Hey, everyone! How are you doing on this warm night of Wednesday, April 22, 2020? I'm doing pretty well, as I got done with two of my three final projects for my Spring 2020 classes, and I'll get it done in a few days. Unfortunately, I am still without work due to this accursed Coronavirus, and I don't know how long it'll continue. Man, as crazy and stressful as my job could be, I miss it and earning a nice, steady paycheck. Sorry Chapter 24 took so long to post, I had to wait for it to be edited, as there was a bit of excess that had to be trimmed down. Oh, and last night, Iron117Prime updated their Worlds Collide sequel, and this chapter is the best one yet. I cannot recommend it enough for all you 2003 TMNT and Avatar: The Last Airbender fans out there. And, I've decided to take a break from Assassin's Creed: Revelations to play some good old-generation Star Wars games on my Xbox One, starting with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. I'm already done with Dantooine and have to decide where to go in my search for the Star Forge. Hope you all are ready for some good old-fashioned media covereage, nad preparations on many fronts. Oh, and Daniel and Connor have only about 20 hours before they start the next phase of their Hamon training. A whole lot's going to go down in this chapter, if all goes according to plan. Well, I'd better get started on it, as it won't write itself. Wish me luck, and May God be with us all in these trying times.
(Thursday, April 23, 2020 Addendum.) Hey, everyone! How are you doing tonight? I'm doing well, as I am excited for the VirtualCon tomorrow, but nervous if my question isn't answered in the way I hope. And the 3rd to last episode of SWTCW is set to be released tomorrow as well, and I hope that it has Ahsoka and Obi-Wan on a better note than last episode, as that just wasn't well thought out. And I'll get started on my final project in two days, as I did some extra credit work today after class. But, in other news, I found out that my state will be in lockdown until May 8, and then it'll be phasing back to normalcy, but my theater might not be open up for at least two months. Hate to say it, but I might need to look for another job soon. Well, I'd better get back to work in this chapter. Wish me luck, and God be with us all in these trying times.
(Friday, April 24, 2020 Addendum.) Hey, everyone! How are you doing tonight? I'm all right, as I've gotta get started on my school project tomorrow, and I did a lot of other stuff today. I mowed my parents' front yard, watched the Penguin Random House Star Wars video, and was hopeful for more like these in the future, and learnt of what happens in SWTCW: The Phantom Apprentice. I wish that Filoni and the others could've done the final four episodes better, but I guess it's too much to hope for with them. And I read a bit of a good book titled When a Nation Forgets God by Erwin W. Lutzer. It may be ten years old, but it's full of invaluable knowledge for present day. Well, I ought to be finished with this chapter by Sunday, and then I'll get back to revising my Jedi Odyssey stories. Have a blessed night, everyone!
One Hour Later
Within the Uriel Estate's Multimedia Room
"Hard to believe our dad's gonna be a sectorial celebrity in a couple hours, bro." Connor chuckled to Daniel after he guzzled down the last of his energy drink.
Over the last two days, the two half-brothers had spent their time recuperating from their grueling training under Elisehva and preparing themselves for their Tuk'ata hunt. But right now, they simply felt a grim anticipation as they approached the final stage of their Hamon training, which was only exacerbated by the announcement of the New Republic-Teutonic Sector alliance.
"Hey, take it from me. Fame, or infamy, in my case, isn't all it's cracked up to be." Elias reminded the nascent Jedi. "At least the New Republic is getting a sector's worth of reinforcements and Jedi."
"We'll be getting a lot more help than you think, if the reports I've been receiving are any indication." Daniel added as he reclined back, sighing as his aching muscles relaxed. Lilly came up to his seat and looked at him hopefully, Daniel smiling reassuringly. She lit up excitedly like neon lights and climbed up to snuggle into his chest, the top of her head just stopping at his chin.
After she cooed at the adorable sight, Celeste raised a suspicious eyebrow, "Is there anything you want to share with us, Daniel?"
"The New Republic found the Katana Fleet and claimed just over half of it before the Empire and their criminal allies got the rest. And we recruited the fleets of Feeorin pirate lord Nym and Privateer Zozridor Slayke to our side."
That left everyone dumbstruck.
"You guys found the Katana Fleet?!" Rebecca shrieked, Daniel cringing at the piercing sound echoing in his ear drums, Lilly clenched his shirt tighter and futility tried to protect her ears "when the kark did all this happen?! And how do you even know about this?!"
"I'll tell you, but only if you put your basic lid on it!" He shouted, cupping his hurting ears.
"Oh, sorry. How did you find out?"
"Ventis said that it happened yesterday. As for how they found it, I can only guess."
"And what's the Katana Fleet?" Celeste asked.
Daniel gave her a sidelong glance, but Kaiden beat him to the question. "She spent four millennia in stasis, remember? Well, to make it real short, the Old Republic had a fleet of two hundred Dreadnaughts two decades before the Clone War. They were all circuit-slaved to the flagship, it got a hive virus and the whole thing jumped to Force-knows-where. But how did we find it?"
"Y'know, mebbe we should open his brain an' pour out all those memories onto a table and sort them."
"Considering some of the stuff he's been through, I wouldn't want to do that." Daniel chuckled, "That and there are some memories that should remain a mystery."
"Fair enough, but I want my fifty cred."
"I'm not betting against you so you can't take my credits." Daniel stuck his tongue out at him.
"Bloody pansy," he said under his breath. Rebecca looked at them all like they were mad, and he sighed, "alright, who's gonna explain all this to the wee lass? I'm not."
Two Hours and Thirty Minutes Later
Within the Capital City
Outside the Senate Hall
"With this alliance, we will be taking our first steps in stepping back into a much wider world." Crawford concluded. "Now, to answer any remaining questions you might have, the main representative from the New Republic, Jedi Knight Tau Palpatine."
Great... Tau ruefully thought as he and his allies approached the podium. "I don't suppose any of you want to take a coco break?"
"What? You don't drink tea?" A reporter jested, earning a few laughs from his contemporaries.
"Only on special occasions. But I like plenty of other non-caf or nonalcoholic beverages, if it makes you feel better. Alright, I suppose you have questions about NR policies and my heritage towards the Emperor?"
"We do." A woman answered. "Catherine Trava, Terrobye News. Your government claims to stand for freedom and democracy, and yet you ally yourselves with amoral mercenaries and crime lords in the name of expediency, just like your predecessors before their demise. And you still use many Clone Troopers in your army, even in spite of their role in helping your father come to power. How can you justify such actions?"
Tau had been expecting the question. "Ms. Treva, with respect, this is not the Dark Age or the Sith Wars. Times are changing, so do people, and we are at war with a madman. Our alliance with the Hutts and the Mandalorians is not for expediency, but to cultivate a positive change in their culture as you will see in their leadership."
"Mr. Palpatine, the Old Republic has been at odds with them for thousands of years. Why would that change now?"
"We weren't under the heel of the Sith before. Times like these show us, all of us, what is truly important and what is not. I'll leave you to decide which holding old grudges belongs to."
"What about the Clone Troopers your father commissioned and used to destroy the Old Republic?" Another reporter asked.
"Those men served with valor and distinction for three long years before the Emperor enacted Order 66. Need I remind you that many of those men carried out that order without choice? That they were brainwashed and implanted with bio-receivers to ensure they carried out those orders? And that many of these same men fight for us willingly, many to atone for what they were forced to do?"
"You greatly respect them, Mr. Palpatine?"
"Yes, I do. I think they are the war's greatest tragedy and victims. It's up to us to make right what the Sith did wrong."
"But do you think the galaxy is ready to stomach another war so soon?" A male reporter, Twi'lek, asked, "surely even despite the horrific things your father has done, there are some that might not be willing to support yet another galactic war."
"I'm sure there are, Mr…?"
"Apologies. Gale Gryme, Baid Broadcasting. Also, Are you prepared to see such a conflict against your father?"
"Thank you, Mr. Gryme. To answer your questions, I ask you to think back to the New Sith Wars and the height of the Brotherhood of Darkness's power, when they had an iron grip on the galaxy. Lord Hoth and the Army of Light did not shy away from such a fight. They did not fight for glory or vengeance, but to save the Republic. Yes, they'd been fighting for nearly a millennium at that point, but that didn't stop them. They made a sacred oath to free the galaxy and that is what they did."
Tau took a moment to ponder the one hundred Jedi's noble sacrifice on Ruusan. He made a vow to himself that he would find a way to free the trapped souls from that place.
"Mr. Palpatine?"
"Sorry, just thinking about something I promised. My question is this: if they could do it after enduring worse, why can't we? We have a sacred duty to free the galaxy and that is exactly what we're going to do."
"Excuse me, Mr. Palpatine. Feylis Banner, HBN News." Another woman interrupted. "What of the Jedi Order? How will they play a role in this New Republic? Surely better than as self-appointed generals and mere servants of the government, yes?"
"I would say so, Ms. Banner. Each Jedi shall fill a unique role in both the Order and in our alliance with the New Republic based on what they are capable of being the best at."
"Such as?"
"Take your pick. Liaison or member in the military, a civilian role in our Refugee Relief Movement, or as part of our ambassadorial corps. We will also loosen our restrictions on recruitment, for that was the source of much of the hatred towards us. Jedi will also be allowed to marry and start families. We are not machines. We have the same drives and emotions as everyone else."
He sighed, and shook his head, "We cannot live apart from the galaxy as the Orders of old did. That is what doomed us to the situation we are in now. It bred mistrust and superstition when there should've been trust and understanding. If we are to protect the people of the galaxy, we must know the people and walk amongst them. How else are we to shield them from evil?"
The room was silent for moments with some nodding in agreement, and Tau felt his wife's hands slip into his own, squeezing it tightly. He allowed himself a smile and asked, "Next question?"
One Hour Later
On Salaktori Anchorage
Within the Bounty Hunters' Guild Headquarters
"My ssson." Cradossk despairingly hissed, "I knew he wasss an utter fool, but how could he have been ssso carelesssss, and lost his entire Jagganath score? He is a disgrace to all hunters!"
Clenching his clawed hands strong enough to draw blood, he vowed to Tyber, "If it's the lassst thing I do, I will pledge the guild, and all of its affiliates and resources to the Empire in destroying the upstart New Republic and their Jedi overlords for this sslight they have delivered on me and the Bounty Hunter's Guild."
"The Emperor will appreciate that." Tyber smirked. "But take some comfort in knowing that the Jedi won't kill him. There's hope for him to redeem himself yet."
I won't hold out much for that failure. Cradossk seethed before nodding, "I will have a sssstatement out for the guildssss and the Empire by the day'sss end. If you'll excussse me."
Closing the transmission, he reopened a line to his secretary, "I want all headsss of guilds to attend an emergency summit in four hoursss. Tell them we've been offered an exclusive contract with the Empire and will therefore be aiding them in their war against the New Republic."
One Hour and Forty Minutes Later
On Varon
Within the Mallory Household
"Where is Chelli? Everyone's staring to worry about her. She hasn't come out of her room in hours." Kes asked Ernite and Galen.
"We dunno?" They both said.
"Uh-huh. So, you're telling me that no one can find Chelli, even though she told you," she pointed at Ernite, "told Dr. Aphra that she was too upset to say good-bye to him?"
"Um, yeah?" Ernite nervously answered, with Galen simply shrugging his shoulders.
"Really?" she smiled despite the growing frustration, "She's gone to help her father, hasn't she?"
Ernite surprisingly didn't give her anything, "What? No. What would make you say that?"
"Galen?" she turned to the boy, "Do you have anything to say?"
"I know nothing… what are you talking about?"
"Alright, enough. C'mere," she pulled Ernite over, digging through his pockets as Ernite protested. When she felt nothing, she picked him up and started shaking him, "Where is your magic ring, Ernite? Did you give it to her?"
Ernite pulled himself away from her grasp. shouting, "Stop shaking me! I'll talk I'll talk."
"Ernite!" Galen shouted.
"You're not the one being shake-"
"Shook," Kes corrected.
"Fine, shook like a dew rag! Besides, there's no point in hiding it anymore. It's too late to turn back now.",
"So, she is on the ship? Great…"
"W-what's g-gonna happen to us?" Galen stammered, "You're not gonna hurt us, are you?"
"Hurt you?" she asked confused, "Why would I-?" then she remembered where the two boys had grown up, "No no, I'm not gonna hurt you. C'mere, both of you."
She pulled them into her arms and hugged them tenderly. After a moment, she let them go and turned to Ernite, "I know you only wanted to help Chelli, but you've just put her in terrible danger with the scary mission her father's a part of."
"I know, but he's her dad and she wanted to be with him," he replied rather sternly, "what's wrong with her wanting to be with him? She's so sad and alone inside."
"I understand. but you are still in trouble. I want you to tell your parents about this, and then have your mother ready Galen's meditations. They'll decide what chores you have to do for the next two weeks."
"Two weeks?!" Ernite groaned.
"You wanna try for a month?" Kes sternly warned. Ernite snorted and scampered off, leaving Kes alone with Galen.
"Come on. Let's get you to Niwen. We'll both stay with you, and then I need to let Chelli's father know where she is." Kes tenderly told Galen as she held his shaking hand and walked with him to the main hall.
Ten Mintues Later
Within Varon Orbital Command
The holographic image of Boba Fett flickered in the limelight, concluding his warning from his mole in the Bounty Hunters Guild, "If the entirety of the Guild is on the verge of joining the Empire, then the Emperor will soon have enough of the criminal element under his control to wage a war of corruption against us. We'll all need to take great care from here on out."
"We'll take all the necessary precautions, Jaster." Bail acknowledged Fett's alias. "What of your mission's progress?"
"Slow, but we're making some progress. The planet's nations are bogged down in dozens of treaties and proxy wars, and that's made most of the populace xenophobic. It's only because you know one of their prize warriors, and that we're eliminating many of the planet's criminals and terrorist cells, that our presence is tolerated."
"And Team Besh is making a bit more headway in building a network of informants and creating some goodwill with the populace." Sintas added. "Hate to say it, but they're amazing at detective work."
"Excellent. Keep us apprised of any developments on Dorado and within the Bounty Hunters' Guild." Wullf instructed his team before closing the holo-channel.
"Well, this certainly puts us at a disadvantage, even with our latest allies." Rahm griped. "What of our Kashyyyk team, Skirata? Have they reported in?"
"They have," the Mandalorian colonel answered, "they've made contact with Sev and the Wookiee resistance and are helping them resupply for their raids on the local Imperial sap refineries and troop transports."
"Good." Wullf said before adding, "Supreme Commander Zalveniad has engaged the Orcs above Ansion, and is projected to secure the world in forty-eight hours. And my agents have found Natasi Daala and have 'recruited' her. She'll be brought to Varon in no more than thirty hours."
Berch skeptically shook his head, "And we're certain that bringing her here will be enough to keep her from going on her galactic rampage? We could still just dispose of her."
"We're not killing anyone for something they haven't done yet," Mon growled, "that is why we are fighting the Empire to begin with."
"I get it, ma'am, but this is dangerous what we're doing."
"Chelli Aphra would disagree. Besides, it is already done."
"Questionable figures aside, what about our Jedi recovery teams. Have they made any headway?" Rahm questioned.
"We've made excellent progress on that front, General. Masters Kuro and Zao will reach Ganath in approximately twenty-four hours, while Master Aquinos has found Jin-Lo Rayce the Agents of Ossus, and Master Hett has reported in with the Solusars. Master Vos is closing in on Knight Ventor's refuge, and Master Ti has found the Jedi Younglings HOB-147 helped hide. Captain Terrik and his crew located Cody Ti and convinced him to rejoin our order." Tholme reported.
"What about recruits?"
"We've already found Kenth Hamner, Streen, Cilghal, and Tresina Lobi, and we've successfully convinced them to join us."
"Good. We can't afford to delay the revival of the Jedi Order, not if we're to effectively prepare for the wars coming our way." Mon grimly stated.
Just after Mon received several nods of agreement, Kes Mallory's hologram appeared, "Apologies, everyone, I've just discovered that Chelli Aphra stowed away on the Lothal Mission."
"What?" Tholme questioned, "How could she even try to sneak aboard the ship in the first place? Vega and Master Koth would've sensed her the second she even approached the ship."
"Ernite gave her an Arda invisibility ring that cloaks one's presence from all their senses and the Force. She's so scared for her father that she wants to help him however she can."
"Get me a line to the Outrider at once." Bail groaned to Mon.
"No disrespect intended, Chief Organa, but perhaps it would be better if I spoke with Dr. Aphra. She might respond better to me."
Understanding that this situation likely required a gentler touch, Bail acquiesced. "Very well. In the meantime, we'll have a team from Mandalore prepare to rendezvous with the Outrider before they pass their sector."
Five Minutes Later
Onboard the Outrider
In Hyperspace, Seventy-Five Hours From the Lothal System
"She did what?!" Micah screamed after hearing the alert from Kes.
The kid's got guts, I'll give her that. Jaing grudgingly acknowledged as he set the ship's internal sensors to scan for any weight anomalies on board. Magic ring or not, there was no way she could hide her weight from the ship's computer.
"She's worried that something will happen to you on this mission, so she wants to help in any way she can." Kes finished explaining. "Colonel Skirata is informing the Mandalore so you can rendezvous with a team to take her back to Varon."
"Huh, I thought there was something weird on this ship," Vega chuckled, "kid's crazy, but she's smart at least… and she had an unfair advantage. She does know those things aren't meant to be used lightly right?"
"That's beside the point!" Micah shouted, "We are not taking her to Lothal!"
"Micah, they're gonna have to throw her in a cell or something. If she was crafty and stubborn enough to do this, I could see her trying to make her own way to Lothal, and probably do something stupid in the process."
"We are not taking her, and that is final!"
"I dunno, this doesn't seem too unusual," Jaing commented, "Clones did live fire exercises at her age, and you Jedi started doing missions around that time to."
"Cheeli is not a superhuman warrior monk with powers gifted by the Force, or a bio engineered soldier!" Micah exclaimed, "She is a child and I'm not endangering her!"
Eeth held up a hand, "Micah, please calm down, and Jaing, you're not helping."
"Oh you want me to be helpful? Well, the computer says she's hiding in the living quarters."
"Which means she's been listening in on our whole conversation." Eeth surmised.
"Chelli! We need to talk, young lady!" Micah shouted as he headed that way.
"I almost feel like popcorn would be appropriate." Vega said ruefully, "Kid! We know you're on this ship! Come out and talk to your dad!"
"No offense to you guys and your families, but this is why I'm content being a single spook." Jaing chuckled, "Raising a kid's a lot more work than I'm interested in."
Vega shrugged, "Considering what I've seen Daniel have to do, you're not wrong in that. It's a massive workload, especially for a single parent. Also didn't you have a little fling with that bio engineered elf?"
"Um… don't you have a kid to chase down?"
"Not coming, Captain?" Eeth asked.
"Someone has to keep an eye on the ship's while you're out hunting. Besides, she might use her magic ring again, and I can keep track of her movements this way."
"Oh, for crying out loud, someone just transfer me onto a holocomm so I can talk to Chelli. I doubt she doesn't want her father screaming and ranting at her." Kes insisted.
"Well, I suppose it can't hurt." Vega activated his holocom as he and Eeth took off to where Micah was shouting his head off.
"I can sense Chelli again. She must have taken off the ring." Eeth noticed.
"Yeah, I can guess why." They rounded the corner to find father and daughter hugging and sobbing.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't want to cause you trouble, I just-" Chelli wept.
"I know, Chelli. I know. You only wanted to help and keep me safe." Micah tenderly rocked her back and forth. "But you know that this mission is very dangerous, and I just wanted to keep you safe."
"I don't care about being safe, as long as I can help!" Chelli adamantly cried. "I don't want to lose you like Mom, and if I can help you with Ernite's magic ring, then I wanna try. Please. I'll follow your lead and won't talk back, I can get into places you can't, and I know a lot about the Jedi and their temples. I won't let you go into scary worlds and missions alone."
"Oh, Boop. I wish I could take you with me, I really do. But I won't put you in such danger before you're ready. I already made such a terrible mistake with your mother, and I won't let you suffer a similar fate."
"But-"
Micah hushed her, "If you go back when we meet up with our Mandalorian friends, I'll call you every night we're on Lothal, and we can talk as long as you'd like before I go to bed. I'll do that until we return from our mission."
"You… you promise?" Chelli hiccupped. "You're not lying, or you won't forget?"
"Of course, I'll remember, Boop. Even if I'm in the middle of a firefight, I'll find a way to make it work, because I will never put you aside again for anything."
"Afraid you're gonna have to be disappointed, Doc." Jaing grimly said as he entered the room. "Shysa and his people've got plenty of problems of their own right now. Big ones. Several company's worth of traitors are wreaking havoc across Mandalore, and they're scrambling to capture them before they escape the sector."
"I thought Shysa had his people under control!" Vega remarked.
"Were they Shadow Collective agents, or another Death Watch movement in the making?" Eeth asked.
"NRI doesn't know yet. In the meantime, Director Yularen's ordered us to proceed ahead with our mission, without the pit stop. The Mandalore Sector's close all nonessential traffic in and out of the system, so they can't make the rendezvous."
"So, I get to go help out?" Chelli enthusiastically summed up.
"Looks like it." Jaing confirmed. "But if you're gonna be helping us, we're gonna have to make sure you don't blow our cover and have the means to properly defend yourself."
"You better not be thinking of giving my daughter a blaster, Jaing!" Micah fiercely warned the Clone Captain.
"Just a stun blaster. And only after I train her and her father for one and some self-defense training." Jaing clarified.
"Then I'll help so you don't rough them up too much." Vega stepped up.
"Just don't slow us down, kid." Jaing amusingly smirked.
Two Hours Later
On Vermund
Within the Uriel Estate's Kitchen
"You boys ready for your big trial tomorrow morning?" Ventis nervously asked his two Jedi sons as they finished eating their dinner.
"As ready as one can be when facing a pack of Sith hounds with nothing but our wits and Hamon." Connor jokingly said before sobering up. "We'll be fine, Da. We're gonna look out for each other, an' we're gonna crush the test."
"Good. And I'll be there to keep an eye on things, just in case it gets too hairy."
"Relax, Ventis. Don't turn into an old, overprotective fussbudget." Daniel chuckled.
"'Fussbudget?' Now you sound like an old man, Daniel." Tau jokingly interjected before Ahsoka giggled.
"Oh, laugh it up, Tau," Connor cursed, "y'all just talkin' to reporters in yer fine air-conditioned building with fine food and company! We had to climb a bloody oil tower… with no hand holds!"
"I'm not the one who decided to take on this mission without New Republic support." Tau rebutted. "And I've got enough bureaucratic osik to deal with in my fine air-conditioned building, thank you very much."
"And don't even get me started on my job of rebuilding the Fulcrum network once we return to Varon." Ahsoka piped up.
"Right. Just usual leadership stuff. So, now that the day's just about over, are you two gonna spend some more 'quality time' together now?" Elias joked.
"You mean like you and Eltariel, lover boy?" Ahsoka teased, earning laughs from everyone aside from a blushing Elias, before a rolling pin was thrown onto the Togruta's head.
"OW!" Ahsoka grunted as she gripped montrals, only to find a smirking Eltariel standing by the door.
"I strongly suggest you refrain from insulting mine or Elias's character, or from interfering in however I might feel about anyone, Ahsoka Tano Palpatine. Otherwise, the next attack will leave you writhing on the floor for days in agonizing pain." The Elf calmly warned her, the menacing smile never leaving her face as she turned around to return to the Eriador's Legacy.
"You've got yourself a keeper there, Elias. She reminds me of Ahsoka in a lot of ways." Tau commended the older man, earning a playful shoulder jab to the stomach from his wife.
"Don't even joke about that, dear. Come on. I promised Trace and Rafa that I'd talk to them later tonight." Ahsoka bade her husband, the smile betraying more than she was letting on as Tau merely shrugged.
"Well, guess I'm gonna turn in early tonight." Tau joked before seriously telling Connor and Daniel, "Ventis will be my eyes and ears in keeping track of your progress. God be with you both tomorrow."
You'll need it, and so much more, when you both face off against an army of Tuk'ata hounds. Tau mused, remembering how dangerous those creatures could be from his and Edaan's battles with them on Korriban before he followed his wife to the Second Chance.
Meanwhile, On Remnant
Within the City of Vale
"Then, in total agreement, we are." Yoda concluded High Command's meeting. "Upon his return to Varon, a Jedi Master, Master Kenobi will make Tau Palpatine. And a general, Chief Organa will appoint him. More than earned the ranks and honor, he has."
"It's about time." Anakin gladly commented.
"Let's just hope it doesn't go to his head. Last thing we need is another Palpatine with a giant ego." Kal joked, earning earnest laughs from the rest of High Command before Yoda signed off to prepare for his next day of investigations.
He instinctively knew that the dark and familiar presence he was searching for had allied with Salem and had been working with Mysta Ryal's team and Ozpin's brotherhood to figure out the enemy's plans before it was too late.
They had determined from multiple reports and agents, including Qrow Branwen and Asajj Ventress, along from the interrogations with their high-level prisoner, crime boss Roman Torchwick, that the attack would take place at the Vytal Festival in a handful of months.
Fortunately, they knew that was merely a cover for Salem's mole in Beacon Academy to try and steal the remainder of the Fall Maiden's power, along with a major component of their plan would involve the takeover of General Ironwood's fleet with a sophisticated computer virus. Both of which they had already prepared for in order to draw out the traitor and all of her confederates.
But that still left many factors unaccounted for, and time was running out for the New Republic and their allies to unravel the remainder of this mystery. That was why Yoda and the others were redoubling their efforts to discover the full web of treachery that the planet was ensnared in.
He would not allow this world to fall to darkness as the galaxy did because of his arrogance and adherence to tradition, not if he had anything to say about it.
Well, I think this is a good place to end the chapter. So, what did you guys think of it, as now the Empire has more allies in the form of the Bounty Hunters' Guild, and the New Republic's alliance with the Teutonic Sector is now official, never mind their Jedi recruitment efforts. And what's the deal with the traitorous Mandalorians wreaking havoc across Mandalore before fleeing? Who are they working for? These questions won't be answered soon, I can tell you that, but it will tie into some of Squasher's future works. And I can promise you that the answers will leave you stupefied. So, how are you doing on this warm day of Saturday, April 25, 2020? I'm doing well, if sad because today's the 6-year anniversary of the discontinuation of the Star Wars Expanded Universe. It just gets my blood boiling to see what Lucasfilm and Disney have done to such a great franchise. In other news, I learnt that a good friend of mine and fellow Star Wars writer, xxTheTruMan196 favorited and followed my stories in Squasher's AU, and that is very good to hear, as I could use more constructive criticism of my works. Let me tell you, they're a genius with their universe, so I highly recommend that you check out their stories and favorite or follow them. I promise that you won't be disappointed. Well, I'd better get this chapter to Squasher and JSailer for their review, but it'll probably take a few days to revise, on account of their own stories and work to deal with. May God bless us all in these trying times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!