Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this cold night of Thursday, February 3, 2022? I'm doing all right, as I only have one more day of work tomorrow before my work schedule lightens up a bit for the next few weeks. I can use this time to search for a full-time job and write a bit more. But I think I need to reread Star Wars: X-Wing: Mercy Kill after I finish SWTOR: Fatal Alliance. When I use Wraith Squadron in the rest of my saga, I need to be able to use them to the best of my ability, and that means refreshing my memory with the most recent, and likely final work on those great characters. (RIP, Aaron Allston.) Well, I suppose I'd best get this chapter underway. Even though I still need to get the previous chapter revised, I can still do a bit of work on this one while I wait. Hopefully, it shouldn't be more than a few days, but who knows for certain in these busy times for just about everyone? I hope you all have a blessed day, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
Dathomir, Misty Falls, Jedi Outpost Ross Lai
Aboard the New Dawn
Within Edaan's Subconsciousness
"I don't understand. Where are you trying to take me? What exactly are you wanting to teach me here, Master Solusar?" Edaan cautiously tested Kam's apparition. Just because Kam had become One with the Force, that did not mean he could not be unpredictable with his lessons.
"Ah, now there's the Edaan I remember quite well. So guarded and suspicious of anyone outside of your slowly growing circle of trust." Kam wistfully recalled, sternly instructing the living Jedi, "Let me start the lesson by saying that you don't know nearly as much as you believe you do, especially about what happened through what happened to your family on Coruscant.
"Come with me, and I will show you things you never even bothered to find out about your loved ones until now." Kam kindly offered, holding out his hand for Edaan to take.
What could Master Solusar possibly mean by that? Was Kam trying to show him something detrimental, or beneficial to his family's legacy? Edaan wracked his mind for the answer, but then he remembered something his parents had told him shortly before he left to join the Jedi Order:
Always trying to uncover a hidden meaning behind everything. As brilliant and driven as you are, Edaan, you will one day have to see that you will just have to take some things on faith.
Why that memory resurfaced now, he did not have the slightest clue. At first, he thought it was more of a religious diatribe for the contemplative soul, but he was not so sure anymore. Maybe, just maybe, there was truth to what they told him. They had never steered him wrong before, and he knew they would not do so now. Either way, there was only one way to find out for sure, and that way required a leap of faith.
Taking Kam's hand in his own, he found himself hurtled deep underneath Coruscant's surface, in a sector he did not recognize. But it was clearly a level where the Vongforming, along with the countless foreign creatures migrated from the Yuuzhan Vong's control of the planet roamed the lower levels, still held a powerful sway over the underworld's hundreds of billions of denizens. He recognized the yorik coral seeded throughout every other building, along with dozens of other plants and animals Edaan could not recognize.
Before he could ask any questions, the answers automatically flooded his mind. A few weeks ago, when a disguised Abeloth was elected to lead the Galactic Alliance, the Palpatines, along with millions of other Jedi-loyal denizens, fled the surface level before the Celestial monstrosity and her Lost Tribe puppets could round them up and torture or execute them all on falsified charges. They all fled deep underground where they could still be free until the Jedi and their allies could work to liberate the capital world.
The family had taken most of their wealth, pooled all the resources of the wealthiest fugitives, and used it to help ferry hundreds of thousands of less fortunate refugees off the future battleground of a planet, while providing food and medicine for the sick and injured under their care with what money and favors remained. Even in the darkest of places, a candle of light was enough to push back the darkness, just as his family and countless others had proven before and after.
Seeing this filled Edaan with bittersweet joy in seeing his loved ones defying the evil of their ancestor in their own small ways, even as he knew the fate that was about to befall them as soon as Abeloth made her final move on Coruscant.
After feeling this sensation, he found his mind being catapulted ahead to moments before Abeloth unleashed her power on the planet, where he saw his entire family and dozens of their fellow refugees watching a holonews broadcast, holding onto hope that the Jedi could win this battle and save their home from evil domination before the signal abruptly cut off. It was then that the ground quakes started.
He saw his two brothers, Hart and Ford; his sister, Sherry; his aunt, Isis; and his parents, Cosigna and Selene. Even as they faced the end and bitterly wept, they held no ill will towards the Jedi, unlike Edaan had for all these years. They instead uttered gratitude to the Celestials for their time together, and for the Jedi getting Edaan away from this doomed battlefield before it was too late.
When Edaan first learned of this, he blamed himself for not trying to convince Master Katarn to take his family with them. But this time around, the Jedi Knight had finally begun to see the tragedy from a different perspective.
How was it fair for the Jedi to put his family ahead of the countless souls that supported them on Coruscant? Sure, they took a grave risk drawing most of the Lost Tribe of the Sith to Coruscant, but they could not have accounted for Abeloth taking over a newly appointed senator and using Rokari Kem to take control of both the Lost Tribe and Galactic Alliance. She was the only one responsible for the disasters that wreaked across Coruscant, not the Jedi or Sith.
Even if his whole family was safely extracted off-world, it would have done nothing to stop Abeloth's actions, and made the Order and their allies' hypocrites for putting a handful of lives. Not even evacuating the planet's entire Jedi-sympathetic population over the rest of the one trillion souls residing on the Core World would be enough. Choosing either option would have only further deepened the scars festering across the galaxy, since most people, whether they were politicians, soldiers, civilians, or members of a religious organization, were good souls full of boundless potential that could be led astray by countless kinds of deceivers.
And none of this would have kept Vestara Khai from running off and joining the One Sith, for that was her choice, and hers alone. Edaan might have put her on the path of redemption, but the choice to travel down it or not remained hers alone. All he could do was hope and believe that those he cared for would tread down the right path.
No matter how much he wished otherwise, he could not control the choices others made, and that was a mistake he made in forming a secret organization in the Jedi Order. Noble intentions aside, it risked tearing the Order into warring factions, just as the Jedi Covenant of the Mandalorian Wars nearly did just over four millennia ago.
Realizing the first bit of hubris that had gripped the young man's soul, he wondered where else he could have gone wrong in his life. Could he have saved more souls if he trusted more people? If he had not put so many burdens solely on his shoulders, would his heart not have been so full of bitterness, suspicion, and double standards as it held?
Suddenly, he wondered if all of this was simply a piece of Master Malicos's training in conquering the darkness in his soul? If that were the case, what other trials awaited him once he woke up from this slumber?
These were difficult questions, but necessary to keep from progressing any further down this path of arrogance and folly. Jaden Korr taught him the value of doubting oneself as a way of keeping the mind sharp and avoiding becoming dogmatic in one's thinking. At the bare minimum, Edaan certainly did not wish to end up as bitter and inflexible as Master Kam Solusar became after the injuries both he and his wife sustained at the hands of one of Darth Caedus's most demented minions, before his capture by the One Sith and the unceremonious death at their hands.
Then again, Luke Skywalker, back during the height of Sidious's power, thought he knew much when he began training under Master Yoda, only to soon find out how little he truly comprehended. Perhaps, it was time to take the old and diminutive Jedi Grand Master's words to heart and unlearn what he had learned. Maybe it was time to get back to the basics and rediscover what it truly meant to be a Jedi.
For the sake of his wife, for his team and the few dozen or so precious friends he made along the way, he owed it to them to try. After all, as countless people had proven throughout history, that was all he needed to do to make himself a better person. Whether or not it would work for him, he would find out soon enough after he awoke.
"Then I see you have already passed your first lesson." Kam gratefully nodded to Edaan.
"You mean you can read my mind?" Edaan wearily guessed.
"No. I can see the bitter realization and understanding on your face, for I had my fair share of those experiences myself throughout my life." Kam smugly answered. "But I will warn you right now, your wife and Taron Malicos will have many more challenges planned for you by the time you wake up, and each of those trials will not be nearly as easy to conquer as this one. These tribulations will only grow exponentially harder with every battle you overcome, each taxing your body and spirit in unimaginable ways."
"As long as I stay true to who I am, they can throw whatever they want at me." Edaan earnestly and confidently smiled while promising to make his wife properly pay for going behind his back when the time was right. He had a feeling she would relish the attention very much.
"In that case, I suggest you get plenty of rest for now. You'll need every ounce of strength you have to meet the challenges ahead." Kam warned him before he began to fade away. Moments before the Jedi spirit vanished completely, he told Edaan, "May the Force be with you, Edaan."
Belsmuth Sector, Botajef Orbit
Aboard the Nantz
As the Galactic Alliance's Joint Chiefs and their Chief of State listened to Thern and his subordinates give their report on their unauthorized attack, they interrupted the commander to seek clarification on a few points, such as enemy numbers, armaments, and configurations, and the status of the various fleets.
When the briefing was over, Kajin sympathetically consoled the Galactic Alliance Security Commander, "Thern: for whatever it's worth and all the losses you suffered, the Joint Chiefs and I all believe you made the correct decision in going to the Horuset System. Rescuing our allies alone justifies the excursion on principle, never mind the successful probe of the enemy's strength and the intelligence you gained of the Sith's network of prisons."
"We've also received a grateful message from Head of State Fel on the safe arrival of Master Saav'etu and Commander Cardinal's convoy not an hour ago." Pash added. "He asked us to pass along his congratulations to you and Rogue Leader for your service above and beyond."
"Thank you, Sirs." Thern professionally accepted the graceful words before soberly advising, "But there will be time to celebrate later. We do not have much time until the Sith move their prized would-be acolytes until they're out of our reach. I would advise the GA to move quickly if we are to save as many of those kids as we can."
"Not on our own, Lieutenant Colonel Savar." Bwua'tu reminded Thern. "We are part of a coalition now, and there are several facilities that fall out of our jurisdiction. We would do well to inform our most trusted allies of the few prisons outside of our reach. And there is one that is currently in the middle of a battlefield, so we will need reinforcements to liberate those poor children."
"A sensible- I'm sorry. Did you just mention a rank that does not belong to me?" The newly promoted Thern cut himself off at the mistaken address, not noticing the small smirk coming from Syal.
"We've reviewed your service record, and we believe this level of a promotion is long overdue." Garik began. "You've a keen tactical and strategic mind, a sound and grounded head on your shoulders, you earn the loyalty of those under your command, and you own up to your actions."
"Not to mention how you have faithfully served the Galactic Alliance throughout the last twenty-five years through many of its most trying crises when most soldiers, even most commanding officers, would have long since retired or become corrupt." Pash admirably added. "That kind of dedication and loyalty needs to be rewarded appropriately, and you are more than ready for the responsibility that comes with this rank."
"All things considered; I'd say you've earned it many times over, Sir." Syal congratulated her newly promoted superior, silently glad she composed her own report for High Command to review before coming to this briefing.
He might have ordered her squad into a Sith trap, but he was brave enough to follow them in to get them out and took responsibility for his actions immediately afterwards. It might not bring her fallen teammates back from the dead, but at least it put a good salve on her bleeding heart.
But before any further orders could be given, the doors to the strategic center abruptly opened, and everyone was astonished or horrified at seeing who was barely able to stand before the leaders.
"Jaina?!" Syal exclaimed, rushing to catch her as she could fall over. "How did- Why are-?! What the hell are you doing out here?! You're supposed to be resting in the medical wing!"
"Not yet. First… I need to tell you something, something important." Jaina hoarsely said, raising her head and continued, her voice as loud as she could manage, "Had… had a… a vision."
"For Chaos's sake, get her plenty of liquids and the best medpac you can find!" Thern ordered an aide while Syal helped set Jaina down in the closest chair before he assisted Syal in watching over the exhausted Jedi Master.
Quickly examining the heavily panting Jaina, he saw her deep panting, rapidly blinking eyes, and her struggling to hold back a complete mouthful of bile, and knew she needed to be resting at this moment. If she would not return to her bed of her own volition, then he would have to give her a sedative and force her to sleep. Hopefully the rest of the Jedi would not disregard their health as recklessly as the Council member here was.
"If you have something to say, Master Solo Fel, then you'd best make it quick before I have you anesthetized and carted back to your bed." Thern warned the Jedi Master.
"I… I won't be too long." Jaina wearily promised. "I… I have vital information on the Sith's next target. We need to send them help now, before it's too late."
That caught everyone's attention, and Kajin earnestly answered, "You have our attention, Master Jedi. But for your own sake, try to be quick about it."
Falleen, Ten Kilometers Eastward of Port Nowhere
Aboard the Mon Adapyne
Seeing the projection of the enemy fleets converging on Port Nowhere, Keyan, Haxim, Han, the highest-ranking Jedi, and the rest of the commanders felt an undercurrent of dread and puniness course through them. Between Malleus's personal fleet, the Zygerrians, Falleen Royal Navy, and whatever stranded and desperate mercenaries Redhan's bribes could persuade to assist them, the Sith force numbered almost exactly one hundred warships. Those capital ships were also accompanied by twice as many support vessels and ten times as many starfighters, outnumbering the Alliance force by at least four to one.
If help did not arrive soon for the pro-Jedi union, then Keyan knew that the fleet would not last more than a few hours against the coming onslaught. Not even the intelligence provided by Phasma, a defecting Verla, and the databanks in Aurra Sing's personal vessel could delay their opponents for very long.
How fortunate, then, that the Galactic Alliance general and resigned Jedi could sense the fleet of one of his old superiors arriving in the system and with enough reinforcements necessary to finally turn the tide of this small-scale conflict.
All he had to do was keep this mixed force alive for a little longer, until they could unveil their surprise against the One Sith and their flunky of a king and cult. And with the evidence Leia and her teammates would soon be providing, the planet's despotic monarchy would soon meet its long-awaited destruction.
Just a few more hours of grueling combat, and this war could fully slide into the Alliance of Light's favor. But before the tides of war changed, he had to finish establishing a defensive position for his forces while sending a sufficient distraction to Port Nowhere to give the infiltration team just enough backup to survive, and he had just the perfect crews and ships in mind for providing relief for the latter.
Csilla, Cssplar
Naval Headquarters, Inside Supreme General Ba'Kif's Office
"You're late." Ba'Kif gruffly got right to business with the present and smirking Soldier, even as he held his lightsaber pommel to the near-human's head. Having to wait an extra two days for the Aquilian immigrant and his contingent to arrive grated the nerves of every Reformist, and no word had come from Zakuul on this unforeseen delay.
Even more infuriating was how easily Soldier had infiltrated his personal office. Not a single guard had reported anything outside of the ordinary, nor were any alarms tripped. The officers around here had clearly grown complacent in their training.
If the human clone was an assassin, then Ba'Kif would have been dead the instant he closed the door. There would have to be a quiet and thorough evaluation of the security measures to patch up the holes in their defenses.
For the sake of the Paladins, they had best have run into a supernova, enemy armada, or something of gargantuan proportions to account for this disruption.
"I always like keeping you Blue-Skins on your toes, especially when there are those I can't trust in this world." Soldier amusingly smirked, exponentially heightening Ba'Kif's suspicions.
"Well, I trust you have an excellent explanation for this grievous delay, or vague accusations. The inhabitants of the greater galaxy made far greater progress arriving than you, so your typical excuses will be woefully insufficient." The middle-aged Chiss leader warned.
Getting serious, Soldier slowly pulled out a questis before he elaborated, "You have traitors in your midst. A few dozen highly placed collaborators with the One Sith and their allies."
Ceaseless red eyes narrowing in incredulity, Ba'Kif warned him, "For the sake of our respective governments' accord, I suggest you have sufficient evidence to back up such a wild claim against my people and their representatives."
Offering him the Chiss datapad, Soldier suggested, "Why don't you read this before you get testy with me, Supreme General? My company and I spent the last three days evading a well-planned Tof ambush midway through our arranged route here, and I lost seven good Paladins in the process throughout the ordeal. You'll have to forgive me if I'm not in the best of moods now."
Red eyes sympathetically softening a modicum in their severity, Ba'Kif accepted the device before he quickly devoured the digital contents of the questis, stern eyes growing increasingly angrier until he slowly put it down to growl out, "Where did you get this supposed information?"
"It's all from an Ebruchi data station and listening post we were lucky enough to come across a day ago about ten parsecs away from your borders." Soldier simply answered. "We were able to get just about half of the entire database before our pursuers caught up with us. Otherwise, I'm sure you'd get a very detailed list of spies instead of a phantom trail."
"The location of this enemy facility?" Ba'Kif alarmingly asked. If the Ebruchi had been spying this close to their borders, then an attack on the Ascendancy, perhaps even a full-scale invasion, was imminent, which meant they needed to find a way to preempt the enemy without violating their non-aggression dictates.
Already, the supreme general was quickly configuring the strike force needed to capture the post, under the pretense of a routine patrol. Perhaps a few Alliance vessels and crews could bolster the flotilla if the chosen captain would be reasonable enough. There were not many options available, but he did have a few favors to call in.
Soldier reluctantly quashed that idea with a rueful shake of his head. "I placed a couple probes in the system for you, but they saw a combined force come through to bombard and completely destroy the asteroid and all the equipment inside. It was full of ships of designs neither I nor the Aquilians haven't ever seen before, but perhaps your agents can properly identify them.
"Let us not forget how your wayward prodigy of a clone has had your Ascendancy go on a bit of an expansionist period in its influence over the last two decades. I'm sure you have an impossibly and increasingly long list of bitter and defeated foes to choose from." The Paladin Captain purposely reminded the Chiss Supreme General.
Tightly nodding in gratitude, even as Ba'Kif wished the Jedi clone would not speak of Vurawn and his efforts to tame the Unknown Regions in his own office, he thankfully acknowledged, "At least your delay was time well-spent, and your 'phantom trail' has financial transactions and communications our peoples can track. And all of this makes it even more imperative how we need to get out there and prove the Vagaari are funding their efforts.
"Is there anything else in the data you have that can aid us?"
"A bunch of patrol routes, security and clearance codes, and a couple dozen rogue mercenary bands and warlords that support the Ebruchi and their patrons in a good chunk of the northwestern region of Chaos." Soldier shrugged. "Zakuul should be able to take care of most of those easily enough without forcing your hand, but I'll give you and each of your other outsider allies a copy of all the intel, just as a precaution in case we might miss anything.
"I'd also advise you to hurry and readjust your deployment to Vagar Praxut and have your people's Defense Force tighten your borders' security." Soldier prepared to exit the office, but not before warning Ba'Kif, "The intel also hinted at something big preparing to come towards the Ascendancy in the next few months. Whether it's an invasion force, a mass enemy infiltration, or something entirely different, we don't know, so you'd best be prepared for anything."
As Soldier closed the door to the office, Ba'Kif did not even bother to ask how he planned to escape. He would probably just go out the way he came in, and none would be any the wiser.
Instead, he focused his efforts on reading through the rest of the information given to him and formulating a counter strategy for this growing crisis. Potentially dozens of highly placed traitors in the Ascendancy, raiders kidnapping Force Sensitive children for the Sith, and divisions over their alliance with the greater of the galaxy, this war was escalating too fast for this soldier's liking.
It was time to take back control over this fight, and that meant doing what Soldier suggested and consider doing the unthinkable. Thankfully, the Chiss had more than their fair share of surprises in store for any aggressors.
Falleen, Forty Kilometers Westward of Port Nowhere
Aboard the Gladiator-class Star Destroyer Miraj Scintel
De'ralla Invoa, the final admiral of the Zygerrian Slavers Guild and de facto regent of the exiled monarchy following their egotistical king's arrest, examined the reports coming in from both Lord Malleus's forces in the ramshackle city of Port Nowhere and the inbound allied fleets.
Even with Phasma betraying the One Sith, they still held every possible advantage against the Alliance of Light, and Malleus was prepared to take full advantage of it with a full-scale and multi-pronged attack on the enemy.
Foolishly, though, the Sith Lord himself was not reported to be partaking in the battle. From what De'ralla understood, the two remaining bounty hunters in his employ had reported that he was preparing to hunt down two of his order's traitors in one of Redhan's small-time royal schemes inside Port Nowhere.
Of all the times for the ancient Sith Lord to lose sight of their priorities, this had to be the most ill opportune. No matter. Even without the old obsessive fool helping them, they would still be able to overpower the Jedi and crush their little fleet here. Then, once Krayt and his Sith upheld their end of the bargain, the Zygerrians could move onto more important matters and take the next step in regaining their homeworld from the so-called reformers and Jedi sycophants that were in power to lead their people astray.
De'ralla could even be able to rule her people as queen, as long as she could persuade the rest of her forces to fully accept her leadership. Normally, she would not be so ambitious, but with De'Nal Scintel disgraced before his people, they would need a strong leader to protect them from any enemy reprisals.
Powerful aspirations aside, there would come a time to choose a new ruler once the Sith ruled supreme over everything and Zygerria was purged of its new, repugnant democratic puppet of the Galactic Alliance. Right now, she has a battle to finish preparing for.
Port Nowhere, Just Above the Main Garrison
Aboard Ship
Those insufferable fools actually believed Malleus was going to abandon them to pursue a vendetta. He might be a vengeful and prideful man, but an idiot was something he had not been for many decades.
And he still held a few secrets in reserve, just in the unlikely event this battle began to turn against the Sith. Lord Krayt wanted a prolonged war on every front to bleed the enemy dry, and that was what Malleus was going to deliver. A perfectly wise move on his part, since thanks to his command over Ship, he could sense the enemy reinforcements arriving to futilely try and ambush his forces. A genuine surprise, but given the veteran general's pull over his sector's forces and adamant refusal to stay out of the fight, the Sith should have seen it coming earlier.
He was also able to think clearly for the first time in over a week, his obsessive desire to expunge Phasma from the Sith vanishing like moisture on Tatooine. For all he knew, his temporary bout of madness was part of what drove her into the Jedi's waiting arms. Whatever came over the ancient man, whatever mysterious person or power drove him to the brink of madness, if he stayed in the ancient Meditation Sphere, it was unable to affect him.
While he would have relished the chance to engage the Alliance through more personal methods, he had to do his part for the Grand Design. For the moment, duty came before simpler pleasures.
With Ship feeding him images of the opposing fleets, he knew that the time for reflection had all but ended. Now, the time had arrived for decisive action, and for the Hammer of the Dark Side to remind the galaxy of how, even after all these decades, he was still a force to be feared. The devastation he was about to unleash would be glorious, just like the magnificent wars of old between the Jedi and Sith of millennia old.
Mandalore, Kyrimorut
Inside the Starlight Cantina
"Why are we having our meeting here, of all places?" Desmond called to Ghes as the admiral, Iden, and the two veteran Jedi Knights, Zabrak Aila Koth and Ongree Ark G'lar, each of which were chosen to meet with the Protectors' leadership were being led through the raucous activity going on inside the modernized tapcaf. Parella would be attending via holocomm, since even a fit Hutt like him would draw too much attention for the disparate group's liking.
Ale and food were flowing freely throughout the recently constructed establishment, making it virtually impossible for one to hear their own thoughts, let alone be verbally heard over the chaos. Not even their earpiece comlinks could break through the boisterous activity here. "Hardly a place to conduct our kind of business." Desmond remarked.
"You think this is bad?" Ghes barked out a laugh through his helmet. "You should see the Oyu'baat back over in Keldabe during one of your aruetii games. Now that is a real party. Compared to that, this lousy place and gathering is completely boring and a piece of osik."
"Good to know." Iden disdainfully thought while barely avoiding the spilled drinks and unconscious bodies scattered over much of the floor. "Then why aren't we meeting in your capital city instead of in the middle of this distinct settlement?"
"We needed somewhere off the beaten path to conduct our business." Ghes gruffly answered, his tone indicating that the time for questions had ended. Arriving outside a door that had the emblem "Employees Only", Ghes warned the guests, glaring specifically at the Jedi, "No funny business in there, or the deal's off."
No one here bought that bluff, but no one rose to challenge the bait. Every sober person in the tapcaf knew this pact was needed to stop the Sith and end this deadlock of a civil war. That meant diplomacy would win out here, no matter what bravado or theatrics occurred today.
"We'll all be sure to make a good first impression." Aila respectfully acknowledged before Ghes pressed a button on his gauntlet and opened the door to the management.
Entering, the assembled leaders saw nothing outside the typical overtaxed cantina establishment, with chefs preparing meals and pint-sized drinks for their customers while the maintenance crews conducted repairs on several failing generators, aside from a gold armored Mandalorian woman leaning before a wall across the kitchen.
"About time you showed up." She warned the group after they made their way to her, before she pressed on a hidden wall panel, and a secret staircase revealed itself to everyone. "Mand'alor's been getting rather antsy for you. He's down there."
Thankfully handing the woman what looked like three ten-credit chits for her hospitality, Ark received a surprised look and grateful nod from her before the group descended the stairs, with Ghes right behind them.
"Didn't expect that bit of generosity from your order, given our recent history and your aversion to these kinds of establishments." Ghes acknowledged to Ark.
"From what I saw, this cantina needs all the funds it can get to stay functional." Ark dismissively replied before sheepishly admitting, "Besides, I think I'll try one of their roba steaks after the briefing. They smelt quite appetizing, so just consider my money a down payment."
"I'll be sure to give Mera your compliments, and she'll get an order ready for you after the meeting. She'll appreciate your business." Ghes chuckled. If first impressions were anything to go by, then he had a feeling he might like this Jedi. Hopefully, all the other outsiders in this federation would be so down to earth as the Ongree was.
But even if that was the case, Ghes was still going to keep his guard up, at least so he could be ready for whatever flak came from this deal if he was wrong. He still remembered the cost of manipulation and duplicity from countless clients and supposed allies.
He owed the Mando'ade too much to do nothing less, and with an army of outsiders, especially Jedi, arriving in Mandalorian Space to help fight their battles, one mistake, big or small, could cost his people everything they cherished. All their traditions, their independence, their sacred ways of life, it could very well be swept away by another Dral'Han, an "annihilation", just as the first Mandalorian Excision did when the Old Republic and their Jedi lapdogs devastated the entire sector nearly eight centuries ago.
If that kind of similar scenario, or any apocalyptic catastrophe happened on his watch, he would be a waste of Mandalorian training and equipment if he did not kill as many of the kriffing aruetii as he could before he met his own end in a legendary battle.
Forcing the hypothetical thoughts from his mind, he quickly found himself facing not only Alliance's delegation, but also the Mandalorian party. With each of the sixteen heavily armed mercenaries surrounding their leader, no one lacked for a strong impression on their new allies.
Not recognizing most of the warriors, aside from Venku Skirata and Boba Fett from their well-renowned armor, the makeshift Alliance party let Desmond take the initiative here. To their dismay, he immediately smirked, "I see the old saying of approaching negotiations from a position of strength is still alive and well."
"And I see the Imperial Navy has become quite lax in its standards to allow a comedian to rise so far up its ranks." A pink armored Mandalorian woman playfully retorted while shaking her head, before she removed her helmet to reveal a woman with Kiffar tattoos embedded on her face. This woman, everyone knew as Sintas Vel, Boba's ex-wife and one of his few trusted advisors.
Following suit, the fifteen other Mandalorians took off their helmets, revealing an even mix of Humans, Zeltrons, Zabraks, Pantorans, even Weequays. One of the Pantorans pressed several buttons on a console to activate a holocomm, allowing Parella to be visible to all.
"I take it the negotiations are finally ready to begin?" The Hutt impatiently inquired.
"They are." Boba confirmed with a dip of his helmet. "And as much as it riles up many of us to admit this, we need your help in rooting out a few karking dar'manda that wormed their way up our ranks. I think Admiral Yage has a few people in mind for this kind of investigative work."
"Well, the first round of talks has barely just begun, and the home party has already made their first demands. Typical use of blunt force from warmongering fanatics." Iden impassively remarked, earning an elbow to the ribs by Ark and a murderous glare from everyone else present that screamed "Really?".
"Do you have a problem with Mandalorians, Commander Versio?" Venku slowly asked.
"That depends on what you mean by 'Mandalorians,' Mr. Skirata." Iden rebutted. "But I'd rather not get into that, since we have an alliance to iron out."
"You don't think we're genuine Mandalorians?" A burly Weequay man challenged.
"Versio." Desmond tried to warn, before Boba firmly interrupted,
"No. Let your subordinate say her piece. Better she lets it all out now than on the battlefield when our peoples are all counting on her."
"How very thoughtful of you, Mandalore." Iden dismissively sneered. "I never would have thought as much from a bunch of amoral mercenaries like yourself and your followers, especially after you helped a tyrant massacre countless lives all across the Outer Rim just because your client said so."
"You're still holding onto our old history with Daala?" A male Zeltron exhaustively sighed. "You really need to get a life and a better set of priorities."
"Try telling that to the millions of innocent lives lost after Daala had you slaughter millions of slaves fighting for their freedom, even if they were being egged on by Lecersen, and helped her start her coup attempt over the Empire and nearly triggered a civil war, all in her insatiable lust for power and vengeance." Iden heatedly rebutted, her voice starting to break a little more with every few words. "And it was all because your boss here broke her out so he could come back and give his kriffing family a home and took away countless others in the process. He didn't care who got caught in the crossfires as long as helped a fellow Force-hating bigot and lined his people's bank accounts."
"How is it fair you get to live your life without any kind of retribution for fifteen years, but everyone else has to pick up the pieces of your selfish devastation? Not every tragedy in the galaxy can be blamed on the Jedi and Sith's wars, you know." Tears were flowing down in her face by the end, a rare sight for the commonly composed Imperial commando.
"What is your name?" Venku simply asked, motioning for Boba to keep their people calm. The Force-Sensitive Mandalorian had a strong hunch on what was driving her to say all of this, but he had to be certain. If he was right, he might be the only Mandalorian here that could help her, given his own familiarity with familial loss.
"Why do you care?" Iden scoffed. "Ever since Fett killed the last Mandalore, a truly honorable man, all that your people have ever cared about is your lust for battle and mayhem and getting revenge against any wrong. In fact, his kriffing donor did the same when he made the Clone Army and helped the Sith trigger the Clone War!"
To everyone's astonishment, especially the Jedi's, neither Venku nor Fett presented any kind of anger, but instead, the former took off his helmet, and repeated, "What is your name?" He even kindly added, "Who did you lose?"
Not wanting to hold the dam of warring emotions back anymore, she whimpered, "My mother. Her name was Zeehay Versio. She was killed on Entralla after your leader's client tried to murder Head of State Fel, turn the Empire into her personal war machine once again, and quickly fell sway to Abeloth's influence. And it all started with Fett selfishly keeping her from facing justice for her decades of war crimes to meet his own ends."
Iden still remembered her mother with vivid clarity, Zeehay's kind and fierce spirit, fiery patriotism for the Empire and supporter of its reforms under Grand Admiral Pelleaon and Jagged Fel, her death still gnawing at both Iden and Garrick Versio. As an amazing artist who created recruitment posters for the Imperial Starfleet and helped cultivate gardens and forests for polluted worlds in our territory when given leave, she left a lasting impression on millions of Imperial citizens, and much of the Empire mourned her death when the dust settled.
Appraising Iden, Venku kindly offered her, "Would you like to go for a walk with me, Commander Versio? I think a bit of fresh air outside this stuffy room could do us both some good right about now."
Getting an approving nod from Desmond, she surprisingly found herself agreeing. Mistrust aside, she knew she would be no good to anyone in the negotiations while in such an emotionally distraught state.
Following Venku, she warned, "Just don't try any funny business with me, or you won't live to regret any of it."
"Relax. Even I know better than to mess with our allies, even stuck-up Imps like you." Venku teased as their voices began to fade away.
"Sorry about that." Desmond addressed the Mandalorians after Iden and Venku were out of hearing range. "Try to give Commander Versio a little time to compose herself. She'll more than make up for her outburst with her skills and contributions."
"We'll find out soon enough, Admiral Yage. I have a job in mind for her with her unique experience and talents." Boba knowingly told the leading Imperial. Why did Desmond suddenly have a bad feeling about this new pact? What did Fett know about Iden outside of the dossier he provided to the Mandalorians' leader?
Dathomir, Misty Falls, Jedi Outpost Ross Lai
In the Training Dome
"Just so you know, I'm not happy at all about this." Adari stonily told Taron while helping prepare the training grounds for her husband.
"So you've said. For the fifth time in this hour alone." The Dathomirian Jedi Master tiredly pointed out.
"And I'm going to keep reminding you until this ordeal is over." Adari pointed out as she continuously worked with the controls for the dome.
Working quickly and diligently to reconfigure the arena for Edaan's first set of trials was an arduous task, even as she worked at the controls to set it to the most challenging level. Nevertheless, this job was one she would carry with all her abilities so she could help her love confront his deepest and darkest demons. From the moment she met him, she knew he had a long way to go before he fully overcame the scars of his past, and after hearing Master Malicos's plan, she reluctantly agreed to assist him in testing Edaan's spirit.
Once he triumphed, he would be able to fully become the kind of Jedi and leader that the galaxy would follow without hesitation. Adari knew he would succeed, for he had too much spirit and hope to accomplish anything less.
Adari… Edaan's soft voice echoed through their bond. Adari first felt astonished that her husband awoke so quickly. Obviously, Taron's sleeping potion needed stronger ingredients if both Palpatines had awoken so quickly.
But then she felt the regret tinged in his call, and wondered what had changed, or what he had experienced within his dream to make him experience such a despondent state.
Pulling out her comlink, she informed Taron, "I think you're going to need to let me check up on Edaan, because I have a feeling his rest has been interrupted. That means you'll need a new recipe for a lot of your potions if you ever plan to use them on anyone else."
Sighing, Taron allowed, "Go. My people and I can finish up here."
"I appreciate that." Adari gratefully thanked the Jedi Master before she hurried to the New Dawn. Before she offered any explanation to Edaan, she would profusely apologize to him for what she was about to put him through.
Falleen, Port Nowhere
Within the Main Cargo Facilities
Just Outside Warehouse Two
Pain. That was a sensation which Vestara Khai had been accustomed to since she was a young child on Kesh. She even enjoyed to a degree, if just to make her remember how she had remained alive in a galaxy she foolishly believed to rightly belong to the Sith.
From the injuries she received from her training as both a Tyro and Apprentice of the Lost Tribe, to the wounds she was given from her many fights against the Jedi, Abeloth, and countless weaker enemies, to her trials under Darth Krayt to become a full-fledged Lady of the One Sith as Darth Kitai, and her heartbreak at losing her dear friends, both her parents, and Ben's love over a decade ago, pain had been a lifelong companion, ancient teacher, and old friend to Vestara.
But this, all this agonizing pain she was experiencing from the makeshift Observatory was almost enough to drive her insane with grief and self-loathing. It was making her relive every betrayal she had experienced, only this time, she was suffering the fates every single one of her millions of victims had endured at her despicable hands.
The piercing screams of every single fallen soul tore millions of miniscule holes deep into her spirit, and she felt countless tears burst down her face as she mourned them all while time moved at an infinitesimally fast pace. Every dark deed she committed was coming back to her memory, every painful memory resurfacing and threatening to break her fragile mind and heart:
Her work in aiding the creation of the Neo Death Watch and setting the stage for the civil war devouring the Mandalorians, forging key alliances with many greedy bureaucrats permeating the major galactic powers while assassinating many more principled and influential obstacles to Sith dominance, kidnapping hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Force-Sensitive children to be enslaved to the Sith, and helping the Lost Tribe make a covert pact with Krayt to accelerate his rise to power. But the memory of who Krayt once was, his true identity, before he became the Dread Lord, that still eluded her.
Too much. It was all too much to bear at once. She willed herself to tug away from the biometric reader, and the instant she severed the link, she nearly blacked out from the kaleidoscope of emotions that were surging through her entire being.
Before she collapsed, she barely registered the shouts, firm hands gently lowered her onto the ground, and worry permeated the darkened haze of the Force. But through all of this, she unmistakably heard Ben's voice scream through their bond, begging her not to give up on the Light now, nor give up on the good person she was back on the path to becoming.
Who I am? Vestara lamented, wondering who she could ever be. Can I really live up to Ben and Edaan's dreams? Or am I doomed to repeat this endless dance between Light and Dark forever?
Honestly, she no longer knew just if she could ever change her nature. Sure, she knew that she was not Jedi material at all, but being a Sith, the only path she could truly call her own in her tragic life, it only brought misery and death to herself and countless worlds and people she had visited. Now with remembering all she had done, what else could she possibly be in this cruel galaxy? Perhaps it was time to start asking those difficult questions, while she still had the capability and time to do so. It could very well make the difference in her efforts to save herself.
But before such a reflection could take place, she had to come to terms with the evils of her past, and she had to do so before time ran out for herself and those that depended on her in the middle of a battle. She owed them all that much for taking a chance on her. And that meant recovering from her ordeal while Phasma did what she could not for the Observatory's test and defeating the hellish trap Ship and Krayt had designed for this group of intruders.
On a deeper and far more personal note, once they dismantled this Observatory and won this small-scale war, she would have a giant vibroaxe to grind against Ship for the trap he led her into. And she also knew how there would be plenty of Jedi and freedom fighters willing to help her take him down for good.
Although, whether she could summon the resolve to destroy him, one of her few friends in this mess of a life, that was another matter entirely. She once claimed to Ben that while she would regret it, she would be willing to eliminate Ship if presented the chance, but everyone knew how that turned out. No matter what happened, that issue would be a bridge she would have to cross whenever she could reach it.
Falleen, Ten Kilometers Eastward of Port Nowhere
Aboard the Mon Adapyne
Sneaking his way through the main hangar to reach a stealth shuttle, Ben did not care if he was violating every standby order. He did not care what happened in the imminent and massive battle that would decide Falleen's fate, even if the Alliance fleet suffered heavy casualties. The Jedi Master could not bear to lose Vestara to the darkness again, not when he was able to do something about it.
Back when he was eighteen and a less experienced Jedi, he had the chance to save her from her upbringing, only to squander it quite dearly, so he would not fail this time. Besides, he had already lost too many friends and family to do anything less for the one he knew to be his soulmate.
Though he might be willing to receive punishment from the Jedi, maybe even a court-martial by the galactic powers to lead a rescue op, he would not risk any more lives in his personal missions, so he would go at this alone, aside from his personal astromech droid.
Taking a military infiltration gunship would be enough to suit his needs, even if he would have preferred to take a StealthX so he could better avoid the risk of discovery. Sadly, the sleek and small X-Wing fighter could only seat one, and he would need a ship large enough to safely bring up to fifteen people back to friendly territory.
Oh well. He had made do with far worse odds over the years, and he would not fail or falter now. Too much depended on him to lose this fight now.
"Yeah, we all figured you'd do something like this." A smug and familiar elder's voice caught Ben completely off-guard. Fighting back a sigh, he turned to see Han, Allana, and Kix emerge from the transport he hoped to commandeer.
"I expected this kind of stunt from General Skywalker, but I thought you'd be a more pragmatic Jedi after studying his example." Kix nostalgically pointed out as the three walked down the ramp. "All of our friends and allies are still trapped behind enemy lines, and we've got an enemy armada closing in on our position. You can't go after your girlfriend and everyone else like this, especially in your current state."
"Am I that obvious?" Ben despondently asked before warning everyone, "Don't try to stop me."
"Who's trying to stop you? In fact, while you were sneaking about to try and pull off your reckless stunt, we received authorization to lead a strike force to Port Nowhere, and you're coming with us." Allana amusingly corrected her cousin, relishing the shock now plastered all over her cousin's face.
Han took the initiative to explain, "The brass can't spare a giant assault on Port Nowhere now, so we're going for a few teams with four Jedi and two platoons of our top commandos."
Ben could see the merits of the idea. Since the overwhelming Sith-funded force was about to descend upon them, it made perfect sense to send a smaller insertion force to wreak a little havoc in the Sith's headquarters while the rescue team carried out their task.
Unfortunately, he could see several flaws in the plan, and subtly pointed one out to his uncle, "And what about you, General Solo?" If the aged gunslinger was given leave to go, or was going to sneak aboard, that could make the mission particularly tricky. Han was getting up there in years, and he had his own responsibilities for those under his command to consider.
Ruefully shaking his head, he shut down Ben's unspoken skepticism, "Much as I'd love to go with you and personally rescue my wife, I have my own assignment. Someone's gotta keep Malleus's attention focused on the overall battle instead of our own op."
"A diversion, then." Ben caught on, wittily smirking, "Now that sounds like your kind of fun."
Gesturing to Allana, Ben warned her, "Here's hoping that your bribe of a ship's up to all specs."
"We'll know soon enough, because I'm going to the Whirlwind's copilot." Allana testily clarified before looking at a timepiece and urging, "We have to go in the next five minutes before our window of opportunity slips away. We're all cutting it close enough as it is, and our crew are bound to be getting antsy."
Not wasting any time, the group hurried to each of their ships, with Ben and Kix rushing to the Rude Awakening, and Han and Allana to the Phoenix Whirlwind.
Just hang in there, Ves. I'll be there soon. Ben quietly pleaded as he boarded the Jedi-owned Ronto-class Assault Pinnace Infiltrator not ninety seconds later.
"I'd suggest you take a little time to appraise your subordinates, Sir." Kix advised the Jedi Master while the ship began takeoff procedures. "Master Tesar Sebatyne will be piloting the Rude Awakening to the drop-off point, and the brass wants you to know your team by then."
Blinking away his surprise, he stoically deduced, "Given the stakes, I suppose that was the only way I could be allowed to take part in this mission." Sighing, he agreed, "All right. Just point me in the right direction, and I'll take care of the rest."
"I'd better go with you. According to their files, they're all a wily bunch." Kix warned Ben before leading him to the ship's main hold.
Falleen Orbit
Aboard the Knol Ven'nari
"Status report, Captain." Admiral Traest Kre'fey, Bothan admiral, veteran of decades of war, and commanding officer of the Confederation's Falleen task force, grimly ordered the commander officer of the newly minted Bothan Assault Carrier.
"All ships are reporting green across the board and are all at full combat readiness. If the Sith try anything on any of us, we'll be ready."
"Very good. Order all ships to begin their descent immediately." Kre'fey ordered the gray furred Bothan woman.
After making substantial progress in uprooting the Freedom's Riches' influence from the secessionist government, High Command had deployed its own task forces to help eliminate the Sith's most proliferant intermediaries. And Turr Phennir and his counselors had chosen the one-time supreme commander of the Galactic Alliance's Defense Fleet to lead one of the two fleets.
With six Bothan Assault Carriers, three Victory II-class and one Imperial I-class Star Destroyers from Commenor, ten Corellian corvettes of four different designs, and three times as many support vessels from a dozen of the Confederation's key worlds, Kre'fey commanded a force strong enough to break through most blockades. That is, if the Sith had maintained a blockade in place for their fortress world. Not one ship hovered in orbit to protect their investment.
After the Confederation force had established a cautious foothold just outside Falleen's orbit, they were prepared to descend into the planet's atmosphere and deliver precious relief to their partners in this Alliance of Light.
To most, one could assume that the Sith and their pawn of a king had withdrawn their forces to quell the incursion on one of their key operations, a costly mistake. But Kre'fey, having kept his combat instincts well-honed throughout his long and winding career, knew a paltry attempt of a trap when he saw one, and thanks to the coordination between old veterans and friends, they had the perfect means to counter it.
Falleen System Outskirts
The general looked upon the site of the supposedly tranquil star system, and sadly reflected on the carnage that was unfolding within it. Being a one hundred and eighty-eight-year-old warrior and leader, he did not relish fulfilling the debt he owed to his old friend when it took him outside of the Dominus Sector.
After the New Republic leadership utterly failed its people during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, and tehier best military mind was imprisoned in carbonite nearly two decades ago, the general's people all but entirely isolated themselves from the rest of the galaxy. They had taken enough losses and been disregarded too many times by the galaxy that they realized how they ought to instead be looking after their own.
However, when the elder general was rescued by a Jedi-backed partnership between the main galactic powers, and the recovering general needed a ranking figure in his people's navy to lead a strike force to aid the Alliance of Light in destroying a Sith stronghold, he could not say no.
What better way to prove his people's worth to the galaxy and repay their debt than to demonstrate their superior military skill over almost every military commander out there? Besides, if the Sith retook control of the galaxy, they would not stop until every corner of the galaxy was under their control. They might be valorous fighters, but they had no intention of tempting a war against a second Sith Empire. No one's good fortunes in war lasted forever.
He just had to follow his old friend's orders and hold his expeditionary force back until just the right moment. With only fifteen warships in his fleet, nearly a tenth of the space's entire armada, he had to play this gamble perfectly. Even one mistake could cost his people dearly, and there could be no room for error here. With Kre'fey and his fleet about to walk right into a Sith ambush, they would have only one chance to take down Malleus and his cronies.
Falleen, Port Nowhere
Just Above the Main Garrison
Aboard Ship
"The Bothans and their allies are preparing to launch their forces, exactly as you had foreseen." Ship warned Malleus. "And your allies are ready to begin their attack on the groundside Alliance force."
"Good." Malleus smirked, even though the pain of Phasma's searing attack still roared through his being. Commanding one of Ship's monitors, he ordered all his forces to begin his attack right away.
It was time for the Jedi and their dupes to be reminded what real power is, and for the galaxy to get a taste of what laid in store for anyone foolish enough to oppose them. And showing up Dician and her Intelligence cronies would be the finishing touch on this glorious day.
Well, I think this is a good place to finish this chapter. A whole lot happened, from Edaan starting to realize many of his flaws, to Vestara beginning to remember her terrible past deeds, to the final preparations for the Battle for Port Nowhere, with a few extra additions to mix things up a little more, things are really heating up. I hope you all enjoy what's coming next and can bear with me for a while in publishing the next batch of chapters. I'm starting to look for full-time work, and that'll eat up a bit of my time, so I ask for your patience with me. So, how are all of you doing on this warm winter day of Friday, February 11, 2022? I'm well, as I've been busy with reading a good chunk of Star Wars: X-Wing: Mercy Kill, finishing Greedfall and beginning Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, while working a few days in my part-time job. Oh, and I got my previous chapter published on February 7. Well, I'd better get this chapter stored away for review in a few days or so. I hope you all have a blessed weekend, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
