Empress Temnateta

The short Battle of Listehol may have not been a total defeat for either the Allied Federation or Sith Empire, but more the beginning of a new phase for the Sith Empress' regime. Having lost just one single Resurgent-class Star Destroyer, the Sith Empress' loss was alerted to surviving First Order remnants across the Galaxy that were avoiding confrontation with pro-democratic star systems. These small pockets of insurgent fleet commanders and captains made their way to Mandalore, where Empress Temnateta ordered the next mass rendezvous.

The white, dustbowl of a planet did not expect what it saw the day the Sith Empire arrived. The capital city of Sundari and neighboring cities just miles apart were besieged by an armada of Resurgent-class Star Destroyers, and a new type of star destroyer; the Defier-class Star Destroyer. The Defier was a hundred meters shorter than the Resurgent, was not to be underestimated. The Defier was an elongated pentagon-shaped ship, with a bulky underside, capable of holding tens of thousands of troops, hundreds of armed military walkers, dozens of TIE squadrons, or cargo for transport. Its command bridge located atop a dorsal-like tower near its rear, giving a clear view of the ship and battlefield in front. There is an open area on the top-side of the ship that gives access to three separate hangars, completely guarded by an array of laser cannons and missile launchers. The hangars on the top side of the ship allow the destroyer to have landing capabilities for ground invasions, with enormous landing gear tucked into its underside. It is the largest ship capable of atmospheric landings since the usage of the Republic Venator-class ages ago.

The Defier's small size, compared to the Resurgent, was made up for in weaponry and artillery. The destroyer sported over eighty heavy turbolasers, seventy quad turbolasers, fifty medium sized turbolasers, a hundred laser cannons, fifty point-defense cannons, twenty five missile launchers, and forty ion cannons. Streams of TIE fighters escaped the topside of the ship where its hangars were located, whisking through the crisp cold air to the domed cities below, escorting countless troop transports.

"Crack them open." ordered Empress Temnateta, standing aboard the bridge of her Resurgent-class Star Destroyer, accompanied by two Defier-class destroyers. The three ships began sending volleys of green turbolasers to the domed city of Sundari. The lasers smashed into the port buildings, destroying them immediately, crashing inward into the dome. The black dome that protected the capital from the harsh barren wasteland was broken, shattering near its base. The cracks ran up towards the top, collapsing inward. Smoke and dust plumed out of the domed city, covering the opening entirely. The TIE fighters and troop transports descended into the smoke - to land.

"There is very minimal resistance." noted Chief Vizier Daha, walking up to the Empress' side, "But we've intercepted transmissions being sent to other cities, and the moon of Concordia - asking for assistance."

"Mandalorians are renowned for their tenacity and resilience," inhaled Temnateta, "but once again they shall be put down. Are the cells and neck braces prepared?" Temnateta turned her head slightly to look at her second-in-command. Daha held a datapad in her hand, and she looked up from the device.

"Yes, your majesty."


Sundari, Mandalore

Men, women, and children screamed for their lives as the peaceful world they had once known was totally gone. The dome above them that had shielded them from the outside galaxy for decades was crumbling right before their eyes. Entire plazas were in ruins as TIE fighters made strafing runs on the fragile, glass skyscrapers that supported the dome. Tiered levels were blown apart, making room for the troop transports to deploy their soldiers.

Red armored Sith troopers spilled into the network of roads and avenues at the lower levels of the city, shooting at any fiercely resisting citizen. Yet, not all troopers were there to kill. There were many troopers with stuns set on their blasters, firing at women, children, and young men. Bodies were being dragged through the streets back to the troop transports, and to incoming shuttles. Those who were not hit by the stun blasts were still chased after, violently captured, and arrested.


Empress Temnateta

Temnateta walked to the very front of the bridge, just inches away from the thick glass. She looked out to the capital, seeing glowing inferno in the plumes of smoke that towered into the sky. The sounds around her quieted, she ignored the sounds of her crew-members, their whispering, their chatter, the whirring of computers, beeping of signals, all of it. Her gaze and her focus was on the capital city.

"Please, no!" she could hear the screams of women.

"Mama! Mama, help!" children being torn from the grasps of their parents' motionless bodies that lay on the cold ground. She felt a twitching sensation in her right eye, beginning to blink it rapidly for a moment.

"Shoot them! No mercy!"

"Where's my wife?! Where is she?"

Temnateta saw flashes of lightning in the split second she'd close her eyes to blink, seeing the blue rays of stun plasma rings, she could hear the thuds of bodies falling onto the ground.

"Our sister fleet at the city of Hadis," approached Captain Sharda, "has acquired three thousand young adults. They are transferring them to the fleet in orbit."

"Very good." said Chief Daha, looking at the lesser ranked, male, officer, "Inform them that they are clear to move to the next nearest city for slave-capture." Captain Sharda nodded and left the two female leaders to carry out his orders. Ira Daha looked back towards the front of the bridge, seeing Temnateta still staring out at the viewport - at the burning remains of Sundari. Daha took a few steps forward, concerned for the Empress.

"Your majesty." she said quietly, but Temnateta didn't move. "Your majesty." repeated the Chief Vizier. Daha noticed that some of the officers and technicians on the bridge stopped what they were doing to glance at the two. It was as if the Empress was frozen in some trance. Daha reached her hand to Temnateta's, and upon touching her wrist, the Empress snatched away her hand. She shot a look at the Chief Vizier, her chest pounding, afraid.

"Your majesty, we are at near full capacity with our sister fleet." said Daha quietly, "They are moving to the next city, Hadis." Temnateta faced forward and nodded her head. She turned away from the viewport and lowered her head slightly, clasping her hands together at her waist.

"Good." she said solemnly, "Tell Admiral Notrox up in orbit that we are to leave for Rattatak momentarily."

"I- are you sure? That's on the other side of the Galaxy, your majesty…" Daha was a bit at a loss, there would be no way they could sneak their massive fleet across the Galaxy. Temnateta stopped in the middle of the bridge walkway, staring forward.

"We have no time to waste, we will have captured enough slaves here on Mandalore. Get the rest of the fleet back into orbit after depleting the cities' main fuel depositories." she glanced at Daha for a split second. The Chief Vizier was motionless,

"Yes, your majesty." she responded after a second. Temnateta then proceeded to the exit of the bridge. Daha watched her superior leave the bridge, the door sliding shut behind her, leaving her with the rest of the crew as they worked at their stations in the lower dug-outs of the bridge.

Daha faced the bridge, taking out a small, circular holo-projector out of her coat pocket. She held it out in the palm of her hand, and a small blue hologram activated. Appearing in front of her was Admiral Daise Notrox, one of the other highest ranking military officials in the Sith Empire.

"Admiral, continue your efforts in capturing slaves."

"Did that come directly from the Empress, Madam Chief Vizier?" asked the middle aged woman.

"Yes," responded Daha, lying through her teeth, with a straight face as well, "but make it fast - triple-time. We're going to need as many bodies as possible if we are to man the Star Forge successfully."

"What about our fuel? Shall we siphon from the Mandalorians' reserves beneath their cities?" asked Admiral Notrox.

"No. We'll be fine on fuel, as long as we don't encounter any Federation fleets. I know this is a difficult task, but we can do this, if we act in a timely fashion. Relay my orders to your officers at once."

"Yes, ma'am." nodded Admiral Notrox. The hologram of the female Admiral disappeared, and Daha stood alone in the front of the bridge. She put the projector back in her pocket and turned around. Standing right behind her was Captain Sharda, the older male officer that served directly under Temnateta for years on her Xyston-destroyer.

"Captain Sharda, may I assist you?" asked Daha, looking down at the short man.

"I did not know we were coordinating our operation with Admiral Notrox." spoke the older man, "I thought Commander Vens was leading the sister fleet."

"No," Daha shook her head, "Vens has been assigned to the main fleet in orbit to blockade the planet until we finish our operation on the ground." Captain Sharda nodded his head, understandingly. Daha walked past him, heading for the door.

"Why didn't you use the main transmission system of the ship to contact the Admiral?" asked Sharda, and Daha froze.

"Just a preference." said the Chief Vizier, and she continued down the bridge.


Rey

MC85 Heavy Cruiser

Democratia

Rey sat outside the door of Leia's bedroom, where she was being tended to by a medical droid. She sat on the floor, right beside the door, with her legs bent, and arms resting on her knees. She paid no attention to the technicians and pilots that occasionally passed by the room, moving up and down the hall. She could feel the weakness in her master, the slipping life-Force. This woman, who was like a mother to her, was dying. Rey didn't even know what to feel. It was because of Temnateta… the Sith who called her, her niece. It was clear now to Rey, Temnateta was a Palpatine - the daughter of Sheev Palpatine. Why was this happening? Why wasn't all this fighting over? Why was the root of all evil still persisting - her own family, her own blood. Her very family was hell-bent on destroying all peace and serenity in the Galaxy, on destroying love, on destroying the Skywalkers.

Rey lowered her head slowly, to rest her forehead on her forearms. She closed her eyes, and tried to relax. There would be no room for tranquility in the Galaxy as long as Temnateta lived.

Ben approached Rey from the right end of the hall, and sat down next to her, leaning up against the wall, and touching his shoulder to hers. He nudged her, and looked at her. Rey lifted her head, and looked up into Ben's dark brown eyes. Neither of them said anything, just staring into each other's eyes. She felt comforted, not much, but a little bit more than before. Ben's presence alone was soothing. He had a calm energy, commanding as well. Ben wrapped his arm around Rey, pulling her in closely. She leaned up against his chest and let out a sigh.


Leia

Laying on a white bed underneath a white sheet was the Arch-Consul, hooked up to a breathing machine through a ventilator mask and tubes, which stood at her bedside. The room was rather large and sparse, with a small dining area, and shelf of drinks. It was her personal room, retrofitted to be a med-bay. A medical droid was in the room at all times, monitoring her vitals, and making sure she had enough oxygen. Every once and awhile, the medical droid would look at Organa, making sure even her body was moving from breathing. Occasionally, her index finger would twitch, and then her ring finger, which still had her emerald and gold ring on it… a ring Han gave her many years ago.

"This is nothing, you're gonna be fine." spoke the voice of Han Solo. Leia opened her eyes, finding herself in the room aboard her starship. However, she wasn't connected to any machines, and there wasn't a medical droid present. She looked out the viewport, but she couldn't see anything out of it. There was just golden light pouring into the room from the window. She tried to sit up, but couldn't move, she couldn't even move her arms. She looked across the room, seeing Han standing at the small dining table. The silver haired man was wearing a white buttoned shirt, a brown leather vest, and black pants.

She smiled upon seeing her late-husband.

"Han…" she said weakly, and her heart started to race worriedly. Han walked up to Leia's side, touching her hand softly.

"Relax." he said gently, "You're not dead." he chuckled, "There isn't really anything that can kill you." he said with a gruff smile. Leia's smile disappeared, and tears formed in her eyes. She blinked, and they rolled down her cheek. "Princesses don't cry." added Han.

"I… I don't know if I can keep doing this." she muttered. Upon hearing that, Han's mood changed entirely. Leia could sense his heart breaking, the feelings in his gut entirely wrenching, he never liked seeing his wife like this - he rarely saw her like this. His eyes began to water. "She's too powerful, I've never dealt with anyone - anything like her." coughed Leia, "She is a Palpatine too, she has to be." Han inhaled deeply, squeezing his wife's hand, and looked up at the ceiling. He wiped away his tears briefly, and looked back down at his wife.

"You're not alone." whispered Han, and Leia shook her head. "You're not alone." he insisted. "You have Rey, you have our son. Our son. You're Jedi… damn powerful ones too." he sniffled, "You have to destroy her, you cannot let her win - you can't let him win." The Emperor. That's who Han was talking about. The Emperor had plagued the Skywalker family for generations… from the manipulation of Schmi, manipulation of Anakin, torturing of Luke, torturing of Ben through Snoke, and torturing of Rey via neglect and hatred… all from the Emperor… Darth Sidious.

Leia took in a deep breath, steadying herself. She nodded shakily whilst looking at her husband.

"You're right, we can't let him win."

"Damn right." smirked Han, he leaned down, kissing Leia softly on her lips. He caressed her cheek, "Finish what your father and brother started."

...

"I'm telling you, we will be in deep trouble if we go to Mandalore. We're going to Coruscant. And I'm not gonna try arguing with Admiral Prentos." exclaimed Rey on the other side of Leia's closed bedroom door.

"We have to stop her." responded Ben.

The door opened, and Ben and Rey turned their heads, looking into the doorway. Rey's chin quivered as she saw Leia standing there, fully awake, in her white medical gown. Rey rushed to her, hugging her tightly. Leia grunted and chuckled, holding Rey tightly as well.

"You had me scared." said Rey sharply, letting go of her Master to look her in the eye, "I thought - we thought we lost you." Leia looked up at her son who approached her for a hug as well.

"There's more to be done." she said, "And I love you two too much to leave you just yet." She held Ben and Rey's hands with her own, breathing steadily. Leia looked at Rey, sensing the disturbance in her mind.

"You heard what she called me, right?" asked Rey.

"I did." nodded Leia.

"Was she telling the truth?" asked Rey nervously. Ben lowered his head. They all knew the answer to that question, deep down. Why else would Temnateta lie? She really had no other motive other than to cause suffering.

"I don't know." said Leia, "Could be true, could be false. She is a stranger to you, she isn't family." Rey nodded her head, she was feeling a little bit better.

"How are we going to beat her?" asked Ben solemnly, "All of us have fought her, none of us stood a chance." Except for Cal Kestis. Cal hadn't been present for any of the battles, but, since his own master, and Ahsoka, and Leia couldn't stop her… then it was very unlikely that Cal could.

"We will meditate." said Leia confidently, "All of us together, at the Jedi Temple, once we return to Coruscant."


Jedi Temple

Jedi Masters Ahsoka Tano and Cal Kestis stood before a stone coffin that was slowly being lowered into a tomb within the Jedi Temple. The chamber was dark, barely illuminated by the small candles spread out around the room. The two Jedi Masters were wearing their darkest tunics. Cal donning a black cloak, steel-gray wrapped tunic across his upper body, and black pants and black boots. Ahsoka had a black headdress right above her forehead, it was glossy as glass. She had a black shawl around her shoulders which cascaded past her hips, flowing with her black skirt that touched the floor. She, Ahsoka Tano, was now the oldest member of the Jedi Order. She held a stoic and cold expression as the coffin of the late Cere Junda was lowered into its place, and subsequently closed by another slab of stone.

The last time Ahsoka was in that room was when they faked the death of Obi-wan Kenobi in the Clone Wars, but this time, there wouldn't be any Jedi coming back from the dead. She stared at the slab of stone that sealed the tomb, it had a sculpted insignia of the old Jedi Order emblem, from the days of the ancient Old Republic.

"She will be missed." spoke droid Jedi security headmaster Huyang, approaching from the other side of the room, where he was manning the controls to the tomb. The light gray, towering, droid looked down at the tomb, "What now, masters?"

"We await the return of Master Organa." said Ahsoka, "We inform her of what happened, and we go from there."

"Temnateta must have survived." said Cal with subtle anger, "Otherwise they would have informed us." He looked down at Ahsoka, yet she still stared at the tomb. "What if we can't stop her?"

"Don't say that." muttered Ahsoka firmly.

"But we need to be prepared for the worst-"

"We're in a different position now-"

"Are we?" scolded Cal, "Are we really? Because at the height of its power, the Republic was toppled by a single man."

"That was years in the making." responded Ahsoka sharply, looking up at Cal, while Master Huyang watched, "Temnateta is one person, she doesn't have the control or grip over the Galaxy like Darth Sidious did."

"I am receiving a transmission from the Democratia," interrupted Master Huyang, "they have entered orbit."

...

"She's gone?" pondered Leia sadly as she stood on the Jedi Temple landing platform that stuck out from its hangar in the golden sunlight. Ahsoka nodded, and Cal remained silent. Leia looked up at the tall Jedi Master, who was a few years older than her, "I'm so sorry…" Cal nodded gratefully, but he had no further words. He was stricken with grief. Ben and Rey remained silent, standing on opposite sides of Leia, with an old Lambda shuttle behind them that they took from the MC85 flagship.

"I think now is the time we combine our strength and meditate on the Force." suggested Ahsoka.

"That's what I was thinking." nodded Leia, "We need to take a moment to recuperate." Cal took out a lightsaber from his black cloak, the one of his master, Cere. Everyone looked at it, admiring the fine chromium that glistened in the sunlight, the bands of bronze near the top of the hilt, and the black rubber at its bottom half.

"I don't know what to do with this…" he muttered sadly.

"We're going to keep it." said Ahsoka, reaching for Cal's hand, "Let's go meditate, and pay our respects for Master Junda."

The five Jedi sat on the floor, everyone with their legs crossed, sitting in a circle in the Jedi High Council chamber. They sat in front of the red cushioned chairs that still remained in the spire, with the dimming light slowly receding through the windows as the sun set. Ahsoka sat in front of old Grand Master Yoda's chair. Leia, Rey, and Ben changed into black clothes and tunics, joining Ahsoka and Cal in their mourning garb. It was not tradition for the Jedi to dress for mourning, it wasn't even tradition for the Jedi to mourn at all. The Jedi of old would have quickly moved on, adhering to their strict code of detachment. However, having seen the ways and the failures of the old Jedi Order, Ahsoka would not let similar mistakes happen.

None of the Jedi spoke, just each with their eyes closed, hands on their knees, breathing in unison. Inhaling… exhaling. Inhaling… exhaling. The sounds of speeders and transports flying through the dense skylanes was minimal yet still present, soaring off in the distance in endless streams.

"Alone in the Force, never are you." spoke a grumbled voice, and each of the Jedi opened their eyes. Leia, Rey, Ben, and Cal looked at Ahsoka, and she looked around confusedly. Perched behind Ahsoka on the small chair was the Force ghost of Grand Master Yoda, with his wooden cane. Yoda got off the chair and walked up to Ahsoka's side, looking up at her,

"Changed, you have, Master Tano." smiled the ghost of the legendary green Jedi Master. Ahsoka quivered and smiled,

"Master Yoda…" she said emotionally. Yoda placed his three-fingered hand atop Ahsoka's which rested on her right knee, patting her hand. Ahsoka felt a tingling and prickling feeling on her hand that the ghost touched. Yoda sat down next to Ahsoka, with a little grunt and exhale.

"Pass into the Force, all of us, do we." noted Yoda, looking around the room slowly, "Lose a friend, you may have, but at a loss of strength, you are not. A loss of unity, no. Dedicated to the Light, still you all are.. hmm… yes." Yoda looked at Leia, who sat between Ben and Rey. He pointed his finger at her,

"Long have I watched over you, young Skywalker, persevered through the insurmountable, you have. Lead the next generation, you must." Yoda then looked at Rey.

"A Palpatine you are, and twisted is your family." Yoda chuckled, "But define you, that name does not. Retake the name, empower yourself, yes."

"I will…" said Rey softly, "But what are we to do with Temnateta?"

"A shell of her father, she is." nodded the Grand Master.

"She's a Palpatine?" asked Ben. Yoda nodded slowly, pressing his lips together.

"A failed semi-clone, full of doubt, insecurities… yes. Strong in the Force she may be, but weak in her heart, she is." explained Yoda.

"She must be destroyed." spoke Cal, "She has caused far too much suffering in the Galaxy." Yoda turned his head to look at Cal. Yoda had met Cal before, when he was a very little youngling. He almost had Cal in his initiation class, where younglings learned how to hold a lightsaber and deflect blaster bolts.

"A pawn of the Dark Side, she has become." insisted Yoda, Yoda then looked at Ben. "Have the light in all of us, we do. Up to us whether or not we extinguish the light."

"And if she has already extinguished that light?" asked Cal, "What then? Do we still welcome her with open arms? She destroyed an entire planet and killed billions."

"A solitary journey the path to penance is, give up on the hopeless and desperate the Jedi should not." responded Yoda sternly, and Cal said nothing more. Yoda looked up at Ahsoka, patting her hand again, "Shroud us with mystery and confusion, does the Force. Guide us to the same end, it does. One with the stars, one with the cosmos, we become." Ahsoka turned her hand over, feeling Yoda's ghost hand in her palm. She closed her hand, holding Yoda's hand. It felt as if she was really holding his hand, she felt the skin on his hand, the pointy claws at his fingertips.

"For as long as the light shines," added Yoda, "cast a shadow of darkness, it will."