Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm evening of Tuesday, October 4, 2022? I'm well, if a little worried for my sister, who's a bit under the weather right now at college. But I have faith she'll recover quickly, and bounce back from this with no problem. In other news, I finished the recently published book by Raymond Ibrahim, and now I'm going to reread Star Wars: Dark Force Rising, and that'll be a great gem to relive. Oh, and I think I'm going to start revising my chapters on my own, at least after the prologue is examined and published, so I can work a bit in improving my analytical eye and avoid putting pressure on my Beta Reader when he's writing his own stories. I just hope I can do a good job. So, are you all getting ready for the US Midterm Elections that will begin over the next few weeks where I live? I will be, as I plan to do plenty of research on the candidates beforehand so I can make the most informed decision I can, as I can't rely on the mainstream media to guide my decision-making process, since it's so tilted towards one side and just follows a certain narrative I will not discuss on here. I need to be sure I vote for people who will truly represent and protect the interests of people like me instead of their own narrowed self-interests, especially with the stakes so high in the United States and across the entire free world as the bad news keeps piling on, and I pray other people will follow my example and do a fair bit of research before making an informed decision on who to vote for. Well, I'd best get started on this chapter before I go to bed, as I have work tomorrow. I hope you have a blessed night, and may God be with us all in this critical juncture for the whole world and every soul that calls Earth home.
0100 Hours, Selona 1st, 59 ABY
Deep within Wild Space, Zakuul
Deep Within the Endless Swamp
Inside the Capital City of Serall
On the ancient and powerful world of Zakuul, former capital world of the Eternal Empire and birthplace of its successor in the Aquilian Republic, preparations for war were underway, with more ongoing in the planet's seat of power than in many decades. All its armed forces were working rapidly to mobilize its well-armed and numerous fleets and armies for war, but one that would redeem the planet for its past atrocities under the dominion of their so-called "Immortal Emperor" and his children.
After two millennia of anonymity following its revival by renegade Chiss exiles, the small but influential ruling body was ready to return to the galaxy. Only this time, their arrival would not be as conquerors, but liberators and allies of the free peoples of the galaxy.
But before that return could occur, a covert meeting was taking place in a government safe house, one that could have ramifications beyond the Unknown Regions and the war that was quickly escalating in this vast and unexplored region of the galaxy.
"High General Gaia has informed me that Jedi and the Alliance of Light have departed for Korriban." Thexan Reaf, one of Zakuul's two Grand Councilors and retired general of the Aquilian Paladins, informed everyone in his cabinet. "I have Paladin-Captain Tirall and his team on route to join them, but they will not be enough."
This group, comprised of two members from the Royal Senate, each Speaker of the Upper and Lower Houses, four members of the Republic Military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, one including their off-world advisor and High General, was the most influential and powerful figures in the Aquilian Republic, only held back by the wisdom and acumen of their citizens and the Senate. Thexan quickly added, "The question now is who should we send in assisting them in their raid and extraction on the Sith world."
Akara Legeus, Speaker of the Upper House, was the first to speak out by surprisingly pointed out, "If you wanted us to send a fleet to Korriban, why did we bother recalling Julius's force when it was a handful of sectors away?"
Olair Reeve, the Speaker of the Lower House, patiently explained, "Because, Akara, his expertise was needed in aiding in our assault on Ilum and preparing to mobilize our fleets, while this task falls more along the lines of a surgical strike and infiltration. For the latter, we will need a select group of Paladins and commando teams, not a fleet."
"And we need to attempt to deceive the Sith on our strategy. If they catch on and attack us before we are fully ready to move out, it could cause severe damage to our war effort."
"What of Paladin-Captain Tirall and his team? Are they not sufficient for the task?" Akara doubtfully pressed.
While Akara and Olair were former lower-class workers that were rescued from destitution by a generous senator, they managed to surprise everyone with their innate grasp of leadership, impeccable integrity, and every facet of Aquilian society. The two women were as close as actual sisters and worked well together in keeping the peace and unity between the two rival bodies, as well as were leaning more towards expanding their people's influence through with other worlds and the greater galaxy.
Though, the two women still had more than enough disagreements between them both. Akara would prefer to use diplomacy and her people's wealth to help restore countless war-torn worlds, while Olair desired to use military force to help the galaxy police itself and deal with threats to the galaxy's law-abiding populace.
Before either could escalate another of their typical arguments, Diana Theyn, Thexan's peer and long-served member of the Royal Senate, sternly cut in by asking the two high generals, "We'll need a list of your recommendations for the commando teams to compose the strike force by 0800 hours today if we hope to make it in time to help the Alliance."
Arcann and Arriva Arcus, a brother and sister duo, were a more secretive pair of long-serving officials and much harder for anyone to gauge either of their intentions. Of course, to be fair, with Arcann and Arriva overseeing the Aquilian Army's black-ops companies and Paladin-Inquisitors in hunting down threats inside the Republic's borders, a healthy degree of secrecy and insulation was paramount to their departments' success. But their surprised blinks were a rare break in their stoic masks.
"Begging your pardon, Ma'am?" Arriva sputtered, not quite believing what she was hearing. "You want us to-"
"The Grand Councilor gave you a direct order. Do you doubt her trust in you?" Thexan warningly asked the two army officers. "You will provide the list to Commodore Shan, for he will be leading the assault force onto Korriban."
"As for Soldier and his team, I believe it is best if we avoid sending anymore people onto the planet. Combined with the parties and Jedi planning to infiltrate Krayt's underground citadel, they will have quite a large force of diverse parties, which will already make it very difficult for them to avoid detection before they can complete their rescue."
"That's a terrible risk you're taking with his squad." The final present member of the cabinet apprehensively added. "I know of the dangers Korriban can hold for anyone, Jedi, Paladin, and especially ordinary people. Its natural Dark Side miasma will try to bring out the worst in everyone and undermine their path in the Light."
"We're all well aware of your long service with the previous Jedi Order and your many confrontations with the Dark Side and its adherents, Master Saa." Arcann calmly reminded the wise and ancient Jedi Master. "But we can't coddle our subordinates and risk miscalculating on this potentially costly venture. Right now, stealth and speed are the best assets for Korriban, not firepower on such a well-fortified target."
T'Ra Saa, a long-lived Neti, Jedi Master and bearer of many responsibilities during the Twilight of the Old Republic, and now a military advisor for the Aquilians, stared at the Paladin-Commandos' leader with an unreadable gaze. "That does not make this choice any easier. It is always hard to watch those you train go off to war."
Having served the previous Jedi Order with honor and commitment for many decades with many roles. As a teacher for many Younglings, she even instructed even Mace Windu, the creator of the sub-Lightsaber Form of Vaapad, one of only two Jedi to fight and ever overpower Darth Sidious in a lightsaber duel.
Later, serving as the Watchman of the Kiffu Sector in the final decades leading up to the Clone War, she fell in love with and started a secret relationship with her fellow Jedi Master and brilliant spymaster, Tholme, defying the Order's long-standing ban on attachments. This relationship endured the Clone War and the rise of the Empire that followed, until he eventually passed away in his sleep and was given a funeral pyre on Anzat, where she took root in meditation for decades, with only one family, old friends of Tholme, knowing of T'Ra's survival and took her in.
After seven decades of hiding from the galaxy, she was eventually convinced to return to the galaxy when Akku Seii II brought Edaan Palpatine to her, and the then-Jedi Apprentice told her of his bold goal to save Vestara Khai from the Dark Side and sever her ties to the two Sith Orders running wild out in the galaxy.
Determined to help stem the tide of darkness and keep the flame of the Jedi from guttering out once again, she quickly became a secret liaison of the new Jedi Order to the rediscovered world of Zakuul and its government in the Aquilian Republic, working hard to prepare them for the coming wars, and was quickly amazed by the rising power's versatility and unbreakable sense of honor and duty.
When the regional power of over three dozen star systems emerged from this war, she would do what she could to ensure its smooth transition as a peacekeeping force with the rest of the galaxy before she returned to the galaxy as a Jedi Master. Soon, she would be able to do what she loved most and instruct the next generation of Jedi Initiates in mastering their talents in service of the Force and the galaxy.
0600 Hours, Selona 2nd, 59 ABY
Mandalore Sector, Gargon System
Aboard the Firespray-31-class Patrol and Attack Craft Slave I
Scanning the space above recently abandoned Neo Death Watch fortress world for any potential stragglers or ambushers that could be lying in wait for any unsuspecting victims, the personal vessel of the leader of the Mandalorian Protectors found himself growing increasingly frustrated at having come up with nothing for the fifth time today. Such a level of anger was an uncommon feeling for the typically stoic and reserved Boba Fett, even if he knew what the reason was.
Being a bounty hunter of nigh-inconceivable infamy for the last seven decades, having hunted countless types of vagabonds, rogues, and virtually all type of galactic prey, Fett was rarely a man to be caught off guard. However, when he received a message from his only granddaughter, a onetime staunch detractor of the Jedi, asking for his help in leading a force to Korriban distract the One Sith's blockade so she and the Alliance of Light could attempt a rescue of all the enemy's prisoners, such a request nearly made the Mand'alor keel over in shock.
Weren't the forces he sent enough to try such a maneuver or were the Jedi just getting greedy and viewing the Mandalorians as expendable shock troops like the last time both creeds worked together? But honestly, he sincerely doubted the second option, especially since any hint of betrayal or manipulation would be repaid with lethal reprisals against the Jedi and their many cohorts.
If that was the only request Mirta was making of him, he might have intercepted her journey here and given her a vital lesson she would never forget for her exceedingly short life. Fortunately for her and her new friends, Fett's top advisors helped remind him of the mission's potential in eliminating the One Sith's leader and his top command structure while learning everything there was to know of their galactic designs.
Also getting to rescue the scattered children in Krayt's twisted version of care was a boon for many Mandalorians, since many of their families had offered to care for any orphaned children they liberated and teach them the Resol'nare, the six central tenets of the Mandalorian way of life. Force-Sensitives might be a pain to fight, but no one could deny their stellar combat prowess when they were on your side, especially ones that were unbreakably loyal to a cause or people.
But there was another reason for staying around to meet up with Mirta, a far more personal one that filled Fett with a diverse range of emotions he thought were long since burnt out of him after his father was beheaded right before him by a Jedi Master in a dusty arena on Geonosis. The prospect of seeing his great-grandchildren for the first time in his life, it sparked a deeply buried hope he abandoned, one that told him he could do some good for someone other than himself.
Even if his personal life was a complete and unsalvageable mess, at least his granddaughter was able to patch things up with her husband and start rebuilding bridges with her people. In that regard, she was a stronger individual than he could ever be. But he still owed himself and his estranged family his help in this battle after messing up virtually every aspect of his life and all those that tried to get close to him.
1200 Hours
Coruscant System, On the Moon of Hesperidium
Within the Adegan Jewel Hotel
Inside the Presidential Suite
"I must say, I didn't expect to see any more of your people here after your organization's dismantling by Dorvan and his stooges. It's quite a boon to have someone as experienced as you assist us with this mission." Fyor diplomatically stated to the lead representative sitting before him while sipping his vintage Corellian wine. When Daala said that she was sending experienced individuals to aid the ex-prime minister, he did not expect the reorganized True Victory Party to be the relief force.
After its disgrace and violent dismissal from every major government and military after its anti-Vong and anti-Jedi crusade reached new depths by bombing war-torn Coruscant to whip up lingering hatreds toward the extragalactic refugees, due in no small part to the Jedi and their do-gooder allies, everyone assumed the group had either been reduced to a few underground terror cells or was dismantled entirely.
Kar'sk Fey'la, the party's Coruscant-based cell leader and wanted terrorist for her activities nine years ago, curtly rebutted, "We may not have always agreed on politics, Rodan, but now we have many common enemies in the Jedi and their allied factions, and Admiral Daala gave each of our followers a sanctuary after we were all but shattered by the Order's incessant meddling. Now, the True Victory Party has regrouped and is now wholly devoted to the Olpakan cause, which means we will do whatever it takes to deliver the galaxy from these endless Force-based wars."
Handing Fyor a datapad, she explained, "I've spent the last three years working to reestablish our network of storehouses, bolt holes, and contacts across the system. It's not as well-established as I would have liked, but it will meet all our needs, especially since the system is still reeling from the Sith's explosive actions of last month."
Examining the contents, Fyor found himself impressed with how Kar'sk and her Olpakans fellows had already implanted about three hundred full-fledged agents in the Galactic Alliance infrastructure, most being of low ranks, but a select few dozen rising to moderately higher positions in civilian or military positions. But about ten were able to ascend rather high in the Alliance's correctional system, allowing the Knights invaluable inside access on their quarry's location and day-to-day routines.
While a few hundred loyal double agents might seem ridiculously miniscule number compared to the near-trillion population of the capital world, Fyor keenly recognized this as a solid foundation to start undermining the democratic government's moorings when the time came, just as the Sith as Darth Bane's order did to destroy the Old Republic throughout ten centuries. And the multitude of safe houses they bought up from corrupt landlords or coopted from sympathetic souls would be a good insurance policy for temporary refuge if the team could not escape Coruscant after liberating their quarry, just as the anti-Imperial resistance network Whiplash utilized there before it was decimated and brought to the brink of destruction a measly two years after its founding.
Handing the datapad back to his confederate, Fyor asked Kar'sk, "Where do we start?"
"You aren't going to try and get me removed from command by any means, Rodan?" The Bothan warily eyed the aged human.
"This isn't a democracy, but a military operation. We either succeed as a team, or risk compromising everything we are striving to attain." Fyor assured the fellow Knight of Olpaka with a no-nonsense tone, before repeating his question, "Now, like I asked before, where should we begin our work? Our patron wants us to have this done by the end of next month, and I doubt we want to get her or the rest of our allies angry."
0700 Hours, Selona 3rd, 59 ABY
Coruscant, Jedi Temple Catacombs
"Hey, Ingo, give me a hand in reading this!" One of the Galactic Alliance's historians called out to the aging human as the Ithorian woman struggled with deciphering an ancient stone- or was it Bronzium- door, making the Sith collaborator inwardly pale in terror.
She had found it. Tamara Toreena, a well-reputed member of the Galactic Alliance's Historian Council and a staunch pro-Jedi sycophant, had stumbled right onto one of the concealed entrances to the Shrine in the Depths. Quickly walking over while ensuring his mental barriers were strong for when the Jedi arrived, because he had to slow them down for as long as possible until he and his hidden allies could make their move.
Three days ago, upon repeating his morning routine, received a note from one of the guards, one that astonished and invigorated him to aid Lord Krayt in sabotaging the Jedi-Alliance of Light's efforts in their focal of power. The flimsi note, which Ingo destroyed immediately upon committing its contents to memory, told him to carry on with his assignment for the next three days, which was when he would meet the first of sixteen One Sith agents embedded within the mission to prevent the Jedi's cleansing efforts.
Offhandedly, he wondered if Tamara would be the agent he was supposed to meet, given her losses because of the Jedi and New Republic's underestimating the Yuuzhan Vong's duplicity and brutality when they incinerated her homeworld of Ithor, and how the Galactic Alliance dragged its heels on giving her people a planet of their own to resettle on after the apocalyptic war concluded in the Alliance's favor. He would have to carefully investigate, if only to better calculate the Sith's odds in this undoing this operation and escaping to freedom afterwards. It would be crucial, especially since the Jedi were about to encounter the shrine's first layer of defenses.
1800 Hours
Unknown Regions, Nihil Retreat Outskirts
Aboard the Gozanti-class cruiser Enterprise
"Okay. The last of the scout ships have just finished returning, and they report no enemy contacts on the horizon. The data is coming in now." The Rogue's Gallery analyst dutifully informed the Enterprise's temporary commanding officer and senior Jedi advisor.
"Very good. Have us jump back to friendly territory right away, then have the squadron assemble for a debriefing in thirty minutes. Let's see what we and all our friends can make of this intel before we make a deeper probe." The Jedi Council member gratefully ordered the light cruiser's command crew.
Kyp Durron, Jedi Master, charming rogue, and leading figure in many wars since his liberation from the spice mines of Kessel nearly five decades ago, was not a man typically known for his patience or to withdraw from a fight. Often characterized, and rightly so, as a man of preemptive and reckless action, he was the first to fly or jump into the fray for the Jedi and their allies, heedless of the danger before him.
But this time, he knew his typical gung-ho attitude would not do the galaxy any good, since he was in barely charted territory and up against an enemy the galaxy knew so little about and possessed powers that rivaled the Yuuzhan Vong in sheer darkness and destruction. Against the Sorcerers of Rhand and the rest of the One Sith's dark and diverse network of alliances, a strong mix of patience, teamwork, and prudence would do the Alliance of Light more good in the long run than foolishly running into danger.
And that was equally true of the Alliance's armadas that were preparing to engage the Sith above the sacred Jedi world of Ilum and tracking their crystal cargoes to whatever bolt holes and R&D centers Krayt's people had sequestered away. Against commanders as capable, vicious, and cunning as rogue Imperial Moff Drikl Lecersen, the broken Nikardun Dynasty's last high-ranking leader in Yiv the Benevolent, the many Ssi-Ruuk, Tof, Nagai, and Ebruchi raiders still on the Sith's payroll, and a rearmed and warmongering Rakatan and their Infinite Empire remnant prepared to return to a vulnerable galaxy, the Jedi-backed fellowship would need every advantage they could get before the main battle began, if anyone hoped to live past this whole war.
2100 Hours
In Hyperspace, On Route to the Horuset System
Aboard the Rude Awakening
"This place… it doesn't feel the same without Edaan and Adari." Vua ruefully spoke up to Atai and Robonino while sparing with the former and the latter acted as referee to prevent any injuries before the Alliance of Light flotilla began its attack. "They brought us together, and now with them gone…"
"What gave that away, sunshine?" Robonino bitterly rebuked, wincing as the Yuuzhan Vong took several quick and fierce blows across his torso from the Zygerrian before he retaliated with a few swift hits and kicks of his own before both fighters ended the bout in a draw. "We all miss them both, but we'll get the team back together once we save Edaan, and Adari gives birth to their first child."
"You sure about that, Robo?" Jarael warily piped up, getting everyone's attention as she, Kix, and K'Kruhk put down a large crate of medical supplies, before the Whiphid Jedi Master elaborated,
"Getting in and out from Korriban isn't going to be like anything we've ever done before. That world is a living tomb for people like us, one full of countless defenses and predators eager for blood. A lot of us might not make it out alive, and there's no telling if Edaan is still in the system, or if he is still himself."
"You doubt Edaan's character so easily, Master Jedi?" Atai heatedly challenged K'Kruhk. "As I recall from our shared stories, you tested his spirit and character in a Sith Observatory about three years ago, and he passed your trial with flying colors. And before that, he resisted the Zygerrian monarchy's torture methods back when he helped our rebellion drive them out, and don't forget how he was able to get Vestara and a large portion of her people on our side, so I'm sure he can handle whatever tricks Krayt and his interrogators can throw at him."
"I do not question Edaan's resolve or abilities." K'Kruhk clarified. "Out of all the young Jedi I helped mentor, he is the most powerful thus far, and with the greatest potential and gentlest spirit. And he has done much to rebuild trust between the Jedi and the rest of the galaxy, let alone redeem his family's name after Darth Sidious's reign of tyranny."
"Then what's the problem?" Vua skeptically asked. "What haven't you told us about the situation?"
"What I'm saying is that there is a darkness within Edaan, a ruthless streak and deep and terrible anger that the Sith may work to exploit." Jarael solemnly answered. "When he and the rest of the Jedi gave me my bargain and gave me refuge on Coruscant after working to disarm my people, he showed me a side of him that few others have seen, and it was quite vicious and scary."
"That's to be expected when one faces off against emotionless sociopaths like most of your people." Robonino bluntly pointed out, earning a death glare from the reformed Iskalloni medic.
"Either way, what are you all trying to say? That we need to cut him loose if he's been compromised or forcibly turned?" Kix dismayingly shook his head. "That might be how plenty of armies and leaders did things in the past, but I'd like to believe this generation has learned from the callous mistakes of its predecessors and the example the Jedi and my brothers set in looking out for one another."
"Of course not." Jarael placatingly stated. "I'm not going to try and kill Edaan if it comes down to it, and I doubt any of us on this ship, or any other team, will try that. What we're worried about is if he's… not himself by the time we get to him. The Sith have ways of getting inside a person's head that would make my people tremble in fear, and it can be next to impossible to deprogram anyone in their care if they are ever liberated."
"Then we need to find a way to reach him before we even have to consider crossing that bridge." Vua resolved, with everyone else voicing their agreement, but no one picked up on exactly what the weary and forlorn expression K'Kruhk had was about. Kix and Jarael noticed, but they wrongly assumed the Jedi Master was preparing for the worst if it came down to it. Having lost many Jedi and soldiers during his years as a Jedi General in the Clone War, it was only natural that K'Kruhk would be sick of having to bury his friends and allies.
No matter how many times he needed to hide the truth on Tau Palpatine, it never got easier for K'Kruhk to lie to trusted comrades, even on a secret that needed to stay concealed a while longer, just as he kept military secrets during his time as a general in the GAR. Hopefully, Tau would have more information for Grand Master Katarn before the strike force could begin its assault. Against a world as hostile as Korriban, they would need every bit of intelligence and edge they could get if they even hoped to survive long.
0600 Hours, Selona 4th, 59 ABY
Within the Ilum System
Aboard the Nikardun Battle Dreadnaught Deathless
Yiv the Benevolent, Supreme Commander of the Nikardun Remnant's last few free fleets, stared into the vastness of space and the planet before him, wondering what it why he and his two best armadas were doing in this remote sector of space when there were countless other targets in the Chaos that were ripe for conquest and pillaging.
Thanks to their binding pact with the One Sith, all those disaffected by the Chiss were forbidden from striking against the Ascendancy and their new allies until Lord Krayt and his fellow Dark Siders, no matter what they called themselves, in the Sorcerers of Rhand, let them off their repugnant leashes. Instead of letting the true warriors seize the initiative and keep their enemies off-balance, most of their strength was kept in check while their advantages were slipping away.
With the Chiss's allies arriving in droves to support their campaigns, and the enemy's most dangerous commanders implementing whatever strategies Vurawn had created to counter their future attacks, Yiv did not know how he would rebuild the Nikardun Dynasty with only a few hundred thousand of his people still able to fight.
Deciding to bring his concerns directly to the Sith regional fleet commanders, he was prepared to contact the two Sith before a comm officer informed him, "Humble apologies, General, but you have a priority transmission coming from Lady Irola and Lord Malleus aboard the Conquest. They have new orders to discuss with you."
Staring at the meek Yikardun, no more than twenty-five years old and barely competent enough to hold his current position, Yiv was reminded yet again of how far his people had fallen. Nodding, the warlord answered, "I'll take it in the comm room. Inform my XO and captain that they have the helm until I return."
Swiftly walking to the briefing room, Yiv immediately ordered all officers who stood at attention for him, "Clear the room."
Trained from a young age to unquestionably obeying orders, his soldiers followed suit, and the general was left alone before typing in the Secutor-class Battlecarrier's comm frequency, biting back his anxiousness if these new orders put his people further away from the coming battlefields.
Seeing the armored and towering form of Darth Malleus, donned in ancient Sith Armor and carrying decades worth of experience and scars after his desertion from the old Jedi Order right as the Great Jedi Purge began, Yiv knew to especially be respectful of the human who once was Telloti Cillmam'n, due to his intense temper, impressive skill with the Force, and renown among the Chaos for his efforts in expanding the One Sith's influence across this region of space.
But Darth Irola, a younger human female, she was an unknown factor to many, and most of those arrogant fools dared to underestimate her and undervalue her skills. Yet, a skilled conqueror of Yiv's caliber could tell that beneath those bright eyes and others features considered attractive to humanoids, lay a cunning mind and ruthless streak that was expected from warlords and all members of the One Sith. She was the one he would need to be most cautious of if he wanted the assignment he desperately sought.
Kneeling before his superiors, Yiv slowly and respectfully asked, "What do you desire of me, my lords?"
"We need to know if you and your people are ready for a few preliminary diversions in the next few days" Irola maliciously smirked, and something in her voice made Yiv realize his hopes were vindicated.
"Whatever or wherever you need of me and my fleets, know we are all at your complete disposal." Yiv loyally promised, knowing that this was when his people started getting just what they were promised.
1200 Hours
Gargon System Outskirts
Aboard the Pursuer-class Enforcement Ship Dominance
"You ready to meet my ba'buirs, kids?" Mirta hopefully asked her two children, struggling to contain her anxiousness at having to see her grandparents again after her disgraceful exit from the Protectors and joining the Neo Death Watch.
"Are you, buir?" Bralo observantly asked. "You haven't been yourself since we set out from Shedu Maad. Are you afraid of seeing Boba Fett and his people after all that's happened?"
"Come on, bro." Parja crossly scoffed. "Our mother doesn't get scared that easily. And after all the 'catching up' you and Dad have done over these last few days, I'd think she's in great spirits right about now."
"Actually, I kind of am." Mirta sheepishly admitted. "Seeing the rest of my people and family after how I last left things with them, that would intimidate just about anyone into not showing up."
"But you're not just 'anyone', Mirta." Ghes emphatically reminded her. "You're the toughest soul I know and can knock out just about anyone flat on their shebs better than only a few other fighters. Helps that your parents were just as tough as beskar iron, like your grandparents."
"Thanks for reopening old wounds, love." Mirta good-naturedly rebuked him before the ship's holocomm activated on its own, and a middle-aged woman with Kiffar tattoos scattered across her face appeared, someone neither adult Mandalorian expected to see out here.
"What's with you, Mirta? You've already been out here for thirty minutes, and you didn't even hail us yet? You have to be scared out of your mind if you've held off this long and kept Bo and me from seeing your kids." The Kiffar Mandalorian amusingly surmised.
"You… you're Sintas Vel, aren't you?" Parja apprehensively realized, remembering the stories her mother told her about her grandparents' tragic past.
Knowing how Mirta's grandmother once tried living a normal life with Boba Fett before a terrible injustice and its tragic fallout ruined their legitimate lives and drove them apart, it made the typically overeager child pity her relatives and everything they suffered.
Having to raise hers' and Boba's daughter, Ailyn Vel, all on her own after their divorce, before her capture and decades-long incarceration in carbonite, it left a hole in their young daughter's heart and insatiable lust for vengeance against her father that persisted until her brutal death at Jacen Solo's hands shortly after he began his terrible transformation into Darth Caedus. Only after losing Ailyn, when Mirta and Fett chose to work together for the betterment of all Mandalorians and their home sector's prosperity and security while discovering a way to save Fett's failing body, that they discovered that Sintas had been entombed in carbonite for forty years, and bonded over nursing her back to health, with a little help from ex-Jedi Bardan Jusik and his proficiency for healing.
Tragically, after Caedus deceived Mirta and turned her against her grandfather, the family's newfound ties quickly fell apart, and their schism helped to further fracture the Mandalorian people and gave the One Sith the perfect opening needed to gain expendable shock troops and elite Jedi hunters in hordes, throwing them into a vicious civil war that nearly tore the sector apart.
But now, with most of the sector's worlds and space back in the Protectors' hands and the Neo Death Watch fleeing with their masters to Korriban and uncharted space, it was time for the Fett clan to bury the hatchet and set an example for the rest of the Mando'ade. It was the least Mirta could do for her children after drawing them into her spiteful crusade, especially if it meant giving both son and daughter a better future outside of endless war and conquest.
As if she could read Parja's thoughts, Sintas eyed her and smirked, "I didn't think the strill would get your tongue, Parja. From all I've heard, you're a more action-oriented Mando than your brother."
"Hey!" Bralo irritably piped up, before another figure entered the conversation. Seeing the knicks and dents covering his armor, and the well-known insignia of the Journeyman Protectors plastered on his left breastplate, everyone tensed up at seeing the leader of the Mandalorian Protectors.
"Su cuy'gar, Mirta." Fett politely greeted his granddaughter. "Glad to see you made it."
"Wouldn't miss it for anything, and I'm glad your Mando'a has improved." Mirta stoically returned the salutation. "Been a long time, Ba'buir. Glad to see you're still alive and giving as good as you got."
"I would've had a lot more practice if your ex-employers didn't trigger a civil war." Boba knowingly rebutted, earning him a sharp jab in the ribs by his ex-wife.
"Bo, play nice." Sintas warned him while using her old pet name for him, earning a slight snicker from Mirta before the full-blooded Kiffar suggested, "Why don't we all head to the RV point? We've got a lot to talk about, especially if you plan to make your meeting with your clients in time and start your contract."
"Sounds good, but this isn't a contract, Sintas. I'm not in this one for the money, I'm doing it to help all my friends, repay a few debts, and rebuild a few bridges for our people while reversing some of the damage I caused over the years." Mirta clarified, impressing her grandmother if the raised eyebrows and light smile were good signs.
"Good." Fett nodded, surprising everyone before he clarified, "There's often not much money to be made in hunting Sith, but it'll do wonders for your reputation. I'm transmitting coordinates now."
Reviewing the data, Ghes double-checked the coordinates before asking Fett, "You sure you put in the right location, Mand'alor? This isn't even on the ground and is far off from friendly territory. If any of Rhal's people are still lurking around here-"
"We're heading for the friends you need to get in touch with, Orade." Boba sternly answered. "The moment we arrive, our fleet and allies are going to head out and hit the target hard and fast."
"Then let's get moving. We don't have much time left before the attack starts, and we'll need every fighter and ship we can to get this job done." Mirta stated, her eyes full of a righteous fire neither Ghes, Sintas, nor Fett had seen from their granddaughter in many years and impressing all. Perhaps her time with Vestara Khai and later defecting to the Jedi's side was not a waste as most Mandalorians first assumed, and he might have to have a word with her and see if she was interested in a little cleanup work for the Protectors once this war ended.
1400 Hours
Imperial Space, Bastion
Within the Jedi Enclave
Inside the Training Halls
Striking down his eighth training droid with a finishing lightsaber slice, Jayce Solo Fel, Jedi Apprentice and the eldest child of Jagged and Jaina Solo Fel, was prepared to ask for the next droid before he sensed a distinctly familiar presence approach him. Loudly ordering the room's computer system, "Halt all training protocols immediately."
Turning around, he saw an aging human man garbed in the wear of an Imperial Grand Moff, one that had served the Empire with a rare combination of honor, loyalty, and distinction for four decades. From its weakest point after the Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty as Moff of the Braxant Sector, to being one of the few Moffs to covertly defy Darth Caedus after Grand Admiral Pellaeon's assassination and remain loyal to Jagged Fel after Daala's ill-fated coup attempt, Ephin Sarreti was a trusted leader of the Galactic Empire, friend of the Fel Family, and was a pragmatic supporter of the Jedi Order and their efforts.
Giving the Grand Moff a proper salute worthy of a man of his stature and deeds, Jayce greeted him, "What can I do for you, Sir?"
"Oh, none of that soldier talk with me, Jayce. Not here, at least." Ephin kindly waved off before his face took on a more solemn turn. "I came here to inform you that your parents have been trying to reach you for over an hour, but you hadn't picked up any of their calls."
"You came all the way down here, just to deliver a message from my mom and dad when the Empire needs your time far more?" Jayce skeptically raised an eyebrow, "What did they really send you here for?"
"I hoped to speak with you on the way back, since we haven't had the chance to have one of our educating and stimulating discussions since before Daala's civil war left the Empire in quite a fragile state." Ephin honestly answered, gesturing for Jayce to follow him towards the turbolift. "I know recent events by your parents have left you feeling disaffected, but you don't have to take on such a terrible burden on your own. You certainly don't want to end up like your uncle, after all."
"Low blow, Sir." Jayce muttered, even as he accompanied his longtime friend and mentor. Walking beside him, he continued, "If you spoke with my parents and siblings, then you know my stance on their blatant power grab, and how I want nothing to do with it."
"And that is your right, Jayce." Ephin emphatically nodded. "Truth be told, I have many misgivings on the matter as well, even if I stand on their side of the argument. The Empire needs a strong hand to guide it back from the brink, and it's clear most of the current Moffs are incapable of looking past their narrowed self-interests."
"Then why don't you lead the government until new elections can be held?" Jayce suggested. "You are the highest-ranking surviving and most incorruptible Moff in all of the Empire's time and are a popular leader with the military, civilian population, not to mention such a leader could gain the backing of the Jedi and other factions as well."
"After those Sith-led schuttas in BAMR made the reconsolidation of the Empire public? I doubt I could pull off such a plan without appearing as indecisive or weak." Ephin recalled to his longtime friend.
"Not alone." Jayce clarified. "But I'd help you, and I have many friends in the Jedi and High Command that feel the same way as you. We can present a strong case to my parents and help them see they're making a mistake."
"There is much merit in that idea, I have to admit." Ephin slowly nodded in agreement. "It would do the Empire good to see another of its own rise to power by honorable means, while maintaining good ties with the rest of the galaxy and preventing the Jedi from being perceived as blatant powermongers. And your family can still play a vital role with us as ambassadors and commanders, or whatever path you might decide."
Gazing at the young Jedi Apprentice, he knowingly added, "I have to say, this is quite a convincing plan you have laid out to keep your family from making a tough compromise. You must be desperate in not wanting them to lead the Empire."
"It's more than that, Ephin." Jayce began. "I know these are difficult times, but it isn't the role of a Jedi to take the easy path out. Since things aren't as desperate as the Draggulch Period and the era of the Jedi Lords, I'd rather explore every possible option before having my family grab power, especially after the example Darth Sidious and his apprentices set for the galaxy, not to mention the man who happens to have given me my name."
"If they must take power like that, then… I might very well have to leave the Empire behind and go back to the Jedi. I just don't want to so close to power like the rest of my family is."
'Do you not trust yourself with such responsibility and authority that much, my friend?' Ephin wondered, knowing what he needed to do to convince Jayce to face his fears before they ripped him away from his family and risked fracturing the Empire and galaxy at this vital juncture.
2200 Hours
Ilum System Outskirts, Aboard the Beniko
'This can't be good.' Dianne grimly reflected at observing the Nikarduns jump to hyperspace, knowing that the Deathless and its commanding officer were leaving, it left little to the imagination, and she immediately grasped the implications of the sudden departure, and the two fleets' trajectory towards friendly territory.
This realization, coupled with the dozens of transmissions her people were able to record and translate from the Nikardun fleet, could only mean they were planning a campaign of vengeance against the victors of their last war. But unlike their previous battles, the Nikardun were backed by new patrons, armed with new weapons and strategies, and thereby more dangerous than ever before.
Working through hundreds of possible targets that could have triggered such a bold risk, even while swiftly typing a subspace report to transmit to Zakuul and Nirauan, the Paladin-Captain made sure to encrypt her message with triple the required security protocols and firewalls. Being among of the few Aqulians to know of their people's alliance with the Empire of the Hand, she was certain the Hand's leader would make the most of the information accumulated and help guarantee the enemy could not complete their designs, but only if it got to her people and Vurawn in time.
Still, regardless of this unexpected development, Dianne hoped the diverse array of ships would make their attack soon, before her people's supplies and ship's essential systems were completely drained. At the best estimates, each of the six ships had about three days' worth of supplies left, and no word had officially come on a relief force. But through the Force's currents, even in the storm of screams being carried out in all directions by Ilum's surface crying out for salvation, Dianne felt a subtle tug back from a familiar presence and longtime Aquilian ally and took comfort in knowing that Ilum would be delivered from these heinous blasphemers soon.
2200 Hours, Selona 5th, 59 ABY
Csilla, 20 Kilometers East of Cssplar
Within the Expeditionary Library
Scouring through the archives of the Chiss naval records and recording any possible references on his personal questis, Vurawn and the dozen Chiss assisting him in his hunt for clues in uncovering the enemy's next move.
According to the report he received precisely twenty hours ago, Paladin-Captain Arcus had delivered several transmissions to the Empire of the Hand and Aquilian Republic, and what her teams had managed to decrypt before sending them onward indicated a significant shift in the Sith's strategy. If their captured intelligence was valid, then the war was about to take an ugly direction for the free powers of the galaxy, as the Nikardun were to lead several fleets on a series of feints to throw as many of their enemies into disarray as possible before striking at a target of great importance to the dark factions' expansionist designs on the Ascendancy.
While the target they were aiming for was not yet determined by him, Vurawn was already hard at work in uncovering that mystery, combing through ten bookshelves worth of knowledge, and requisitioning the aid of the Superior General's staff in combing through any weaknesses in the Ascendancy's defenses, or seeing if any of Saganu's former Sith-backed cohorts had reemerged to try and continue their campaign of destruction on their own home.
Wherever the Nikardun and their patrons ultimately planned to strike, he would do his part in blunting whatever incursion came the Chiss's way, even if he was unable to join the Alliance fleets in journeying to Ilum and learning more of the Jedi ruins scattered throughout the planet. And if the enemy struck at the heart of his people's territory, then he would have more than a few surprises planned for them and make them all pay in blood for threatening everything him and the Empire of the Hand and Chiss cherished.
0800 Hours, Selona 6th, 59 ABY
Just Outside the Horuset System
Aboard the CEC Consular-class Cruiser Dark Beauty
Finishing receiving data from her scout run on the Sith blockade across Korriban, Phasma knew the time was near for the Jedi-led force to make their attack on those she once considered her family, whether they were of blood or fellow Sith, just as she once was barely a month ago. Having defected from the One Sith to aid the Jedi during the proxy war on Falleen upon finally realizing that she could not serve them without further staining her soul with dishonor and risk replicating the sins that left her homeworld a desolate wasteland before her time, she knew this confrontation would inevitably come.
Knowing that the surviving clans from Parnassos and her brother were still firmly aligned with the Sith, she knew she would eventually have to face them in battle and risk losing them for good. But there had been enough suffering in the galaxy wrought by the Dark Side's followers in the last six decades to equal the millennia of madness and plagues of the New Sith Wars that began just over two thousand years ago, so it was finally time to bring this cycle of fighting to a close before building a lasting galactic peace.
Reviewing the information her commandeered corvette accumulated on the Horuset System, she knew this incoming operation's first hour or two would determine if the Alliance strike teams could slip past the armada that was guarding the ancient world. With Belok Rhal and Darth Krayt's personal fleets patrolling the space before Korriban, it would take an overwhelming amount of firepower to make even a crack in the impressive force.
Drawing upon the abilities her former master had taught her in infiltration, Phasma allowed her conscious mind to leave her body and extended her senses out towards the planetary blockade. Seeing the dozens of Neo Death Watch and One Sith ships flying in perfect formation, and detecting the countless life forms aboard each ship, the Sith defector first believed the factions had maintained a firm alliance after the former's withdrawal from their home sector.
But by stretching out even further, she felt a commanding and dark pall over each ship, and she recognized the putrid stench of the Dark Side and who was directing each will. She knew her brother's grasp of the Force all too well, and just how the Sith had twisted him into a fanatical nutcase bent on destroying everything and everyone who interfered with his insatiable lust for power and vengeance. And he was directing the fleets from aboard the Sith's high-profile vessel and only Meditation Sphere, which meant his powers would only be augmented to levels impossible for one Sith Lord to conjure up on his own.
Going up against a Sith of Darth Zorra abilities wouldn't be easy for even a seasoned Jedi or fleet admiral, but now that Phasma knew he was leading the blockade, the Alliance had a chance and the means to counter the man who once called himself Keldo. And if he personally decided to intervene in this mission, then Phasma would do what she must to stop him, even if it meant breaking her heart into countless shards if she was forced to kill him.
1200 Hours
Horuset System, Korriba Scar Asteroid Belt
Within the Sadow Asteroid-Superstructure
Aboard the Command Center
'The Jedi and their friends have finally arrived.' Ship called out to every Sith in the system, just as the station's proximity alarms began going off and all nearby patrolling fleets began converging outside Korriban's orbit. Whatever number of enemy ships comprised the Jedi force, it had to be an impressive one to warrant such a strong response from Zorra's thralls.
With the self-aware bat eye-shaped Meditation Sphere, having served the Sith for countless millennia and a former friend of Vestara Khai before she made her final betrayal, Sorzus could only imagine the regret the vessel felt at trying to destroy the first known being to treat Ship as more than a tool. Hopefully, the Sith construct would follow through with his inbred programming and work to destroy the turncoat and all her many friends.
But right now, there were more immediate matters for the Chagrian Sith and her staff to attend to, duties which primarily involved protecting their prized investment secreted aboard this still-hidden facility.
Cloaking her presence in the Force, she activated the station's intercom and played a prerecorded message, ordering all Sith aboard to mask themselves from the Jedi and their allies while shutting down all nonessential power aboard the facility. Until the attack ended, and the Alliance of Light sent their teams down to the surface to try searching for Edaan and kill Lord Krayt, all operations were to be halted.
Allowing her thoughts to drift to Edaan, she marveled at the magnificent work her staff already had done on the Jedi prodigy in transforming him into a perfect general of the Dread Lord's armies. And hopefully, he would be soon able to become something far more personal for the young woman. While she had a duty to uphold her family's legacy and serve Lord Krayt as the second Darth Wyyrlok after her father expired, there was nothing wrong about taking a consort on the side. The Sith Code's first mantra did state that there was only passion instead of peace, and she held a myriad of passions coursing through her.
Having studied all the One Sith could obtain on Edaan Palpatine from Lord Krayt's many spy networks embedded across virtually every organization and world across the galaxy, Sorzus was quickly captivated by his boundless potential, his incredible spirit, and his smoldering good looks that captivated countless lesser women among the galaxy's populace. But there would be time to reminisce in her carnal fancies after this incursion was driven back and the Jedi were embarrassed before their cohorts yet again. Right now, she had a task given to her by the Dread Lord himself, and she would not let him down like her father did when the Aphra women and their allies made a mockery of the Sith's security and strength, especially not when the stakes were even higher for the young and blossoming adherent of the Dark Side.
1220 Hours
Korriban Orbit
Aboard the Pius Dea Cathedral Ship Retribution
Inside Darth Zorra's Quarters
Sequestered away in his private meditation chambers, Darth Zorra could detect every life flickering throughout this star system and worked to worm his way into the minds and spirit of every enemy combatant that dared interfere in the Grand Design. Seeing about two dozen capital ships and twice as many frigates and corvettes attacking the neophyte Rhal's force, it was a pathetic and obvious tactic meant to hide the enemy infiltration teams that would try and rescue their captive Jedi poster boy, and it would be an easy task to wipe them all out in a matter of hours.
Through the Dark Side, his most prized acolytes, his large repository of Sith artifacts sequestered aboard, and by working in conjunction with Ship, he found his power amazingly augmented by every treasure and servant under his control and could all but control the outcome of this paltry incursion. But something was interfering with his Battle Meditation and blocking his efforts to weaken the wills of all the Sith's enemies. Or rather, several individuals familiar with how he worked and knew how to use the Dark Side were blocking his attack, one of which he was eager to see again after her desertion of all they swore to do when the Sith freed them from the chains of their doomed world.
Phasma, his own flesh and blood, was here, and she was prepared to aid the Jedi in desecrating the Sith's ancestral home before they completed their withdrawal from the system. Such a betrayal of her people after Lord Krayt delivered the scattered clans of Parnassos from their hellish world nearly sent Zorra into a frenzied rage against his sister, but he remembered the Dread Lord's orders and how he wanted the Alliance of Light to fall into the elaborate trap he devised for them. Which was why he would stick to the plan and play the long game here, not letting his desire for retribution negatively affect his judgment.
If all went as Lord Krayt anticipated, then Phasma would get exactly what she deserved alongside the other Sith defectors, and it would be by her brother's own blade. A satisfying end for anyone else that considered going against the One Sith's will. But until that fateful and final encounter could come, he needed to draw as many unsuspecting victims he could down to Korriban's surface to serve as the perfect test for the One Sith's future general. He only hoped he could kill more of those self-righteous and weak-willed Jedi along the way, just as he did when he aided the Dread Lord in his glorious attack on Dathomir's Jedi Praxeum.
1245 Hours
Hyperspace, En Route to the Ilum System
Aboard the Cal Omas
Reading through the reports his main officers provided him on the fleet's battle readiness, Kral Nevil, vice admiral of the Galactic Alliance Defense Force and veteran of many wars since he entered the New Republic Navy decades ago, could not shake the uneasy feeling that began when the Alliance force jumped towards Ilum.
Hearing heard from the Jedi and Chiss of the nearly boundless potential of lightsaber crystals was one thing but hoped he would never have to battle against such abuses of nature's beauties after the horrendous example the two Death Stars set when they utilized those same types of crystals in each of their superlasers, never mind entire fleets of cloaked warships that could evade detection by virtually all sensors until they unleashed their payloads on their unaware targets. And the Quarren's facial tentacles twitched in sheer fear at the idea of letting those type of superweapons be revived across the galaxy in the Sith's hands, a sure sign of his anxiety over this coming battle.
While he understood and agreed with the attack on Ilum, given the enemy's heavy investment on the Jedi sanctuary world and large amount of enemy commanders stationed on and above the world, the large mobilization of the Alliance fleets left the Ascendancy in a precarious position. With the numerous One Sith fleets and their allies still on the loose, and their bases remaining concealed from everyone's sight, making such a bold attack now was a great risk.
Still, if they could capture even a handful of the enemy commanders or flagships, it could provide them a few useful clues on Krayt's plans, or locations for several of his main bases, which was worth the risk of a full-on attack.
Besides, the Chiss were hardly left defenseless or on their own in this one. They were holding back their fleets to protect their borders and vassals, and the Alliance's many factions involved here still had several fleets in reserve to supplement the Ascendancy's defense.
Barging right into his analysis of the Aquilians's reports from in-system, Vurawn, to his surprise, appeared on the main strategic holotable, and quickly explained. "Apologies for the interruption, Vice Admiral, but our enemies have made their next move. They've struck at the Ascendancy."
"Where?" Kral asked, but Vurawn continued to speak without breaking stride,
"I need you to divert a few warships to the following coordinates immediately. I believe the raids the Nikardun are conducting are a feint to divert us from determining the Sith's true target. Seven warships will be sufficient without compromising your Ilum task force, but they need to change course right away if they hope to arrive in time to make a lasting difference."
"I have dispatched Admiral Parck and his fleet to the rendezvous point and alerted all Alliance commands of the upcoming attack, but against Yiv and the rest of the Sith's servants, we will need more than mere numbers to drive them off."
Seeing the pleading glean in Vurawn's eyes, Kral nodded his acquiescence, "I'll have them on the way by the hour's end."
"Thank you. I will repay you for your generosity soon enough. Good hunting to you all at Ilum." Vurawn gratefully acknowledged.
1300 Hours
Horuset System, Just Outside the Korriba Scar Asteroid Belt
Aboard the Victory III-class Star Destroyer Guardian
Quickly and methodically scanning the battlefield raging before him, Desmond Yage, Admiral of the Imperial Navy, grimaced at seeing the Sith's sheer numbers arrayed against the mixed league of Jedi-allied ships. Unless the sensors on the Guardian were malfunctioning, the Sith held more than a three-to-one numerical advantage against the Alliance of Light's twenty-four capital ships, with more than thirty Neo Death Watch warships leading the charge.
And the Sith's edge here was not merely through material means or superior numbers, for he felt a foul presence working to infiltrate his mind and erode his resolve, and he knew it was the same with every other soul in this disparate fleet. It was only thanks to the Jedi and their darker allies that the worst Desmond felt was a mild headache and an increased pang of anxiety, and not the sapping fear he expected from a Sith's version of the fabled art of Battle Meditation, and the admiral reminded himself to express his gratitude to them when they returned.
Still, the Alliance of Light was giving more than a fair accounting of itself in this fight, having downed six of the rogue Mandalorian vessels and three Sith warships protecting their prized Cathedral flagship and their capital wolrd, and had only lost two capital ships of their own in the opening blows. Unfortunately, this level of engagement was not enough to keep the Sith's full focus on them and not on the infiltration teams awaiting the right moment to make their approach. Somehow, they had to escalate the fighting and quickly before time ran out for everyone. He only hoped the chaos would not get everyone under his and Fett's command killed in such a bitter trade.
1315 Hours
Hyperspace, En Route to the Copero System
Aboard the Deathless
Eyeing his personal timepiece for the fifth time since the hour started, Yiv knew the destruction of the Chiss best shipyard would begin the moment the Nikardun fleet exited hyperspace. Exactly forty-five minutes remained before the One Sith's preliminary assault on Chiss Space began, and it would be the first major step towards approaching the Ascendancy's long-awaited demise. That is, if the strategy Wyyrlok and his subordinates devised unfolded exactly as they promised, but everyone was prepared to adapt when it was necessary.
Thanks to the dozens of Sith spies and informants that were still safely embedded inside the Chiss's many structures of power, he knew the Ascendancy and their many allies had diverted a significant deal of their fighting prowess to respond to the fifteen raids now striking at their borders, leaving the door open for a full-fledged assault on their most prized shipyard. There was another symbolic significance to attacking this world, since Copero had long been a prized jewel of the Mitth family, and the psychological gain of destroying a shipyard of the Nikardun's most reviled enemy's family was too great to ignore by anyone.
While he would have preferred to go after Vurawn himself and the heart of the Chiss Ascendancy on its capital world, he understood how such a move risked too much far too soon. Before Csilla's fall and the collapse of the Nikardun's greatest adversary, the Ascendancy had to be battered and divided against itself before the final assault began, both tasks Yiv would relish in helping to carry out.
But only a madman would expect this victory to come easily or through conventional means, since the Chiss had learnt to use more creative solutions and think outside the normal patterns of their preceding generations. To win this fight, the Nikardun would need to level the playing field with a few surprises of their own. And with the help of the One Sith's most capable clients and a select few of the order's best commanders, their dark alliance would wreak as much havoc as they could to the Copero military structures before escaping ahead of any enemy responders.
The Rakata would especially be useful in this task, since the One Sith had invested virtually all their available resources in rearming this remnant, and the ancient warriors hungered to do battle again after over twenty-five millennia of isolation and inter-tribal warfare against the rival clans. Even with just three of their battle cruisers accompanying them on this task, it would be sufficient to strike fear into the enemy's hearts and make them hesitate long enough for the battle to turn against them.
And with the final systems-checks and weapons calibrations underway, Yiv was ready to enact his bittersweet vengeance against all Vurawn and his friends and allies deemed worth defending. His only regret was that he was unable to destroy the Chiss clone right away, since the spies reported he was safely sequestered away on Csilla. Perhaps he could inquire if the Sith's dupes would be willing to perform a bit of wet work on behalf of their betters. It would be the ultimate irony if these gullible idiots were able to assassinate the best hope their people had of escaping long-sought retribution for centuries of arrogant isolation and superiority.
For now, though, he would make do with achieving this strategic victory and hammering the Ascendancy's next few nails into its coffin.
Just another forty-three minutes until all chaos broke loose for all his enemies, and Yiv was immensely relishing the moment when he could truly begin his people's long-awaited revenge.
1330 Hours
Horuset System Outskirts
Aboard the Harpago-Class Attack Boat Heskel's Folly
Impatiently scanning the system for any potential openings in the planetary blockade before the diverse flotilla, Grace Tirall, Paladin-Lieutenant of the Aquilian Republic and second-in-command of its Korriban Expeditionary Task Force, was prepared to plow right through the interdicting force no matter the risks if that was what it took to save Edaan and give the One Sith a reckoning they would never forget.
It was only thanks to the vigilant oversight of her adoptive father and commanding officer, Soldier, that she kept her ship in line with the rest of the Alliance of Light ships until the right moment came. But that moment might be arriving sooner than anyone else believed, if the growing tingling sensation Grace felt in the back of her mind was a warning of a strike force's equivalent of new players, along with a few unexpected hitchhikers about to arrive, and she had a hunch these friends of hers' and Edaan would be just what was needed to break through the Sith armadas.
After rediscovering the reformed society of Zakuul to prepare them for reentering the galactic stage as an ally of the free powers rather than conqueror, it was only right that they play a role in rescuing the Jedi who made this return possible while helping decapitate the Sith's command structure and liberating as many of their young captives as possible.
While most of the Aquilians were recalled back to their region of space to assist in an Alliance ambush on the Sith's Ilum mining operations, High Command was wise enough to leave behind a few teams to relay information back while helping the war effort in whatever capacity. And one of them was ordered to assist the Jedi in their efforts any way they could, so they chose to aid them in their extraction mission.
Receiving a recognition code from the approaching force, Soldier ordered his daughter in all but blood, "Contact all teams. We're about to get our opening, and then the real work begins."
Well, I think this is a good place to end the chapter. With plenty of plots underway and battles about to begin, this story is off with a bang! I hope you all are ready for the twists and turns this story will take, as I have grand plans for this work. If you have constructive criticism, I'd be more than willing to hear it in either an email or Personal Message. But trolls will not be welcome. So, how are you all doing on Friday, October 14, 2022? I'm doing well, if nervous with all that's going on in the world and exhausted from five grueling days at work this week. But now I've got a couple days off before I work again, and I plan to make the most of them. Oh, and before I forget, I won't be publishing two chapters at once after this, as I'm all caught up in my writing, and I'll just do them one at a time from now on. And I won't be writing as much as I'd like the next couple of weeks, since I need to do some research for the 2022 Midterm Elections, and that will take a bit of time. Well, I'd better examine this chapter before I publish it. I hope you all have a blessed night. May the Lord be with us all in these mad times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
