Good afternoon, everyone! How are you doing on this warm day of Sunday, September 12, 2021? I'm doing pretty well right now, as I did some yard work today with my father, so I got a good workout earlier. Also, I played a bit of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla last night, getting 40 Gamerscore Points and getting a little bit closer to finishing the game. I look forward to finishing it soon so I can sell it for a bit of money. And I might read a bit more of Kushiel's Scion tonight, but I have work and school to deal with tomorrow and Wednesday, so I won't be as available as I'd like over the next three days. Oh, and I hope to have Chapter 1 of my story revised and published soon as well. However, given my beta reader's undoubtedly busy schedule, I am willing to wait from a few days to up to a week. And I've been updating my forum to expand upon my ideas for my post-Jedi Odyssey saga, and I've already got a contributor helping me form ideas. If you want to take a look, feel free to do so. Just remember, trolls and haters are not welcome, and will be asked to leave. If they persist, then I will have to take harsher measures. Well, with all that out of the way, I'd best get this chapter underway. May the Force and Lord be with us all in these difficult times for so many, for they'll need it, I'm sure.

Falleen

Within the Royal Palace

"I'm surprised you're asking me to do this, Cillmam'n." Aurra Sing, failed Jedi Youngling-turned bounty hunter, mockingly appraised the hulking form of Darth Malleus by the latter half of his original name.

As the aged and armored Sith Lord was placed in command of the Falleen deployment in order to draw the Jedi into an inescapable quagmire, the pale near-human mercenary was surprised at the clandestine command she and Duros bounty hunter Soonpaa Bane were being given. "I'd have thought you'd want me on the front lines in dealing with the Jedi. I do have quite a track record of killing them."

"You overestimate yourself at your own peril, Sing." Malleus contemptibly sneered beneath his helmet. "Your previous record says otherwise, especially since you could not even kill a four-year-old princess when you defeated her Sith father. Consider this your best, and likely only, chance to redeem yourself before the Dread Lord."

"And you think identifying a few possible traitors in your little cult's ranks is enough to win back his favor?" The blue-skinned Duros cautiously asked. After failing the Dread Lord in multiple operations on this Outer Rim stronghold, Aurra and her three fellow bounty hunters under Phasma's employ were relegated to mere bodyguard work for the planet's Sith-loyal royal family.

But this chance to redeem themselves in the Sith's eyes would be the key to their continued use and service by the Dark Siders, and not being quietly and unceremoniously disposed of. "I mean no disrespect, Lord Malleus, but isn't this a task best suited for Lady Dician and her people in Sith Intelligence?"

"You'll take orders directly from her for the time being, working as her advance agents. And if you're worried about your original client, there is no reason to be. Lady Phasma is more than capable of fending for herself without you watching her every move." Malleus answered.

Truth be told, he did not trust the newly anointed Sith Lady as far as he could throw her. While it could not be disputed that she was an accomplished warrior and brilliant leader, but she still clung to her pathetic and traumatized humanity, preventing her from fully giving herself over to the Dark Side.

That could make her a liability to the One Sith, and Malleus was determined to purge the order of any dissenting voices or weaknesses. If she did not completely surrender herself over to the Dark Side and the Sith's Grand Design, Malleus would have to take matters into his own hands.

But he needed proof before he would be able to move against her, and that was where Phasma's own bounty hunters came in. It would especially prove to be a delicious irony, using Phasma's own agents to seal her fate.

And that particular clandestine mission would soon be directed at Lord Oculus and Lady Sariss as well. Ship warned him how the two former Jedi grappled with many of the sacrifices demanded to achieve Lord Krayt's Grand Design. Thanks to that little warning, he had a strong hunch that it was only a matter of time before the two lovers tried to jump ship and make nice with the Jedi again.

It only made sense, especially if they ever found out how their expulsion from the hypocritical peacekeepers and their so-called rescue from an arms deal gone wrong were all orchestrated by the One Sith and their prized Iteration.

Even if he had to go against Lord Krayt's direct orders, the man who once called himself Telloti Cillmam'n, back when he was a part of the old Jedi Order's Exploration Corps, would protect the One Sith from all threats, whether they were from within or without. This Sith order and its founding Dread Lord gave him purpose after years adrift in the galaxy's deepest fringes following the return of the Jedi, and he would not see it suffer from another betrayal like that done by Vestara Khai.

Five Minutes Later

Red Twins System

Aboard the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Chimaera

"Someone's attached themselves to the ship's hull." Billibango, a Xexto Jedi Knight and one of the best tech savants within the Order, warned the destroyer's commanding officer, Vice Admiral Tors Remal of the defecting Maw Irregular fleet. "Looks like a light transport, and it's got one heat signature aboard."

"A Sith?" Tors grimly surmised.

"I don't think so. Whoever it is, their Force presence isn't as strong as I would think for a Sith. I think it's more likely to be one of their agents or assassins." Billibango admitted.

"Doesn't matter. We're not going to take any chances with any of their people. I'll deal with this one personally." Corran Horn, the main Jedi advisor aboard Daala's former flagship, said before he walked towards the bridge's turbolift.

"You would be wise to take plenty of backup with you, Master Horn." Salix Ned'Ix, a Verpine Jedi Knight and longtime friend of Billibango, quickly and anxiously advised the Corellian Jedi Master. "I'm detecting twelve droids activating aboard the enemy vessel, twelve signatures I know all too well."

"What kind of droids?" Corran grimly asked, even though he had a sinking feeling he already knew the answer.

"They're Yuuzhan Vong Hunter battle droids. YVH-8 S-Series battle droids, to be exact." The insectoid Jedi Knight worriedly answered.

No one was stupid enough to ask the obvious question of how the One Sith attained the plans for those highly lethal and expensive space assault droids. Instead, Tors wearily sighed, "I suspect General Calrissian and his family will need to clean house in their company when all is said and done."

"An issue for another day. We need to… focus on…" Salix trailed off, his limbs going slack and standing perfectly still, without any motor movement.

"Salix?" Billibango fretted for his friend, not seeing or sensing any trace of vibrant energy or life within Salix's empty compound eyes.

Suddenly the Verpine's body collapsed face first onto the ground without as little as a murmur, the head breaking right off the neck the instant it connected with the ground.

"SALIX!" Billibango screamed at seeing his dear friend appear to die from no apparent injury, with everyone else horrified at the sudden decapitation. What happened to the seemingly healthy Jedi Knight that could have killed him so quickly and without so much as a fight?

"Sir, I'm afraid Knight Ned'Ix is not the only one on this ship to die from an unseen cause." A communications officer reported to Tors. "We're getting reports of all ten of our Verpine engineers and technicians succumbing to a mysterious malady. There are no reported survivors."

The gears quickly clicking in both of their heads, Tors and Corran shared a look of mutual recognition, and the latter answered for everyone, "I think we have Lecersen and his kriffing Imp-engineered nanovirus to blame for this affliction."

"Agreed. And I certainly wouldn't put it past him and the Sith to stop with just our Verpine allies." Tors concurred before ordering the Xexto Jedi Knight, "Knight Billibango, I need you to warn all Alliance fleet commanders right away and order them to attack the One Sith with full force. We need to destroy them now before they can destroy any more of our people."

Gaze stuck upon the dismembered head of his longtime friend, Billibango was too traumatized to respond before Corran quickly, if kindlier, ordered him, "Do as he says, Billibango. You want to have justice for this tragedy? Then we're going to need your mind out of space and in the present now more than ever."

Forcing his mind to focus as Corran said, Billibango quickly began typing away on a console's keyboard before apologizing, "Right. Sorry. I'll get on that right now."

"Good." Tors satisfactorily answered before Corran entered the bridge's turbolift. As soon as the Jedi Councilor departed, the vice admiral sympathetically told the Xexto, "I apologize, but there'll be time to properly mourn for this travesty after we accomplish what we set out to do."

"I know. But I'll take comfort after we destroy the Sith's fleet, and finally take your old boss down for good." Billibango softly vowed.

Just Outside the Red Twins System

"The Alliance of Light and One Sith have performed quite cautiously so far. An odd change of pace between the two religious orders." Cylo noted to Natasi's hologram. Aboard his personal flagship, built within his genetically modified space grazer, he took extensive note of the mixed forces of both Jedi and Sith.

The data he gathered from this battle would be quite useful to the Olpakan Hegemony in their preparations for their galactic holy cleansing.

"Then it's clear they are on to us. Should we abort the rendezvous?" Natasi asked.

"That will not be necessary, Admiral." Cylo coolly assured her. "If the reports I am intercepting are any indication, the Jedi will switch their defensive strategy momentarily, and their leadership may be further weakened by the loss of another council member quite soon after."

"I will adjust my timetable accordingly and prepare the deployment of the space grazers approximately twenty minutes ahead of schedule. My people will meet you at the rendezvous point and take you all to the Hegemony."

"What about you? How will you escape all of our enemies and protect our secrets with two armadas ready to come down on you?"

"Let's just say that I took a page from our long dead emperor on how to cheat death." Cylo briefly allowed a small smirk to cross his face before disconnecting the holocall. Oh, how he would enjoy proving his intellectual superiority over the ancient Force orders and that whining schutta of a would-be warlord. And it would be good to shed his third cloned body in favor of a younger one in a rather explosive fashion.

It was time for Cylo-IV to fade away into the irrelevant annals of history, and for Cylo-V to rise and continue his irreplaceable work for the Knights of Olpaka.

Falleen, Lajinda Outskirts

Aboard the MC80B Mon Adapyne

"Well what do you think, guys? Are you surprised at all by the little side project I whipped up for the three of us?" Allana Solo nervously asked her grandparents on the newly minted ship that was stationed about fifty feet in front of them in the Mon Calamari warship's main hangar.

As the only heir to the Hapes Consortium and a Jedi Knight with grandparents as legendary as Han Solo, veteran spacer and current military advisor to General Farlander, and Leia Organa Solo, Jedi Master, daughter of Anakin Skywalker, and renowned diplomat, freedom fighter, and former New Republic leader, Allana was thankful for her vast connections in getting a YT-5100 Shriek-class bomber for them. She was just so surprised it only took just under a week to get here.

Having such a prized frigate would give them a useful and constructive side project to work on in their spare time, giving them a good outlet for their anger on having to work on the same planet as Vestara Khai. Those two really knew how to hold a grudge against the ex-Sith Lady, so much in fact, that it scared Allana on how they might have treated their enemies before she was born.

As a final bonus, it would hopefully soften the blow of losing the Millennium Falcon for six months while it underwent repairs for its role in saving Honoghr from a Sith defoliator bioweapon. Losing the famed YT-1300 truly put a damper on Han's spirits, having to part with his beloved ship and second home for such an extended period of time.

But that was not the underlying reason Allana was uncharacteristically sweating and fidgeting. She had gone up against Sith and emerged relatively unscathed, which was quite a contrast for the Chume'da.

No, the true cause of her anxiety was how she would now come clean on her involvement in Edaan Palpatine's mad, but successful, scheme to redeem Vestara, and how she kept it a secret from her own family ever since she found out about the plan ten years ago.

After conversing with Ben Skywalker, a cousin on her father's side, on the issue not two days ago, she made the decision to at last confess to her grandparents all of her knowledge and support of her former crush's plans. And she knew how confessing the truth to them would not be an easy task, but quite an uphill battle, especially with the summit between the Galactic Alliance and Empire set to begin in exactly forty-three minutes.

"How… Where did you get this ship, and how did you get it here without anyone knowing?!" Han disbelievingly breathed while smiling marvelously at the bomber. "It's a real work of art."

"Let's just say that there are a few benefits to me being a Jedi princess and heir to your family name." Allana quickly explained, a bashful smile gracing her lips.

"What's the reason behind all this, Allana?" Leia knowingly shook her head at her granddaughter. "You aren't usually the one to get us extravagant things, unless you had an ulterior motive."

"Well, you got me, Grandma." Allana ruefully rubbed the back of her head. Somberly breathing out her fears, she seriously admitted, "I have something to tell you both. And it won't be easy for you to hear, but it's long overdue. It's about Edaan and… his mission to save Vestara."

Eyes hardening in both of each Solo's eyes at the mention of the repentant Sith, Han angrily asked, "What does that smooka and Edaan's mad quest have to do with any of this?"

"Everything, because I knew all about the mission for the last ten years." Allana admitted as she quickly became on the verge of tears. "And I helped Edaan behind your backs because I knew that you wouldn't understand, not in your current state of mind."

Neither grandparent expected that answer, and the eerie silence scared Allana more than any yelling she heard from them. After a moment, Leia softly asked her, "Why? Why would you go behind everyone's backs and help Edaan with his reckless plan? Do you have any idea what he risked by going after her?"

"I know, but he helped remind me of redemption, and it's because of him and his master that I was able to finally forgive my father." Allana earnestly admitted, reminding Leia, "Isn't it like when you forgave your father for his atrocities when he was Darth Vader?"

Leia was silent at the counter, but Han caught something in Allana's confession that set his teeth on edge as he testily noticed, "You said 'Edaan and his master.' Are you saying that Kyle knew all about his mission, and roped you, Kyp, and who knows how many other Jedi into his deluded scheme?"

"Han-" Leia tried, but he was not having any of it.

"Is he the one that sent us this little bribe? Does he really think this tin bucket can buy our happiness?"

"No! I got it for you to apologize and give you a vent for your frustrations-" Allana answered before Han disgustingly interrupted her.

"You think I'm just frustrated?! Allana, don't you understand what you did?! You and Jaina both went behind our backs and risked everything you have for insane gambits, and we didn't know a thing about it! Do you even understand how angry and helpless that makes me feel?!"

"For star's sakes, you're going to rule the Hapes Consortium one day! If word of this ever got out, then it could give your mothers' rivals the ammo they need to try and usurp your birthright!" Han heatedly finished before taking a moment to steady himself.

"I only wanted to do what I thought was right!" Allana brokenheartedly shrieked. "Isn't that what you raised me to do? And since when did you start caring about my royal status and birthrights?! You always wanted me to follow my own path, and that's what I'm doing. Besides, I'm also a Jedi, which means I have to trust in the Will of the Force every day of my life, especially in a galactic crisis like this."

"Both of you, stop!" Leia loudly ordered her loved ones with the help of the Force to augment her voice.

Turning to Allana, she sternly told her granddaughter, "We'll talk about this later, after the summit. But you'd best go for now."

Nodding, Allana briskly walked away, but not before softly whispering to her grandfather, "I'm so sorry."

Han, throwing his arms up in unbridled fury, was about to storm off before Leia grabbed his shoulder. "Wait."

"Let me go, Leia. I need some air and get some distance from this insanity."

"I know you're angry. I'm angry too, and we both have every right to be. But didn't you hear what Allana said about Jacen?"

"I don't know. I was so mad it just slipped past me." Han reluctantly admitted.

"She forgave him. After eight years of being afraid of him, she let go of her anger and sorrow towards her father and decided to live with an open heart. And it was Edaan who made it all possible because of his talents." Leia happily reminded him as she warmly embraced him, her tears of joy sapping away Han's bitter and all-consuming rage.

Truly, Edaan had a wonder with people, especially if he could reach a girl as stubborn as Allana and heal her wounded heart. It was a shame that Leia gave him the cold shoulder for his crazy gambit.

And while Leia was still angry and mistrustful of Vestara for all that she had done, Allana was right about giving people every chance they could get for redemption. If Edaan and Allana were right about Vestara, then maybe, just maybe, there was a chance the former Sith might yet be saved. But she would not mention that to Han, at least not yet. He was not ready to hear those words with his trademark stubbornness and ability to hold a grudge.

Five Minutes Later

"I take it you have a mission for my new team already. I have to say, the timing could've been better with the news coming out from Coruscant." Tyria bitterly gathered from her longtime friend, former Jedi and Galactic Alliance general Keyan Farlander after he contacted her from the Mon Adapyne's bridge.

"Now's not the time for poor jokes, Master Sarkin-Tainer." Keyan formally returned the greeting. "Before he left for his honeymoon, Jedi Palpatine told me that his teammates needed to learn how to work together as a cohesive unit, and we need to go on the offensive against the Sith as soon as we can. But as you know, in order to do that, we'll need good intel and much more resources and manpower."

Pulling out a hologram of Falleen, he zoomed in on a single city centered deep within the planet's southeastern hemisphere before going into detail, "This is Port Nowhere. A sleazy and run-down version of our present headquarters that the Royal Family let fall into squalor in their corrupt rule."

"Luckily for us, thanks to General Haxim's spies, we just received word of the Royal Family having established up to two dozen secret storehouses of credits, weapons, and emergency supplies throughout the planet in order to keep their subjects dependent on their 'good graces.' Two of these resource caches are located deep within this particular cesspit."

"What do you need us to do?" Tyria asked.

"Haxim and his people still have a few trusted contacts in the city. Your team will work with them in scouting out the caches and their defenses. The Alliance will then use what intel you gather to help plan their liberation and exposure." Keyan explained.

Tyria understood what her old friend was inferring: Just as how, for the when New Republic fought against the Galactic Empire in the First Galactic Civil War, the forces of light were going to have to take apart the One Sith and their dark legacy piece by piece, undoing all of its schemes one step at a time if they were to eradicate its evil scourge for good, no matter how long it took.

But to do that, they would need the support and resolve of the people and their institutions for the dark and difficult times ahead. That would be the true and ultimate test of the mismatch that was the Alliance of Light, especially with the dark truths the One Sith and their pawns had unearthed and twisted for their own despicable designs.

Well, until the Galactic Alliance and its incompetent senators could get their act together, and the Empire could determine its next move with its imminent restructuring of its power base, the righteous few would have to hold the line against the ever-encroaching armies of the shadows.

And both Tyria and Keyan were more than prepared to do their parts to end this damned war. The only questions the general wondered were what this victory would cost, and if the galaxy and all its inhabitants were prepared to pay that price in order to finally achieve a lasting and genuine peace.

But there was one problem with that plan Tyria had to point out. "What about Lady Khai and Commander Gev? I doubt you'd want them on the field without properly verifying their trust."

"You'd be correct. That's why I've decided to send Master Skywalker and Organa Solo to aid them." Keyan answered.

"And if you're worried about any infighting within your team, then you can rest easy. I have a feeling Leia is beginning to come around with her grudge against Vestara." Keyan enigmatically smiled.

"Is that an order, General?" Tyria pressed, ignoring the mystery Keyan was presenting her with.

"Let me make this perfectly clear for the record." Keyan wearily acknowledged. "You all will work together in gathering this intel. But rest assured, we'll have proper disguises for all of the team's most well-known members, and I'll have the most accurate schematics and intel on Port Nowhere sent to you soon. I won't send you in without the greatest chances of succeeding in this mission."

Coruscant, Senate Building

"Tell me there's any measure of progress on hunting down the remaining traitors." Kajin pressed Galactic Alliance Security commander Thern Savar.

As the Chief of State prepared for his emergency summit, he was looking for any piece of good news that could be used to quell the riots that were close to consuming the whole of the planet's cityscape. And capturing the four remaining traitorous senators that fed intelligence and materials to the One Sith would go a long way to assuaging the public's fears. Especially since there were rumors that the remaining anti-Jedi senators were considering a Vote of No Confidence against Kajin.

If that happened, then the Alliance would be paralyzed by indecisiveness and incompetence, followed by withdrawing from the fight against the One Sith, leaving the galaxy with even slimmer odds of surviving this shadow war.

"Not enough on that front, I'm sorry to say. All we can do is isolate the districts that each senator is hiding in. After that, they've gone to ground." The human shamefully answered.

"However, there is one development that my people picked up, something rather critical." Thern quickly continued. "Long story short, we found a few oddities in each of the traitors' budgets and found that they used several fringe companies to smuggle experimental weapons to interested third parties. Parties that are currently stationed right on Coruscant."

"Give it to me straight. Who are we dealing with, and what did they buy?" Kajin expectantly asked.

"Prototypes of our latest in surveillance tech, rogue Jedi and Sith-hunting weapons, and military grade communications gear. As for who bought them, I've compiled a list of probable suspects."

"Very good. Upload the data to the Joint Chiefs right away." Kajin tried to dismiss the GAS commander, but he continued to walk alongside his leader.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but there's more to it than that. My people have intercepted scattered sightings of Mandalorians lurking around the outskirts of the Senate District." Thern pressed.

Stopping in his tracks, Kajin sighed before nodding for the commander to continue. "We don't know if they're Neo Death Watch, Fett's people, or another group altogether. But whoever they are, they're sticking to the shadows and keeping a low profile. Whatever's going on, someone is likely to make a big move very soon."

"Then there is an obvious solution to this problem, Commander." The Cerean simply answered. "Prepare your division to travel to Mandalore within the next two days. I will have Ambassador Dorvan reach out to Boba Fett and get him to admit if he or the Neo Death Watch have any of their people watching us. Wynn always was a better diplomat with the Mandalorians than I ever was."

Recognition glistening in his eyes, Thern was prepared to salute the Chief of State, but then asked, "Sir, what about the riots and terrorists? I daresay you'll need every soldier and agent you can to contain the anarchy here."

"I appreciate your concern. But we need to stay on the offensive against the Sith while we still have the capabilities. And the Joint Chiefs and I have recently acquired a few reserve assets that can more than compensate for your departure. Have faith and hope in the people, and whatever higher powers you believe in that this will all work out. Hope is a greater weapon than most people believe."

"Yes, Sir." He then quickly departed, but Kajin called out to him one last time.

"One more thing, Commander. Inform General Loran that our hidden assets might need to reveal themselves if our suspicions on the Maladians and their clients prove to be accurate. I think it's time we widen our circle of trust within the galactic populace."

"I'll do that right away, Sir. I wish you the best of luck with your imminent summit."

"Thank you." Kajin gratefully thanked the human. "I daresay that I'll need all the luck and support I can get as soon as I have to face this particular angry mob in about forty-five minutes." To his surprise, as soon as Thern departed, he found that his private datapad pinged, and as he read its contents, a creeping smile emerged on his face.

If this information and its source were both accurate, it is just what he needed to quell this chaos and unite the galaxy against the One Sith and their power-hungry pawns.

Pulling out his comlink, he called General Garik Loran, Director of Galactic Alliance Intelligence, and ordered him, "I'm sending you a data packet, marked for the highest priority. Put all your efforts into validating its claims by the end of the hour. If this works, then we'll stop the riots and exonerate the Galactic Alliance, the Jedi Order, and the Fels with one conference."

Within the Perre Needmo Newshour Studio

"We're taking a titanic risk with this broadcast, Perre." Jorm Alvic, the aging director of The Perre Needmo Newshour news network, reminded the elderly and freedom-seeking Chevin. "If this gambit of ours doesn't work, everyone employed by us will be ostracized out of jobs for their entire lives."

"I know, and that's why I'll be sure to hit the three of them with hardballs the whole time so BAMR and their sponsors can't accuse us of pandering." Perre earnestly promised his longtime friend and superior. "But we owe it to the people to report the truth and keep them informed on what's going on in the galaxy. And hearing the unvarnished truth straight from Chief Yimmon, Grand Master Katarn, and Head of State Fel will hopefully get all the rioters to see bloody sense."

"Besides, we can't let BAMR and their so-called mainstream media manipulate the public into destroying the institutions that most everyday citizens love, support, and cherish so much, never mind forever tarnish the honor of journalism. Those sleemosneed to be taught an unforgettable lesson with the hard truth, no matter how hard people's feelings get hurt in the process and the status quo is shaken." Perre allowed a crass smirk to cross his long and cracked lips, one the human shared.

"Then let's give the galaxy a hard lesson it won't ever forget." Jorm nodded.

Ten Minutes Later

Bastion, Imperial Headquarters

Head of State's Office

"Are you certain that including her in the summit is a good idea, Jaina? Senator A'Kla hasn't had much time to recover from her carbonite prison." Jagged skeptically asked his wife.

"Releqy's nearly back to full strength, and we need someone with credibility and honor in both factions within the Senate that can calm the fires." Jaina reminded Jagged. "Besides, don't forget how she was the one who suggested this idea, and we need all the help we can get."

"How could I forget?" Jagged wearily sighed. "I suppose BAMR and their Sith masters have kept me too much on edge for my liking."

"But that's not all, is there?" Jaina knowingly pressed her husband, while sitting next to him on his office's sofa. "A few hours ago, Chak could feel that something was tearing you apart internally a few hours ago, and it only corroborated what I felt. What's eating you?"

"Too much to explain right now. But this damned responsibility for the Empire, the galactic public of kath hounds desperate to be herded by a power-hungry media and elite, and the Sith taking advantage of a divided galaxy to try and take it over are all driving me mad. Sometimes, I wonder how we lasted as long as we did in the first place." Jagged allowed a hint of regret to show on his face, a mere shadow of the decision he was prepared to do.

His plans would leave Jaina and their three children, Chak, Wynn, and Jayce Solo Fel heartbroken, but he had to do what he must in order to protect them from his decision's blowback. How ironic that a few days ago, he had wanted Jaina and their kids to stay with him when they reorganized the Empire.

But he quickly realized how he could not ask her to give up anymore of her life and family, especially have them abandon the Jedi Order they swore to serve. And with the public just about ready to pounce on the Jedi for the Sith's half-truths and manipulations, someone had to stem this chaos. Sadly, without sacrifices on anyone's part, there could be no victory for the Jedi. And Jagged feared it would cost him too much when all was said and done, especially when he divorced his loving wife.

Wanly smiling, Jaina admitted, "It hasn't been easy, and we've often had trouble with keeping state and Jedi secrets from each other. But we've always supported each other in whatever we do, and we do make a good team. I would hate for anyone to break us apart."

"Especially a well-meaning if short-sighted husband when he wanted to spare me the public outrage of our reconstruction of the Empire." Jaina knowingly shook her head. "No one deserves to suffer like that on their own, and we need to keep the Empire from falling apart, no matter what others might think."

"How long have you known?" Jagged sadly sighed, knowing his plan to keep his wife and children safe was about to be utterly foiled.

"Wynn and Jayce hacked into your documents last night and told me everything. They really have a curious mind and a strong knack for technology, just like Anakin." Jaina nostalgically answered, remembering her late little brother very fondly, and his similar mindset in his adolescence before the Yuuzhan Vong killed him above Myrkr thirty-two years ago.

"Did you put them up to this?" Jagged suspiciously lifted an eyebrow.

"No. They're just that good." Jaina smirked before tenderly taking her husband's hands into her own, "But really, did you really think I'd stay in the dark for too long? I know you just as well as you know yourself, and I won't let you suffer from this burden alone. Jedi, Imperial, it doesn't matter what I am as long as I honor my code and beliefs and am surrounded by the people I cherish."

"And before you remind me of my parents and uncle, it's nothing compared to what you had to go through after the Chiss disowned you because of me. My selfishness and idiocy with the Killiks nearly cost the galaxy everything, and I won't betray you and all the others again. And if I have to go through that same pain with you to do the right thing, then I can bear it proudly."

"Besides, I have faith my side of the family will soon understand what we have to do. We just have to give them a little more time." Jaina smiled.

Deciding to table the argument in order to give himself more time to consider Jaina's words, Jagged nodded, "Okay. We'll give this issue a bit more time."

"Jagged…" Jaina sighed.

"I just don't want to be selfish and risk everything we've tried to do, all in the name of our plans for the Empire. Neither of us want to be compared to Sidious." Jagged explained, before finishing, "But you're right. We can worry about this after the summit and the riots calm down. Then we can have the Empire finally take the fight to the One Sith."

"That's the spirit." Jaina gently pecked his lips before they got up from their little break. They did have a galaxy wide conference to take part in in the next half hour and a galactic power to save, after all.

Five Minutes Later

Red Twins System

Aboard the Omen

Something was not right with this battle. Wyyrlok knew that if he could sense the dead void in the Force that skirted the system's outer borders, even the insipid Jedi could sense it.

Sure, the One Sith's best assassin had successfully begun his mission to assassinate Corran Horn and already killed a Jedi Knight and forced the Alliance of Light to throw their entire force into this frontal assault. But that cost the Sith several ships and at least a tenth of the fleet's manpower before they could recover and employ a counterattack. And it had left both coalitions hard-pressed to stop their primary target from slipping past them as soon as Admiral Daala reemerged to make her final exodus.

Someone was manipulating this battle for their own benefit, and Wyyrlok needed to find out who and fast, before whatever trap that was coming ensnared all the present fleets. Perhaps it was time to employ one of the Sith's best martial artists and another veteran from the old Jedi Order.

Turning to the Omen's comm officer, he ordered, "Get me a secure line to the Attuma Duum. I need to speak to Darth See-Chok immediately." He knew the old warrior would be disgusted with the denial of the chance to prove his and his little cult's superiority against the Jedi Order. But this wrinkle in his plans might cause more harm than he could ever anticipate unless decisive action was taken right away.

Aboard the Chimaera

So, Luke Skywalker is coming aboard as well? A bit premature for me to dispose of him, but I'll enjoy helping to put him in his place soon enough. Ochi eagerly vowed as he sliced the heads off several Maw Irregular Fleet security officers.

Sensing another Force presence blazing closer to him, one far stronger than even Lord Wyyrlok, Ochi knew Master Horn had taken the bait. And just in time, as eight of his eleven remaining YVH-8 S droids, divided into three groups, were about to blow their way through several of the Star Destroyer's vital systems. Soon enough, the Jedi Order and all their followers would pay a steep price for crossing the Sith and their loyal disciples.

But before he could confront the Jedi Councilor, he had to ensure he had every conceivable advantage against him. After all, while he was an excellent fighter and a far better cheat, even a Vahl assassin as skilled as him paled in comparison to a Jedi Master, master duelist, and war veteran of Corran's caliber. And if Luke Skywalker got in the way, then he'd just have to send him a message he would never forget.

Within the Unknown Regions

Csilla, Cssplar

Defense Fleet Headquarters

"This information could very well undo everything you're trying to do for our people and the Chiss Ascendancy, Aristocra." Supreme General Ba'Kif, one of the two Supreme Commanders of the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet, warned Sev'eere'nuruodo as the younger Chiss presented the Chiss political leader with several headlines from the greater galaxy. "And although I am reluctant to admit this, the One Sith and their forces are even cleverer than we gave them credit for in order to divide the galaxy and their 'Alliance of Light' like this."

"That all depends on the summit and the galaxy's response." Sev'eere'nuruodo firmly reminded him. "And we still have an armada on its way to assist us against the One Sith and their proxies. We cannot afford to turn away their help now, not with the raiders set to move against us in less than a month."

"I know, but it isn't me you need to convince, Veeren." Ba'Kif addressed the aristocra by her core name. "The vast majority of the Great Houses, Parliament, and most of the Families will not be as steadfast and clearheaded as the two of us and the other members of our little club."

"I am aware of that, which is why my supporters and I already reached out to the Jedi and their task force and advised them to further accelerate their journey to us." Vereen allowed a sly smirk to cross her aged and cracked lips. "And we recommended them to arrive just outside this star system. It will be a fine way to get our enemies' attention and convince them to force their hand."

"You and your allies took it upon yourself to carry out these illicit orders?" Ba'Kif slowly demanded the Nuruodo family's Aristocra.

"Not quite. I received aid from General Fel and his wife on this particular issue. They also gave us a way to better strengthen our position against the Sith and our enemies." Vereen honestly clarified.

"And just how do we do that?" Ba'Kif asked, his tone not amused by the subversion of the chain of command.

"By opening an embassy and starting diplomatic relations with the Galactic Empire. They are in need of resources right now, and I imagine they will need new and powerful allies if BAMR's allegations on them are true."

Shaking his head with a rueful smile creasing his face, Ba'Kif chuckled in acknowledgement, "For as long as I knew him, Soontir was always one to figure out new and creative ways to protect the people and uphold his oaths of duty. I am quite grateful to see that he has not yet disappointed me."

"How long do we have before the Alliance fleet arrives?"

"I contacted them about thirty minutes ago. So, if they opened another wormhole by now, then they should arrive quite soon." Vereen answered.

"All right. Let me handle Parliament. At the very least, it'll keep our enemies off-balance and keep most of the heat off your people." Ba'Kif offered.

"We would very much appreciate that." Vereen graciously thanked her friend and colleague.

Well, I think this is a good place to end the chapter! I hope you are all enjoying the chapter, and the worldbuilding I'm doing in this chapter. Very soon, the Galactic Alliance-Empire-Jedi conference will begin, and the public relations war will be heating up. And the Chiss subplot is soon going to kick into overdrive, along with the Batuu and Falleen ones as well. I know I have a lot going on in this story, but rest assured, I'm not stopping here! I have many plans to bring even more in as time passes. But I do need to acknowledge that I did a bit of a 180 with Jagged Fel and his sentiments on having Jaina by his side, but that's why I corrected that mistake. I'll have to be more careful from here on out. In other news, how are you all doing on this warm night of Friday, September 17, 2021? I'm doing well, as I have read a little of Kushiel's Scion, and played a lot of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla a couple days ago. I got 90 Gamerscore Points from the game in one night and am almost done with the whole storyline. I can't wait to finish it and move onto something else. Well, with all that out of the way, I'd best get this chapter to my Beta Reader for his analysis sometime over the next few days. I hope you all have a blessed night, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!