"I was able to decrypt some intercepted Imperial transmissions with the encryption keys I grabbed from old Republic subspace frequencies," began Ahsoka as she entered the captain's office of the Fire Hawk. Originally intended to serve as a place where the ship's commanding officer could perform their duties in peace and isolation, the captain's offices had been retrofitted by Maul into a miniature control centre- holograms and screens scattered the circular room, depicting tactical data from all across the galaxy.
"It's as your informants reported. The Empire is pulling all non-critical military assets away from the Outer Rim, and reassigning large numbers of their forces in the Mid-Rim towards consolidating their power in the Galactic Core. It's taking a lot of manpower and military power to maintain order, what with all the protests and riots. Although..."
"Yes?" asked Maul, standing in the room's centre, eyes scanning the various displays.
"I'm just... I'm not sure I understand your strategy. We haven't gotten off the Fire Hawk or done any actual fighting in weeks! You... aren't trying to keep me away from the battlefield, are you? You said yourself that just because I can't use the Force doesn't mean-"
"Calm yourself," replied Maul in a hollow and matter-of-fact tone. "There is a larger game being played. It will not be easy, but believe it or not... we're only a few critical moves away from absolute victory."
"You're joking," said Ahsoka, an easy smile spreading across her face. But after a few seconds had passed and she realised Maul was not, in fact, joking, her expression turned to that of shock.
"Look-" began Ahsoka, her tone cautious. "I know you're eager to get to Sidious, but the way things are right now, that just isn't possible. The Empire might have ceded control over the Outer Rim and loosened their stranglehold on the Mid Rim..."
Ahsoka gestured towards a holographic galactic map, bringing up the Core Worlds.
"But in doing so, they've made the Galactic Core virtually impregnable. Hyperspace lanes into the Core Worlds are being tightly policed- there's no way we're getting any kind of sizeable force through there. And as if that wasn't enough, based on some radio chatter I intercepted... Coruscant's under a planet-wide quarantine- no unlicensed ships in or out- all enforced by a planetary shield. Our efforts thus far have only prompted the Empire to entrench their position... and I don't see any way we can breach it. Unless... that's been your intention all along, and you have something else in mind."
"Perceptive," said Maul, a smile of satisfaction spreading across his face. "Your tactical assessment is sound- recently, my efforts have indeed been focused on... persuading Imperial forces to entrench themselves in the Core Worlds... as they now have."
Taking control of the holographic projector, Maul brought up displays of several worlds, each showing their estimated Imperial presence.
"We will not be able to vanquish Sidious if he has anywhere to escape to. As such, while you've been recovering over the past few weeks, the Fire Hawk and our so-called 'Crimson Fleet' have been working to trap Sidious in a cage of his own making. My master's plan was brilliant, certainly- but by trying to establish his new order in the immediate aftermath of a Galactic War, he inadvertently left his supply lines exposed. In his eagerness to subjugate the Outer Rim, Sidious dedicated substantial resources towards rapid expansion... without the necessary defensive infrastructure to support it. The Crimson Fleet was able to capitalise on this blunder. Our 'fleet' is far too small to oppose the Empire militarily, but by supplying arms and vital intelligence to a number of resistance groups, we've weakened their hold on the vast majority of the galaxy. Worlds like Geonosis and Mandalore have active rebel cells so strong it would take legions of Imperial troops to pacify them... and even some former Republic loyalist worlds like Ryloth have demonstrated open rebellion to the new regime- rebellion that, with our backing, has become quite the thorn in the Empire's side."
"I see... And by 'encouraging' these groups to target Imperial supply lines via the intel we provide them, we make it impossible for the Empire to fight a sustained war in the Outer Rim- we leave them with no choice but to draw back."
"Precisely. Certain Inner and Mid-Rim worlds were also amenable to similar tactics- most notably, Kashyyyk, which sits atop a vital hyperspace junction, and Onderon, a planet whose strategic importance I suspect you already know all too well."
Her mind briefly flashed back to her time as a Jedi, training insurgents to resist the Separatist occupation of Onderon. She felt a slight ache in her shoulder as a particular memory flicked through her mind- her failure to save Steela, the leader of the insurgents. It was difficult to imagine what had become of the group without their cherished leader. What had become of Steela's brother? And what had become of Lux?
Snapping back to reality, Ahsoka nodded, consciously banishing all traces of wistfulness from her face.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it- nowhere in the galaxy is safe for the Empire except for the Core Worlds. But the Core Worlds is all one really needs to control the galaxy's fate. Right now, the Empire's best option is to draw back to the Core- but that's only until they build up the military might to begin their galactic conquest anew. They're at the intersection of almost every hyperspace lane- almost every trade route- and they control the largest and most technologically advanced shipyards. As long as the Core remains in Imperial hands, the entire galaxy is within their grasp."
"By locking down the Galactic Core, it may indeed seem the Empire's erected a wall so insurmountable, nothing can breach it," said Maul, unconcerned by Ahsoka's words. "However... in doing so, they've also boxed themselves in. It will be some time before the Empire has the means to safely venture beyond the Core... and that is all the time we need to seize our prize."
With a flick of Maul's wrist, he brought up another planet from the holomap.
Upon seeing the world, Ahsoka's eyes widened.
"I... I don't think I've ever seen that world on Republic Starmaps..."
"You wouldn't have," responded Maul, a sinister expression on his face. "This... is Malachor."
As far as Ahsoka knew, Malachor was a myth. Despite its taboo nature, talk of Malachor had been the subject of countless rumours among Jedi Padawans and Younglings. Ahsoka had heard ghost stories of a planet of petrified corpses- a world of darkness, death, and ancient Sith secrets.
"Ah..." said Maul, noticing Ahsoka's flash of recognition. "So you have at least heard of it."
"I have," replied Ahsoka, a note of fear creeping into her voice. "Although... I didn't think it was actually... real."
"Oh, it's very real, I assure you. I was once taken there, you know? By my master. It was there, upon inhaling the ashes of a fallen warrior, that I saw the destruction and suffering the Jedi were capable of inflicting. Or rather... I lived it. The chaos- the pain- the death... and the Jedi. Cowards and assassins... one and all."
Ahsoka's instinctive response was to disagree- and yet, she couldn't. The nightmares of the Jedi temple- the ruthless brutality of Anakin's massacre- and the shattered state of the galaxy since then. It was Sidious whose schemes had wrought such suffering- but it was the Jedi's blindness and cowardice that had enabled them.
"In any case," continued Maul, "...Malachor hides a secret. A secret not even Sidious could unlock- for unlocking it requires trust, and my master trusts no one. A secret so powerful that it shall win us this war."
"And what is this secret, exactly?"
Maul's expression turned uncharacteristically hesitant, and several seconds passed before he finally spoke.
"...a weapon. Once wielded by the Sith Empire of old... it is capable of vanquishing Sidious, no matter his defences. With Imperial forces concentrated on the Core, the path to Malachor is open. All that remains is making the appropriate preparations... so that we may strike once an opportunity presents itself."
Ahsoka's eyes narrowed.
"Wait just a minute- you still haven't answered my question. What kind of weapon are we talking about? How could any one weapon be so important? And... why do I get the feeling you're hiding something from me?"
"Your curiosity will not be easy for me to allay. There is much I simply cannot explain without... showing you. But I promise you, Ahsoka, your faith will be rewarded. Perhaps some scepticism regarding my motives is... warranted... but you know better than anyone else that I want nothing more than to destroy Sidious. Is that not so?"
"...it is."
Maul was telling the truth. She was certain of it. And yet, an unsettling dread came over Ahsoka.
"Then I ask that you trust me, if only this once," said Maul, turning to the former Jedi, his expression sincere. "When you see it with your own eyes, I am certain you shall understand- but until then, we have one goal. With the Empire's forces sequestered, there won't be a better opportunity. We must get to Malachor... no matter the cost."