was. Davican let out a sigh. In his hands was an herbal tea.
"What was that?" Ahsoka asked.
"That my dear mango, was project Nighthawk." Davican answered just before sipping his tea. "Come. Let's go down to inspect the project."
"G-Go down? As in down there?"
"Mhm."
Davican nodded. He then stepped into a teleporter in the corner. Atia, Ahsoka, and Anakin joined him. Pressing the only button in this teleporter, they vanished in a blue light. When the light dissipated, they saw a vast forest. The room was warm, hot even, despite the cold of space. Atia hummed happily as this reminded her of Shili. Each step she took was with a skip. Finally, after a long walk, they approached a village built on the cliffs of a mountain.
"What lives here?" Ahsoka asked.
"Project Nighthawk isn't a single thing." Davican stated. "It's an artificially made race that we made. Not some superweapon."
"How long have they been… alive?" Anakin asked, looking the village over.
"A year. Already they laid their first egg. They worship me like a god, but… that's not what I want. They're intelligent beyond our first expectations of the race. The first born itself is beyond intelligent. It's like… it understands. Understands how they were made. It goes through these religious rituals each day up in that cave."
"Why?" Ahsoka looked up at the cave.
"To prove that it's worthy of being the first born. Something religious I assume. The high priestess leads these people though."
"Where are they?"
Davican pointed up. Anakin and Ahsoka looked to the skies of the biodome. Winged people flew in place, observer the new arrivals. Their wings were vibrant colored from whites to blacks. On the top of most of their heads were horns of all shapes and sizes. Each of their eyes hawk like, but with brilliant colors. Some of which even had different patterns in their eyes. There was at least a few thousand of them. At most a single million. Their clothes looked like they were made of silk or cloth and some primitive leathers. Their wings looked powerful enough to carry them no matter what size they were. They could probably carry a full grown human like Anakin. Finally one began to fly down. She wasn't as vibrant as the others. Her feathers were grey and hair groomed and shaped similar to that of depictions of Cleopatra. She wore silks of what appeared to be a priestess outfit. Once she landed, she bowed kindly to Anakin, Ahsoka, and Atia. However she got on her knees in prayer in front of Davican, who tried to cover his face.
"This is the high priestess. She can understand you and they speak galactic basic. Just… don't try giving them things to read. They understand the language they just can't read it." Davican informed Anakin and Ahsoka.
"How'd you teach them so much in so little time?" Ahsoka reached for one of the wings of the priestess.
Her wing pulled close to her body as she continued to pray. Davican rubbed his eyes and said, "I didn't. They taught themselves. We did unleash some predators and prey into the habitat however. They shown great hatred towards Nexu in specific. They were even successful in taking down numerous Rancors of all different races."
"The great hunt. Celebration once a week." The high priestess began. "Nexu. Hateful creature. Blasphemous abomination. Rancor. Lord of earth. Honored and revered. Banshee. Night king, feared and watched. Acklay. Long strider. Listened and respected. Amphistaff. Lord of deception. Careful to hunt. Tuk'ata. Brotherhood." She pinged her metal staff of the ground. An incense burning from a bowl, held aloft by three ropes connecting it to the staff.
Anakin blinked, trying to take in all this. "That's ...something. I never thought I'd hear that about a Rancor, or a tuk'ata."
"Then there's the days we introduced Nerfs and Bantha. They seemed to understand the idea of domestication. However. They surprised us when they domesticated Tuk'ata and Rancors."
"Tuk'ata, brother. Hunt well. Rancor, great harvest."
"...Is the firstborn in the cave?"
"Yes. Vae's final trial."
Davican nodded and walked up the cliffs stairs. Ahsoka and Anakin followed behind him. There were many caves, but Davican seemed to know where he was going. They reached the top cave. Outside it was marked with several pictures. Davican ran his hand across them. The pictures depicting the most important events to their race. They walked inside to see one of those people. Gold chains held them to the walls from their neck, hands, wings, and feet. Their eyes opened into this brilliant purple. On the curve of their wings were metal blades. Her horns were thicker and longer with a single offshoot halfway up. The feathers a deep purple with bright white tips. She wore golden armor that fit around her light frame. It left little to the imagination, but she did not seem to care. Sharp claws covered by the golden plates glistened brightly. On her head was a hood that barely covered the hair going down her back. Davican approached her. Those brilliant purple eyes widened and glowed as the chains and shackles shattered. He held his saber scythe in one hand.
"Come now. You no longer need to test yourself here." Davican stated. She silently nodded to him.
"She's the first born?" Ahsoka asked.
"She's a little short." Anakin said.
The first born stared at him. Her face remained neutral as she stared him down. Davican scruffed up her long hair making the little one jump. He then whispered into her ear and she smiled lightly. Putting the tips of her fingers into her mouth, she whistled. Anakin raised a brow. Then a Tuk'ata hound pounced on him from the entrance, growling down at him.
"Woah! Woah! I get it!" Anakin struggled against the hound.
"Alright that's enough of this showcase. Vae." Davican smiled. She whistled and the Tuk'ata left Anakin for her side. "We will be unveiling our project on Coruscant soon. You're free to leave. And Anakin… I trust you to do the right thing."
Davican looked back to Vae who nodded. She lifted up a golden spear. However, at its tip was a bowl shape and glowing gem. Closing her eyes, Vae pounded the ground with the base of the spear. Several bright lights flew from the gem and floated to Anakin and Ahsoka. These lights led them back to the teleporter. Once they returned to the ship, Anakin sat at the communicator.
"Master. We aren't going to tell the Chancellor about this ...are we?" Ahsoka asked nervously.
"Snips, we were given a job. We kind of have to report to the Chancellor." Anakin responded. Ahsoka looked down as the comm came on.
"Anakin my boy. What have you found for me?" Palpatine smiled happily.
"Well as Satine said, there was a station above Mandalore… But we found nothing of importance. It's just a biodome."
"Hmm. That's disappointing. We risked an alliance with the Defenders over a biodome. I am sorry for dragging you out there my boy. Do have safe travels back."
"Chancellor, the biodome will be making a stop over Coruscant shortly with the grand magister aboard."
"Ah thank you Anakin. I will be sure that we're ready for them."
Anakin turned off the communication. Ahsoka couldn't help but smile as he told Blackout to set course for Coruscant. Once they left the station, they jumped to hyperspace. The Ironshell turned slightly before jumping to hyperspace, with the Invictus just behind it. Aboard the Ironshell, the Nighthawks stared in awe. This was their first time seeing hyperspace. Vae and the Priestess prayed, not just for their people, but for their creator. They prayed for safe travels and prosperity. Something that wouldn't come as long as the galaxy was at war. Aboard the Invictus, Davican watched the hyperspace streams. His hands finding those of his shadow. She smiled lightly and squeezed his hand. Soon. The game would begin.