Good evening, everyone! How are you doing on this warm night of Thursday, May 21, 2020? I'm doing okay, as I've gone through four straight days of schoolwork so far and will start volunteering back at my local help center tomorrow. Afterwards, I'll work on more homework in the afternoon. I know that Chapter 28 isn't ready yet, but I was told that it isn't in need of too many revisions, so I figured it'd be okay if I started on this first draft of Chapter 29. Of course, I first have to figure out where to start, as I haven't written on this story in three days, so I'm a little rusty. I've also started to watch Season One of Legend of the Seeker last night on DVD, and it's pretty decent so far. It's no Lord of the Rings, but it's good for an 11-year-old TV show. Oh, and I beat Assassin's Creed: Revelations a couple days ago and will get started on Assassin's Crred III: Remastered Edition after a few days. It's just a shame that this is the last game that has Desmond Miles as the main modern protagonist before his death. Well, I'd better brush up on my material before I get started. Wish me luck, and may God bless us all in these troubling times.

(Friday, May 22, 2020 Addendum.) Hey, everyone! How are you doing on this hot but rainy night? I'm doing well, as I've worked a bit on some homework, getting it done with over two hours to spare. Now I have a couple days to rest before work kicks back up for me. And, in more interesting news, I was able to volunteer at my local help center this morning, and boy, was it hot. I can't believe how much I was sweating by the end. And my state of North Carolina is entering Phase Two of phasing out from the Coronavirus, so it shouldn't be too long before So, I've written over 1,300 words so far today, and I think I'll call it a night, as I'm pretty tired from volunteering, working on homework, and writing. I hope you all have a blessed night, my friends.

(Saturday, May 23, 2020 Addendum.) Hey, everyone! How are you doing on this warm day? I'm doing well, as I've written about 1,100 words so far today, and I've got about eight hours left in the day. I've also read a good chunk of Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Revelation today and got the DVD box set of Season Two of Legend of the Seeker this morning. I can't wait to watch it once I finish Season One. Well, I'd better get back to writing, as I want to get this chapter done by tomorrow night. Wish me luck, and God be with us all in these troubling times.

Meanwhile, On Varon Orbital Command

Within Varon Strategic Command

"That is a bold request, Admiral Carr," Germ reminded the Vong through the hologram, "we're already spreading our forces thin as it is with our operations across our territory and the Outer Rim, never mind Supreme Commander defense of the Ansion system still underway. The last thing we would want is to risk any of our enemies making a surprise attack on our worlds, especially with your other request on repositioning Master Saa to our fleet."

"I am well aware of the risks, Minister." Vem acknowledged, hiding the minor annoyance at having to bow before politicians, even one as respectable and action oriented as the Corellian.

He carried on, "But this Sith Lord has proven quite resilient over the years, and now has a conglomerate of crime lords to augment his capabilities. Even a portion of my fleet could be enough to tip the balance in yours and General Kenobi's favor. To further prove my point, we still do not know how strong Maul has become in his years of exile, so it would not hurt to have, how do you say this… an insurance policy or two in place if he has improved his Force powers. And if he has allied with Salem, capturing him and his commanders could be the key to uncovering the remainder of the enemy's true designs on the world."

"But why do you personally want to join this operation, Admiral? Is it because your people are feeling cooped up on patrol duty?" Rahm questioned.

"Blunt as usual, General Kota, but astute as well." Vem acknowledged. "My people prefer decisive action to help the cause, and this mission would be a perfect opportunity for them to improve their cohesiveness with our combined navy."

"Perhaps, but we cannot afford to play favorites within our armed forces, no matter how logical or sound their arguments may be. It would only generate an illusion of favoritism within the Navy and divide it into various factions." Mon cautionedin her usual role of devil's advocate way.

"Then perhaps I might be able to present a way for all of us to get what we want, Minister." Giddean suggested. "Send a portion of your fleet to Mandalore to help with the beskar mining operations underway there. As I recall from Tau's records, there's a large lode of the iron about eight kilometers north of the town of Enceri that the Mandalorians have yet to mine. Your… rather extreme strip-mining methods might be just what they need to uncover it, and to help secure the sector against any potential incursions. The rest can join Minister Bel Iblis on the hunt for Maul."

Bail seemed to consider the idea, and Obi-Wan wasn't far behind him, "Well, it would be a beneficial way for your people to expand upon their knowledge of the galaxy, and to build good relations with the rest of our people. There are those who are still wary of the admiral's forces."

"Then we shouldn't waste any more time with debates and start preparing Admiral Carr's forces for deployment," Rahm advised, "Chief, Ministers, I would suggest you to allow the admiral to send two or three capital ships and a few frigates along with his second-in-command to Mandalore. Meanwhile he and the bulk of his forces can prepare to help Minister Bel Iblis and the Jedi on this preemptive strike. The rest of his people can remain here on helping to garrison the planet."

"Yes. That does seem like the sensible idea to do." Wullf advised the assembled leaders. "Apologies for barging in like this, Sirs, but our highest-ranking Imperial agent has delivered a few disturbing reports, one about the Tarkin family. Both of Rivoche's parents have been arrested on charges of attempted treason and are being prepared for transfer to a newly constructed Imperial reeducation camp in the Deep Core. It's in the Tython System."

"Bahl'al," Rahm spat, "he's sinking his claws deeper into the Imperial system and continuing to desecrate the Jedi's most sacred world. He needs to be put down."

"There's more, I'm afraid, and the news gets worse." Wullf grimly added. "Colonel Rahm Moch has been promoted to brigadier general for his efforts on Serocco, and he's been granted a facility on Tython to pursue his Dark Trooper battle droid program. It was done after Bahl'al personally interceded on his behalf for the project."

Bail nodded, "That's very grim news for us. I read from Tau's records that the program did a lot of damage to the Rebellion in the year after the first Death Star was destroyed. They were lucky Sidious discontinued it after Moch and his construction facility were destroyed by their best agent."

"Then we'll need Tau's mysterious agent to learn all he can when he makes his way to Tython," Kal added, "we can't have an army of efficient Battle Droids hounding our every move. It was bad enough when the CIS had their ineffective droid army, but in the hands of cunning and battle-hardened generals and Sith Lords, they could throw all of our plans into disarray. Unless there's anything else you wish to add to the pile of osik that you're heaping on us, Wullf."

"I'm afraid so. Two more things, and they're the worst of all." Wullf reluctantly admitted.

"Wonderful." Rahm grumbled.

"The Empire found an old Galactic War stockpile of a highly rare and extremely dangerous element called Isotope-5 on Khar Delba. They're moving half the shipment to Kuat for implementation into a new fleet of Star Destroyers. Their projections are supposed to be five times as strong and fast as an ordinary destroyer. The remainder is going to Tython for projects even our agents couldn't learn."

"Isotope-5? I've never even heard of that element." Giddean wondered.

"I have, but only thanks to ancient war records in the Jedi Archives. It was the Sith's ace in the hole in the last two Galactic Wars, and proved to be extremely lethal against the Old Republic before they eventually figured out ways to circumvent them." Rahm answered. "We need to figure out a way to stop the element's refinement and destroy it. We can't risk anyone seizing that kind of power, not even us."

"Agreed. We'll have to come up with a workable plan to raid the Kuat Drive Yards before the fleet's complete. Now, what's the final matter you wanted to warn us of, Director?" Bail interjected.

"The Emperor is hunting for moles in Imperial High Command, so I gave Trachta and Volta orders to go under radio silence until further notice." Wullf answered.

That was the last thing anyone expected to hear, and Kal agreed, "Smart move. We can't lose them now, not with the Empire rebuilding its forces and cooking up new schemes."

"In the meantime, we need to prepare for the summit with the Ganathan court, never mind how Minister Danu and I need to prepare for our transfer to the Teutonic Sector afterwards." Mon reminded the leaders.

Ten Minutes Later

On Vermund

Within the Maharo Desert

In the Tuk'ata Nest

"How long can that overgrown she-mutt stay hidden in here?" Connor panted. "We've all taken a beating from her shadow war, and someone has to go down soon before we all die from our wounds."

Both half-brothers were ragged, bloodied, and battered from the Tuk'ata queen's guerilla war, and they knew that if they didn't end the battle soon, they wouldn't be emerging from the caverns at all.

That was why Daniel had a final gambit in mind to deal with the wicked beast and opened himself up to the Force to heighten his senses fivefold and could feel the gentle pitter patter of the Tuk'ata's footsteps to his left.

"Connor, on my signal, hit it with everything you've got." Daniel whispered before he created a small stasis field to pin her in place. Hearing the growling of the beast struggling to break free, Connor took it as his cue, and launched a Hamon kick on the creature's back, crushing her spine in two and forcing black ichor to spew out of her mouth.

Quickly putting the creature out of her misery by moving to crush its brains with a single punch on her head, ending the Sith beast's life.

On the verge of collapsing onto the ground form exhaustion, Connor rhetorically asked, "There aren't any more of those damn dogs in the caverns, right?"

"No, thank the Force for that." Daniel answered. "You finally get to skin the beasts for your blasted cape, bro."

"Yeah. But I'm beat. I think I'll need a quick nap first, though." Connor tiredly said before fell on the ground and he drifted into a deep sleep, with Daniel amusingly chuckling his head at his half-brother's antics before he silently prayed, 'You win your wager, bro. Just come back safely when you've gotten what you need. I still have to show you the bars on Remnant when all's done.'

One Hour Later

On Coruscant/Imperial Center

Within the Imperial Naval Intelligence Headquarters

Within the Interrogation Center

"I should have known that you'd sell out your own family, just like my miserable brother would've done if it meant advancing his own career!" Gideon spat to Jova's hologram, who was observing the entire interrogation alongside the physically present Grand Moff Trachta as the disgraced governor-general was attached to an interrogation chair while a horrified Juno silently wept.

"This isn't about my career, Gideon, but cleansing the Tarkin family of its weaknesses through the crucible of war and loyalty in the face of chaos. You and your middle-class wife brought all of this upon yourself when you sent your half-breed daughter to the New Republic with access to your entire account."

"Don't you dare bring our Rivoche into this, Jova! She is an innocent child, and we only did what was best for her, not ourselves, just like any parents should do. I only regret that we couldn't be with her now to hold her in our arms." Juno lamented.

"We are not here to discuss your daughter, nor your illegitimate accounts, Mr. and Mrs. Tarkin. I am here to ask a few simple questions, and I would strongly advise you to answer them honestly, or the results will be rather painful. I highly doubt you'd want your wife to witness an actual torture in action." Trachta brought the matter back on track.

"You used countless favors to try and steal crucial military secrets from the Imperial network. Did you share them with anyone, or send them to any of the New Republic's proxies?" The cyborg Grand Moff asked.

Knowing that the truth would come out eventually, and not wanting to subject Juno to the visual horrors he'd endure if he lied, Gideon truthfully admitted, "No. Everyone in my family still on Coruscant is a diehard Imperial. They'd turn us over to you in a heartbeat if it meant salvaging even a sliver of their reputation and wealth. And there was no one else we could trust with our desertion."

"We were going to take the files to one of the New Republic's fortress worlds and use the intelligence as leverage for finding our daughter again and working for them." Juno added.

"So you would betray your fellow officers, every oath you swore to the Emperor, just to make a quick and shiny profit and gain a higher rank in the insurgents' camp?" CC-1010, Commander Fox, hatefully spat to the traitor.

"I didn't betray them first, Clone!" Gideon hatefully spat, his great respect for the Clone Troopers dissipating in the face of the fanatical clone marshal's devotion to a madman. "We all, especially my mad brother, betrayed the people we swore to protect and serve when we first took our oaths, and I want no part of it anymore. And I certainly didn't swear any oath of loyalty to a galactic genocidal manipulator! All I want is to be with my wife and daughter and help make the galaxy safer for my daughter and all the other children like her to live and grow up in, and I can finally see that the Empire won't fulfill either of my hopes."

Preventing the hateful and loyal Clone Commander from beating the outspoken traitor into submission, Jova reminded him, "Don't let this man's final breath of defiance unnerve you and convince you to kill him, Commander. It would not be worth the countless court martials and hearings you'd have to attend."

Observing the scans from the monitor, Trachta had the evidence to back up what he already knew to be true, and nodded, "Mr. Tarkin is correct, Fox. The only thing left to do is to ensure that they can never reach the New Republic."

Expecting a swift and quiet execution, both Tarkins were dumbfounded when Trachta ordered Commander Fox, "Prepare the traitors for the prison barge. We will find a use for them yet."

"Neither of us will ever serve as slaves, Trachta, no matter what you threaten us with." Juno disgustingly spat.

"You should be grateful that you have your lives at all, traitors. Perhaps a few years in this new reeducation camp I've heard about will change your mind, and you can redeem yourself." Jova smirked at the two Tarkins' horrified looks.

"You're going to brainwash us?! Trachta, I thought you of all people understood honor and integrity!" Gideon pleaded.

"I do. And a tool still that still has use for the Empire will not be discarded, no matter how unruly it might be." The cyborg Grand Moff answered before he told Fox, "Get them out of my sight, and remember, your men are to not do any harm onto them. Stun them if you must, but Lord Bahl'al wants them alive."

"Yes, Sir." Fox loyally carried out the orders as he and his three men forcibly escorted the two traitorous Tarkins out of the interrogation room towards their new home.

Juno, despairing from the prospect of ending up an Imperial puppet once more, only this time without her daughter, prayed to whatever supernatural force that was out there that she and her husband would eventually reunite with Rivoche again and raise her as a proper family.

Please, Rivoche. Until we can be you as a family, be strong, and keep hope alive! Juno pleaded.

Five Minutes Later

On Ganath

Within the Royal Palace's Tactical Headquarters

"So, these are the assembled leaders of this 'New Republic.' They do not look very impressive, your Majesty." Traiy bluntly stated as he observed them through the computer screens.

"And what exactly did you expect from us, sir?" Tau guardedly asked.

"Great warriors and generals, just as our ancient legends foretold of our traveling beyond the stars. But most of you have a softness in your eyes that betrays your role as leaders."

"A wise Jedi Master once told my teachers that wars do not make a person great. And there is more to a person than what appears on the surface. But we are not here to discuss external expectations. You seek proof on the threats we face, and we are here to provide them."

"And what evidence do you have of these outlandish claims of your government?" Viscount Meredith rudely asked the delegation.

"We have a member of the Yuuzhan Vong here with us to help prove our 'outlandish' claims," Mon calmly addressed "allow us to introduce one of our most qualified and respected admirals in our command, Vem Carr of the New Republic Navy."

As Vem came into visual view of the Ganathan court, every nobleman and officer, even their human cyborg king, was taken aback by the warped and tattooed form of the Yuuzhan Vong admiral. Vem couldn't help but give a toothy grin at the reaction.

"Thank you, Minister. I am grateful for you taking the time to deliberate with us, as time is of the essence, for not only our peoples, but for this entire galaxy from countless evils. And one of the most dangerous evils of all is my own people."

"Is it true, then?" Dumar asked, "That your people wish to conquer our galaxy, enslave us and forcefully convert us to your religion?"

"And destroy any and all forms of advanced technology," Vem deadpanned, "yes, it is all true. As is my people's allegiance to the rogue Celestial Sauron."

"Why then would you desert your people to help us?"

"Because my people are being led by fanatical idiots. I saw through Sauron's masquerade of our god, and he is only encouraging the worst aspects of my culture. He would see us slaves to his desire for galactic conquest."

"And that is your only reason? If Sauron hadn't become your god-"

"I still would have left, sir. Our zealotry has long since stagnated our own development. Even beneficial medical technology that could prolong life centuries without the drawbacks of our shaping would be deemed heretical and burned. Simply put, if my people remain as they are, we are going to drive ourselves into extinction."

"But you would truly forsake everything your people believe in, even if it conflicts with your own beliefs?" Raman questioned.

"Not everything, no. There are some beliefs that are too interwoven into my people's being to abandon, and still serve us well in your galaxy. Our own organic technology, if perhaps combined with yours, could benefit both our peoples. But that will only happen if the fools leading my people are stopped and the culture forced to reform, even by the amphistaff if need be."

"And all of these dangers," High Admiral Orso began, "the 'Chaos Cults', 'Xipototec', the Empire, your people, and these fallen Celestials that endanger the galaxy? How do we know that allying with you is what brings them down on our heads? We have remained separated from the galaxy before and it has served us well."

Kal gave a sarcastic chuckle. "I don't think you understand. These threats are hellbent to bring this entire galaxy to boot, and they will crush anyone who refuses them. And this gas cloud you hide in won't protect you. They will find you and they will enslave every man, woman and child, or failing that annihilate you. They have done this before and will do it to you."

"Then you would use fear to convince us to ally with you? I fail to see how that makes you different then these enemies that you claim to exist." Traiy reprimanded the Mandalorian.

"No, Colonel Skirata just doesn't pull any punches with anyone, regardless of rank, status, or situation." Garm explained.

"And he is correct," Ahsoka said, "while we do not wish to force you to join us, you must understand the consequences of what might happen if you don't. You could sit out this war and hope for the best, but if we lose? Everything Colonel Skirata said will happen to you."

Raman sighed, "We're not idiots, Lady Tano-Palpatine. What you have presented us is truly frightening, and we've never once had cause to question King Empatojayos' rule. He after all, unified us our nation after generations of royal family infighting."

"Then the choice before us is obvious, Prince Raman," the warrior Prince Ananias proclaimed, "we must ally with the New Republic. If the Jedi could find us, then it is only a matter of time before the armies of evil will seek us out. Our survival is more important than our pride."

An'ya noticed how the main body of nobles and officers took the young prince's words to heart, but several more were worried by them. Some were even resentful.

"Are you actually proposing a vote right at this moment, Prince Ananias?" Empatojaoys questioned, "This is hardly the best timing, especially with everyone's emotions running so high from all we have learned."

"I am well aware of that, your majesty. Instead, I am asking that we reconvene in one day to decide on our course of action as a unified people. We can take tonight to process what we have learned, and to decide what path we shall take for our world and subjects. Can't we all, at the very least, agree on that?"

The Jedi king nodded his head in agreement, "Very well. We shall reconvene in twenty-four hours, and let calmer heads prevail."

"Yes, your highness." The nobles concurred, while An'ya noticed the fuming glance of Traiy and his accompanying noblemen.

Two Hours Later

On Vermund

Aboard the Second Chance

"You suspect a coup by Traiy and his coterie of his officers and nobles, then?" Tau surmised from An'ya's reports.

"If not that, then a public display of disloyalty to try and turn the people against them in a mad isolationist gambit, and either one's just as bad. Fortunately for us, we have the support of the king and eighty-three members of the royal court, and they will stand by Empatojaoys when he puts the motion to a vote tomorrow." An'ya added.

"And you're certain that these nobles will support us when the time comes?" Ahsoka asked.

"I'm certain that they respect their king and will do what they believe is best for their people with the information they've been given. Zao has even earned some favor with his cooking. A lot of the nobles and their retainers have taken a liking to it, and are asking for his recipe."

"He's even doing that on a diplomatic mission?" Ahsoka amusingly shook her head.

"It's a trademark of his, and he tries to do it everywhere he goes. I'm just relieved that he didn't get into trouble for it."

"I'm more amazed that the planet's leaders actually enjoyed it. Guess they're of better character than most nobles from either of our timelines." Tau commented. "Keep us appraised of your progress and be wary of the opposing nobles. Most of them are a slippery bunch at the best of times."

"You don't have to tell me that, Tau." An'ya agreed before she closed the channel, and Ventis quickly appeared on the holotable, appearing quite relieved from the lightened expression on his face.

"Connor and Daniel finished their final trial with flying colors. They destroyed the entire Tuk'ata nest, and Connor got his damned cape out of it. He's skinning the blasted beasts right now, and we'll be back in six hours, max."

"Good. We've finished fixing the ship, and Benjen will have his force ready in fifteen hours. We'll head out to Ossus then."

"Right. All I have to do is say goodbye to my kids for God knows how long. And we were all really bonding as a family." Ventis lamented.

"That's part of growing up, Ventis. But don't lose hope. You'll see them again, and you should feel nothing but pride for them." Ahsoka reminded the Jedi Apprentice.

"I know, and I am proud of them. They're all coming together and finding a meaningful purpose for themselves. I just wish that I could help them more."

"Then pray for them. And remember that they're not alone in their struggles, not with a great man like you watching over them. That's the best anyone can really do for the ones they love." Tau assured Ventis.

Tau suddenly got an idea, "Hey. What do you think of Celeste coming along with us to Ossus?"

"Celeste? What are you up to, Tau?" Ventis glaringly asked him.

"She once lived on Ossus before its devastation, and she might be able to help us reawaken an ancient Neti Jedi Master from his four-thousand-year slumber." Tau answered.

"And you think that seeing her homeworld devastated by the Sith will be something she wants to be a part of?" Ventis rhetorically asked. "I know what you're up to, Tau. You still want the two of us to get together, don't you?"

"If it gets you out of your depression, yes." That earned questionable glares from everyone present, "What?"

"You're about to become a general and Jedi Master, and you're trying to play matchmaker for your Padawan?" Ahsoka chuckled while shaking her head. "Sometimes, I worry about your mental health, dear."

"I'm an old romantic, sue me. But there's a practical reason to it. Ossus is a viable candidate for a restoration program by Nagme's terraforming agents, and as a possible listening post for Imperial transmission in the region. Celeste's knowledge of the planet would help."

"You do know that Sidious probably knows of the world from both the Jedi and Sith's records, right?" Ahsoka reminded Tau.

"Yes, but what better place to hide than in plain sight? Besides, it is still a strong and potent symbol for the Jedi, and I think it could not only restore hope in the galaxy, but in Celeste herself. She's still freefalling in the dark, after all."

"Well, I can understand those motivations." Ventis reluctantly acknowledged, before he sighed in defeat, "I'll talk to her and ask her if she'll come along. But I don't know if I can promise anything."

"That's all I can really ask for, Ventis." Tau agreed. "Just tell her we leave tomorrow morning, so she'll have to make her decision quickly."

Nodding in understanding, Ventis closed his holocomm, leaving the two Palpatines alone to go over their next batch of reports. Four in particular caught their attention: Director Yularen had forwarded them the final reports from Trachta before he went under radio silence.

The worst was yet to come, however. Echo reported that Empire was forcefully grafting neural cybernetics onto twenty ARC Troopers and Clone Commandos each in order to use them as the nerve centers for advanced listening posts. Each one positioned in a theater of war. This was one of the main purposes behind Echo reaching out to the New Republic, and he unfortunately did not know where these posts were.

"We have to find these clones and get them out of those manmade prisons." Ahsoka angrily stated.

"I know, but we need to be smart about this, and… actually, I may have an idea on just how to do that. We'd have to infiltrate a major Imperial data vault if we're to steal the information we'd need, and I might know of one remote enough, but strategic as well, that can get us what we need."

Tau pulled up the image of what appeared to be the molted carcass of some sort of space slug but held together with its limbs connected to several canyon walls.

"What is that?" Ahsoka repulsively asked.

"The Krake Data Vault. It's found on Krake's Planet in the Outer Rim's Demetras Sector, and it's a major Imperial installation that houses terabyte upon terabyte of data. It's remote enough that we should be able to send a team to infiltrate the base, steal what we need to know, plus a few other files to help with some of our other operations, and get out before anyone's the wiser." Tau explained.

"How do you know of this?" Ahsoka asked.

"Luke and Chewbacca infiltrated it while searching for evidence to prove that an Imperial spy had tried to discredit him and had to blow up the entire facility to cover their escape. Crazy, I know, but it worked."

"Sounds like something Anakin and I would've done back in the day." She amusingly chuckled. "But If it's as remote as you say, why not send a few commando teams to take over the facility, steal as much essential data as we could before the Imperials catch on, and then blow it sky-high to cover their escape? Seems like a waste to let all that potential good intel just sit there unused."

"That… is actually a very good idea, Ahsoka." Tau acknowledged. "Let's hurry and contact High Command and give them this proposal. I think we just gave Echo his first mission for the New Republic."

"And a high-risk one at that."

"Hey, he volunteered for these kinds of missions, so that's on him."

Meanwhile, On Jedha

Within the City of NiJedha

Within the Steela's Remembrance

Finally taking off, are you, Gerrera? About damned time. Edge bluntly thought before he quietly seeded his custom-made code into the holocomm to alert the Imperials of their departure and prepared for their ambush.

All he had to do is play his role and escape among a handful of stragglers. From there, he would integrate himself into another cell, gather what intel he needed, sell them out, rinse and repeat. Eventually, he would gather a complete picture of the traitor government's command structure. He smiled with seething satisfaction at it all. Plus, the prospect of half a million credits for eliminating a high-ranking New Republic commander certainly didn't hurt the Anomid assassin's prospects either.

Now, the game begins in earnest. Edge satisfyingly thought as he removed the evidence of his betrayal and planned when he'd make his move, all the while carrying out his menial task for Saw and his rabble.

Meanwhile, In Wild Space

In the Gradilis Sector

Within the Nirauan System

On Nirauan

Within the Hand of Thrawn

"You are certain of this incursion, Admiral?" Mitth'raw'nuruodo, better known as Commodore Thrawn of the Imperial Navy, grimly asked his former superior in the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet, Admiral Ar'lani.

"I am, Mitth'raw'nuruodo. The reports we've intercepted and what we've managed to decode indicate that both the Moechar and Grysk are preparing to invade one of our strongest outposts and use it as a jumping point into the deeper parts of the Ascendancy in one month."

"If they invade now, then the entire Ascendancy could be thrown into a civil war from the divisions between the summit with the New Republic. We will need a counterbalance to keep our people unified." Mitth'raw'nuruodo reminded her, before proposing, "Perhaps the New Republic would agree to accelerating the summit with our people."

"The Aristocras will not be happy with this, but I can call in a majority of my favors to mollify them. I can have it so the summit begins in fifteen days, three weeks, at most."

'That will be sufficient. I will immediately send my diplomatic advisor to Varon in order to personally inform the New Republic of this change in plans. I will not risk anyone intercepting this through a transmission."

"Very good. I imagine your young pupil will be pleased to put his growing knowledge to use on our people to good use. Good hunting for you and your confederation, Commodore Thrawn." Ar'lani bade farewell to her old confidant before ending the transmission.

Pulling out his holocomm, he contacted his student, the Chiss Jedi Knight Nuru Kungurama.

"Commodore. Is something wrong? Our next lesson wasn't set to begin until tomorrow morning."

"I have a mission for you. A delivery of a message to your friends in New Republic High Command. Meet with me on one hour to receive your instructions, and then take Breakout Squad to the Varon System immediately afterwards. It is of the utmost importance for all of the Chiss Ascendancy."

"I'll be there." Nuru promised.

Well, I think this is a good place to end the chapter! What did you all think of it? I wrote it in four days, and I've nearly wrapped up the Vermund arc and will soon begin the Ossus part. Afterwards, I'll advance the negotiations between the New Republic and Chiss Ascendancy, just to keep the storyline going, and to prepare for future events and battles to begin. So, how are you all doing on this hot and rainy day of Sunday, May 24, 2020? I'm doing well, as I did some exercise and mowed my parents' front yard this afternoon, and I have a few hours left in the evening. I hope all of my fellow United States readers have a great Memorial Day tomorrow. I hope I do, but my brother will be going back to Durham, NC tomorrow for a couple weeks, and he might be moving to Nashville, TN, soon. And I have some homework to do tomorrow, so I'd better rest up when the time comes. In other news, I've been watching more of Legend of the Seeker on DVD, and it's pretty good. It's a real gem from a better time for entertainment, even though it was only just 11 years ago. Well, I'd better get this chapter to Squasher and JSailer for their look over, even though it'll take them a while to look over it, since tomorrow's Memorial Day, and they have their own projects to take care of. May God be with us all in these troubled times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!