Hey, everyone! How are you doing on this cloudy afternoon of Friday, March 11, 2022? I'm okay, if a bit down with the madness consuming so much of the world and the usual. I managed to publish Ch. 19 of this story a few hours ago, and I hope that you all enjoy it. As for this one, I think I had best take my time with it, since my mind is in a bit of a fog for the moment. At least this way, I can better plan out how to reach the epilogue of my story and for the entire saga. In other news, I'm almost done with my presidential speeches book, and then I'll get started on a tribute book to the deceased Rush Limbaugh. That hopes to be a captivating read. So, with all of that out of the way, I had best get started on this chapter. May the Lord be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!

(Monday, March 14, 2022, Addendum.) Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm afternoon? I'm well, as I had a good shift at work today, and ran some errands with my mother afterwards. Oh, and I finished reading Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines: Rebel Dream a little while ago, and it was phenomenal. Just as good as I remember it. I decided to alternate between Star Wars and real-life books so I can still enjoy newer books and still brush up on Star Wars writing techniques to improve my own writing. I've currently written just over 4k words in this chapter, and I have a feeling that I've got a long way to go before I finish it. So, with all that out of the way, I'd best get back to work on this chapter. And I encourage you all to pray for the madness consuming the world, especially in Ukraine and other hotspots. I know many of you don't believe in the same God as me, or the same way as me, but I'm sure that we can all agree that the world and most people could use plenty of help right now. Have a blessed day, everyone, and stay safe and free.

Falleen, Port Nowhere

Within the Sith Observatory

Inside the Command Center

"So, you have come back to us at last, you three broken traitors. And you even brought our master a few new presents as penance? A fine tribute to start your atonement." A diminutive Columi, garbed in light black robes of a Sith Lord, mockingly appraised Vestara, Ferren, Mirta, and their large band of allies in their ridiculously named "Alliance of Light."

Seeing his enemies outnumber his group, each having their weapons drawn and the Jedi-led force ready to pounce on the Sith Lord and his two Falleen disciples, Phobar knew he would only have one chance to salvage something from this compromised temple and get a few more prisoners for the Dread Lord's Inquisitors.

That meant he had to stall for a few more moments before he could defeat them. And trying to undermine the tenuous trust between the varied groups would be an apt means of doing so. A shame he might lose one or both his apprentices in the process, but it was such a minor sacrifice when compared with preserving a key part of the Grand Design.

"Don't bother, Phobar. No one here's falling for your manipulations." Ferren wearily warned him.

"No one here insinuated to me of that, Oculus. I merely meant that you and your friends just walked right into my ultimate trap." Faster than anyone could see, the door to the command center suddenly slammed down, leaving all but two of their allied commandos and every Lasat guard trapped back in the hallway. "I don't think we needed all those meager grunts interfering in this stimulating conversation. They would only have needlessly made this victory of mine exponentially more complex than it needed to be."

"Enough of this." Garazeb growled, taking aim with his bo-rifle, but found his weapon getting heavier, and his arms growing wearier with each passing second. He saw many of his teammates in a similar plight, and not even the Jedi and defecting Sith were immune if the strain in their eyes was a sign.

The Lasat general exhaustively demanded, "What… what are you doing to us, you floating brain?"

"Do you know of the Vitiate-era Sith Lord named Paladius?" Phobar conversationally asked. "He was a self-serving renegade who led a minor cult before being killed by a future member of the Dark Council who went by the moniker of Lord Kallig. But the arrogant Sith Pureblood had two rare and highly coveted abilities that were useful in dealing with his enemies. He could drain the essence of almost anyone near him if he so wished and could also weaken the connections to the Force of most beings.

"In fact, that's what I've been doing to all of you since you entered my fortress. And the longer you stay down here with me, the worse the effects are on you until you collapse and are no longer part of this war. That is, unless you decide to wise up and join the winning side."

Vestara, feeling a surge of dark anger and humiliation at being outplayed so flawlessly, was not about to let any of her enemies defeat and capture her again, especially a sanctimonious and know-it-all brain jar of a Sith. Nearly giving into her rage and attempting to unleash a burst of lightning, she found herself too exhausted to so much as emit a spark. She then felt a desperate tug through a familiar and growing Force Bond, and it was one she knew and cherished with all her being.

Ben was somewhere in this temple, and he was fighting the same darkness that she was, that being all the incentive she needed to control her fury. If he could resist such a temptation with the odds stacked so high, then she had to rise to the challenge and prove that his trust in her was not misplaced. After all, they did resist worse lures and destroy one of Abeloth's avatars all while being deprived of food, water, and rest for three days straight at the end of both her and the Lost Tribe's resurgence.

To Vestara's relief, before any other snide remarks could be made, Allana, Leia, and Tesar made a charge at the Columi, hoping to eradicate the threat right away. Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly, they were quickly blocked by his two apprentices, each one activating two crimson lightsabers to intercept the swift lunges and ferocious push.

"If you want to get to me, honored Jedi, then you'll have to get past my escorts first. But in the interest of being sporting, they're not just for show." Phobar sadistically warned as the guards forced both Jedi back several feet from their master with their brute strength alone.

'Well, no one came here expecting an easy victory.' Allana quietly lamented, pushing all thoughts of her worry for the men trapped outside as she and the others went on the attack.

Falleen Orbit

Aboard Ship

Malleus took aim at the bottom of the Dorneans' most damaged escort craft, finally scoring a direct hit on the ship's shield generator and leaving it exposed to a combined assault by two of his fleet's warships. At least now they knew the most effective way to incapacitate the enemy's improved version of the Nebulon-B Frigates, useful information for when the time came to deal with the rest of the hardy race.

Unfortunately, this discovery, coupled with the two destroyed out of twenty-five enemy transports heading down to the planet below, was a mere spark of good news when compared to the losses of Lady Irola's fleet. Almost forty percent of her armada had been obliterated against the Alliance of Light, even with communications back online and using every trick and hidden skill their force possessed to inflict the small number of casualties they had done so far.

Out of the entire Dornean force, the One Sith had merely destroyed a few dozen starfighters, two hybrid light battleships, and now two escort craft.

But those main capital ships were easily tearing through their fleet, and no one seemed to have a way to stop them, not even Admiral Gage and his plan to hit the enemy's flanks. Its point-defense capabilities made it all but impervious to the guerilla tactics Gage envisioned.

And the losses down near Port Nowhere were arguably just as bad, with the Zygerrians all but taken out of the fight, the Royal Navy suffering from the multi-pronged assault, the city's defenses shutting down, one grid portion after another from sabotage, and the Observatory was infiltrated by at least a dozen enemy teams. As clever, resilient, and arrogant as Lord Phobar was, even the brilliant fool was no match for the entire naval flotilla bearing down upon him.

"There is one way to turn this defeat into a stalemate, Lord Malleus." Ship mentally called out to him. "Think like a true Sith and not one of their neophytes. Draw upon the energies from the Observatory to help Lady Irola and command her people. Work together with Lord Phobar, and we can drive back the interlopers and allow your followers a chance to regroup."

A stalemate. That mere concept was anathema to Malleus and the Sith's entire philosophy, for they were supposed to achieve nothing but pure victory. But his options and resources were all but exhausted, and unless he wished to personally explain to Lord Krayt how Falleen was lost ahead of schedule, then a prolonged siege was the only option left to delay the world's "liberation" by the Jedi. At least this way, they could devastate the Dorneans and Admiral Gage could get their desired scans of the foes' modern navy.

Within Chiss Space, On Cioral

Inside the House Miurani Estate

Saganu finished reviewed the numerous reports his agents provided him on the state of the Chiss people and the Ruling and Great Families, and to his disappointment, nothing of note stood out to him. With the outsiders set to interfere in the Chiss's most time-honored traditions and institutions, and dozens of the Ascendancy's most prominent leaders acting out of character, it fell to him and his inner circle to protect the Chiss from subversion and destruction.

Speaking of subversion, Saganu remembered how he had to check up on a personal project of his. Hearing the intercom buzz, he opened the feed, and his most valued agent quickly began, "I may have uncovered a breakthrough on your investigation, honored Aristocra."

"Good. I will send my page to you in five minutes. Be sure to have all your notes ready this time."

Normally, he would not recruit humans to his staff, but Rensalm Caster, a great grandchild of survivors from the Old Republic-era Outbound Flight fiasco, held a great respect among the Chiss for their shared commitment to order and impeccable loyalty and intellect. However, for the last decade, he was kept at arm's length by most of the Chiss for his honest nature, boundless curiosity, and lack of respect for every family's set of secrets and their unspoken code of conduct.

Having learnt a great deal about the Chiss while serving the Empire of the Hand, he eventually decided to work for the main Chiss government, proving himself to be a valued asset of any family that pitied him enough to employ his services. Unfortunately for the past three lesser families, his nauseatingly Jedi-like morality often had him leaving their employ when learning of many scandals and intrigue before anonymously reporting such corruption to the proper authorities. The only reason he still lived was how he earned the silent but lethal protection of the Defense Council for his testimony on their behalf.

His moralistic acts disgusted Saganu for the human's lack of regard for the careful balance of power that sustained the Chiss in a hostile galaxy, but even he could see the value in an honest and brilliant soul, if he were guided in the proper direction. That was why he was honest with Rensalm in his reasons for hiring him, and it captivated the fool enough to invest him in his supposed cause.

For the past three decades, dozens of various warships in both the Expansionary Fleet and each family's defense force had been reported as decommissioned or destroyed, and many officers and soldiers were assassinated, both allegedly done by rogues from beyond the Ascendancy's borders. Each of these actions had led to near-clean victories against rogue powers, and a massive expansion of their reach, but many of their new wards often disappeared under mysterious and shoddily explained circumstances. Too much remained in the dark for the loyal Aristocra to let these oddities stay uncovered any longer.

All these circumstances reminded Saganu too much of the cautionary tale of Mitth'raw'nuruodo that remained for many of the Ascendancy's traditionalists, and the aristocra deplored the needless wars the renegade had dragged his people into. If someone decided to pick up where the rogue warlord left off in his disgraceful legacy, then it was his duty to stop it.

To give him further ammunition, if his investigation discredited the Alliance of Light and convinced his people that they did not need outside assistance to fight their battles, then all the better. With the Chiss allied with the greater galaxy and at war with the remnants of their enemies and their new masters in the Sith, it was crucial for them to remain united now more than ever.

If someone was pilfering resources and personnel from them for their own private army, then it was his duty to learn the truth and expose this treasonous scheme by the roots. He would make this a top priority among his houses' assets, both known and withheld from the rest of the Ascendancy.

And once his dupe of a researcher uncovered all he wanted to know, then he would take proper care of him and take all the credit in stopping this grand conspiracy. If the Defense Council had a problem with his actions or methods, then they would have to either see the truth, or fall like the rest of his adversaries.

Dathomir, North of the Frenzied River

Within the Great Canyon Village

"The meeting's been canceled. The Jedi and their allied clans increased security for the Star Temple, and nearly captured my mistresses." Amara, an unanticipated Dathomir messenger and secret Nightsister, quietly warned Sorzus, news the Chargrian woman did not want to hear.

"Did we have a traitor in your clans?" She growled out. With the two Sith and their agents less than a day away from their intended rendezvous point, she did not want to hear about any setbacks or diversions. Without the miniature ion-scramblers blocking any curious eavesdroppers, and the Dark Siders cloaking their Force Signature from any of their legions of enemies on Dathomir, they would not even consider the risk of talking freely in this primitive inn.

To lodge the many settlers and pro-Jedi farmers that were often being ostracized and pushed out of their later homes, the earlier clans had established several safe zones across the planet for modest development and trade posts for resource importation and exportation. With the Sith group in the middle of their enemy territory, they had elected to stay in a stone-cased and low-tech motel reminiscent of the Star Temples to avoid too much scrutiny, to the consternation of Alora for the room's ramshackle accommodations.

"No, the clans handpicked their agents for their unparalleled loyalty and abilities. I think their enemies figured it out on their own this time, with some help from the Jedi. They may be slow most of the time, but these old-school fools have a few lucid moments in their lives."

"What about Snoke? Did he meet up with his targets?" Prosset patiently inquired.

"Yes, and they've agreed to help all of you. They and the others will spread the word to the rest of the clans and gather up your new army. But your main quarry is not at the Praxeum right now, and he will not be for quite a while." Amara explained.

"Good. That makes our job easier. Where is the brat of a Palpatine?" Alora rudely grunted.

"Our scouts have tracked your young quarry to the heart of the Misty Falls, where a Jedi training outpost resides." Amara humbly answered.

Strange. Why would Edaan be at a lone training facility when the Jedi Praxeum was a far more defensible position? Turning to the Nightsister, she asked, "What do we know of this proving ground?"

"It is where many Jedi and their disciples push themselves beyond their limits and face their inner darkness under the watchful eye of Jedi Master Taron Malicos." Handing Sorzus a datapad, Amara warned everyone, "Tread carefully, for Master Malicos and his handpicked retinue of Jedi are not to be underestimated."

"You fear and respect him as a worthy enemy." Sorzus pointed out, her tone not scolding or derisive, but curious and observant.

"He is a proven leader and has dealt many crippling blows to my sisters. He is the primary reason why my people are so eager to work with you, if it means destroying him and giving us a chance to reclaim our world and full potential."

Primarily addressing Alora now, Amara warned the Douwtin, "You, and anyone else your leaders seek to bring to our aid, would do well to wait until your elder male and our clans can fully prepare our army. Even with all of us working together, it will not be easy to shatter all of the Jedi's strongholds."

'Then it is fortunate we have the sufficient reinforcements aiding us when the time comes.' Sorzus silently gave thanks to Lord Krayt and his wisdom in preparing the necessary force to capture his prized quarry.

Keeping quiet on her secret knowledge, she instead nodded, she probed, "How long will all these preparations take?"

"No more than seven days, ten days, at the most." Amara answered, quickly proposing, "With your permission, I will take you to my elders, and they will provide all of you with accommodations more to your taste than this village."

"How do we get there without attracting any scrutiny? We are in the middle of a tour." Sorzus pointed out.

"One that was prematurely shut down due to the Star Temple raid, and your off-world masters have a new itinerary for you that takes you right above our haven and outside the Jedi's reach."

"And if the enemy discovers us and tries to wipe us out in one fell swoop?" Prosset reminded Amara.

"They will not attack the Talzin Mountains. It is a stronghold few can safely traverse, and its natural darkness will shield you from scrutiny, just as Master Yoda used the planet Dagobah to hide from Jedi hunters of his time."

"You've done your homework." Sorzus approvingly nodded.

Nonchalantly shrugging, the human Nightsister simply elaborated, "One cannot truly defeat their enemies without understanding how they think. A lesson we might have picked up by the accursed Jedi, but a valid one, nonetheless."

"Then let's get moving." Alora impatiently ordered their native guide, barging her way out of their ramshackle motel room. After she left, the following Sozrus wondered what misfortunes the hulking and impatient Sith Lady would get herself into, and hoped her bumbling would not compromise their joint mission.

Falleen, Port Nowhere

Within the Sith Observatory

Inside the Command Center

Phobar relished witnessing the battle unfolding before him, even as his mind calculated the hundreds of potential outcomes that would ultimately leave his apprentices victorious. Having trained his prized two pupils to work in conjunction with his mental abilities, they had destroyed many enemies of the Sith and pushed many more victims into the Dark Side's waiting embrace.

And yet, something was dreadfully out of place in this battle. Even with the two brothers, continuously invigorated from bathing in the dark energies of this place, anticipating and flawlessly parrying every move the Jedi and their few secular allies tried on them, the enemies grew stronger. It was as if someone, or several people, were giving them the strength to resist his leeching abilities.

But how could that be? True, that oaf in Malleus had been forced to draw on a significant portion of the temple's energies to bolster his floundering fleet in orbit. But even that was not nearly enough to weaken Phobar's hold over the enemy.

Could this surge of strength be from the other teams intruding on this sacred facility? Or was there something else at work here, something unaccounted for by either side?

Wait. There was a sense of creeping doom coming up behind him, as if the cold darkness of this place was being replaced by a warm and all-encompassing light. What in the name of the Sith was happening to his sanctum?! How could a handful of Jedi summon the strength to dispel decades worth of dark energy in mere hours?!

He was so caught up in his strategic contemplations, that he nearly missed the blaster bolt Mirta fired at him, and the lightning blast Vestara aimed as well, just before he raised a shriveled hand to effortlessly block both pathetic attacks.

Phobar was honestly baffled, because how could Vestara, as strong with the Force as she was, still have that kind of energy left after twenty minutes near him while shielding Mirta from the worst of the effects? More to the point, how did they slip past his learners' impenetrable defense?

Glancing at the battle occurring about twenty meters away, Phobar saw one of his apprentice's bodies fall face first on the ground, gallons of blood pooling around the corpse before he saw the Barabel Jedi- Tesar Sebatyne, he reminded himself- spitting out Baor's larynx ripped out throat and larynx before falling onto a knee from sheer exhaustion and the two lightsaber slashes on his abdomen.

Suddenly, Phobar's odds of victory down here, perhaps even an escape, were looking exponentially slim.

"I'll give you one chance to surrender. Decide now." Vestara warned, pulling out a second lightsaber and adopting a Jar'Kai combat stance.

"You will find me in a class of my own, far above my lost pupils, Vestara." Phobar amusingly laughed before his hover chair opened three ports to allow a red-colored lightsaber to emerge from each socket, the weapons lit the moment each one was free and hovering around the Columi Sith.

"Your move." He challenged as both opposing women held themselves mere feet out of reach from the three opposing blades, ready to show Phobar an unforgettable lesson on teamwork.

Within the Falleen Throne Capital City

Inside the Royal Palace

Within the palace's war room, Redhan Axlan, ruler of Falleen and ally of the One Sith, was growing increasingly anxious over the deteriorating situation around Port Nowhere.

From the tactical reports by Port Nowhere's garrison and his surviving command vessels, the Alliance had nearly advanced to within striking distance of the city. Even the combined might and superior numbers of the Royal Family's navy and their many allies proved to be little match against their enemies' diverse tactics and fleets. They had even managed to hold Malleus and his elite fleet back with reinforcements no one could have anticipated.

Already, they were deploying multiple strike teams to undermine Malleus's hold and sabotage the city's defenses. To make matters worse, the Jedi even discovered and penetrated the city's illegal storehouse and their secret facilities beneath it.

And little wonder for those terrible losses when remembering how the majority of Redhan's top officers had rarely seen combat outside of their home system but were propped up as ceremonial admirals to help keep the lesser noble families in line. Many of the more qualified leaders had been ceremonially sacrificed to the Yuuzhan Vong's false pantheon of gods during their three-year occupation, and the king had elected to consolidate his hold rather than take bold measures. Now, the monarch and his Sith masters were paying the price for appointing due to political maneuvering over skill and merit.

Well, if the Jedi would send many of their best to uncover the truth of his and Lord Krayt's lucrative operations, then it would do the king well to cover their tracks and eliminate many of their enemies at once. Losing the Observatory would be a significant loss to his master's Grand Design, but it would be even worse to let the enemy uncover the truth and ensure his kingdom's end. And Lord Phobar would rather meet death than suffer humiliation as a Jedi captive.

If the worst came to pass, then it was time for Redhan to enact their contingency and take his family and their loyal retainers to establish a kingdom-in-exile until they could one day return. Then they would address their disloyal subjects and remind them where the true power lies.

Hearing a door slide open, Redhan turned his head to see his wife, Xaile Axlan, in her traditional, red-streaked afternoon gown with extravagant jewelry across her arms and above her bosom, walking briskly towards her king.

Seeing the palpable fear and misery streaking across her eyes, Redhan knew more bad news was about to follow. Before he could ask an answer, Xaile despairingly whimpered, "Haxim knows."

"What? What does he know?!" Redhan heatedly demanded, his wife ignoring him as she pulled out a Holocomm and keyed it into the planet's holonet channel reserved for royal decrees, with a hologram of the king conversing before a Columi.

To Redhan's horror, he remembered this moment with perfect clarity, for it was when he first made his unholy bargain with Phobar and the One Sith.

"Port Nowhere will be exactly what I need for my base of operations, Your Highness." Phobar's hologram humbly told the king's hologram. "Its Sidious-era underground facility will serve my master perfectly to train the next generation of Sith."

"And you'll have your pick of candidates to choose from my subjects. What are a few hundred or thousand children when compared to the prosperity our alliance will bring under my rule?" Redhan arrogantly promised.

Right afterwards, recordings of the chosen children's brutal training regimen were made the focus of the broadcast, with most of the acolytes being Falleen children and adolescents. This was followed by a list of the Observatory's captives, narrated by his cur of a disowned son, Haxim, telling his audience of the horrors that lie within the temple and that other, similar Sith-controlled facilities existed across the galaxy.

The flesh-and-blood king grew pale from his darkest secrets being broadcasted, and keyed in his Minister of Propaganda to fearfully demand, "Reda, how widespread is this broadcast?"

"It's being broadcasted across every region, and across every official channel, Your Highness." The woman brokenly answered. "The entire planet is about to erupt into open rebellion, and your son is set to complete his revolution."

Everything was about to come apart, Redhan bitterly realized as he unconsciously embraced his wife. Most of the allied families would disavow the disgraced ruler to avoid the worst reprisals for cooperating with a Sith supporter and the commoners were going to take to the streets and tie up all the military's already-strained resources keeping what little semblance of order they could, if the bulk of the soldiers did not decide to join the beleaguered population in their imminent revolt.

The Sith's occupation of the planet, and their stronghold for their cult and this region's operations, was all but broken now that they completely lost the people's support. It was time to prepare for a long and heartbreaking exile, but not before reminding Haxim and his misbegotten rabble of the great and terrible cost in defying their rightful king.

Shutting off the holocomm, Redhan slowly commanded his nearest tactical officer, "Get me Prince Idenn and the Reprisal. I have a particular assignment for his task force."

Gently letting go of his weeping wife, he firmly, but not unkindly, warned her, "Have our children prepare the Contingency. We need to be out of here by the end of next week, and with all we need to keep ourselves useful for Lord Krayt."

'Or ensure our survival as fugitives from all sides.' He quietly corrected himself.

Someday, Redhan and his family would return, and they would reap their full vengeance against their whelp of a son and his traitorous rabble before raising a power base greater than any ruler before him.

Korriban, Darth Krayt's Citadel

Within the Aphras' Quarters

Even as Chelli observed the hacked holocam feed above the Dread Lord's throne, she felt a twinge of apprehension at how everything about their daring escape lay within the hands of an unproven asset. Seeing the Edaan-Iteration kneel before Krayt alongside his six most loyal acolytes, along with hearing the elite Dark Siders warn the finished experiment how he would be an integral part of their master's so-called "Grand Design'' after he was properly proven through his trials, unsettled the maverick woman.

While she did not believe in a higher power like her mother did, she truly believed her programming would ensure he was loyal to her and her mother over the Sith and lead them and their droid friends to freedom from their captors. Her faith in her loved ones was stronger than in any make-believe god, and she deeply knew they would soon escape Korriban and make their destinies their own.

"I have a request, Dread Lord." The Iteration humbly spoke, raising his head to stare at the Sith leader.

Not being able to see Krayt's face with her pilfered camera's angle, let alone underneath his vonduum crab mask, Chelli could not gauge the Sith's reactions. But she could imagine the surprise in Haxar's voice when she amusingly answered, "Barely three hours awake, and already you seek favors of us."

Witnessing Krayt raise a hand to stem any further insults, he calmly addressed the clone, "Speak your piece."

"I humbly beseech permission to work alongside any of your historians and servants you might allow." Growing uncomfortable, the clone quickly elaborated, "I have all the memories and experiences you acquired of Edaan Palpatine, but I have no practical means of utilizing and honing them until we capture my progenitor. Until that time comes, I wish to be of the best use I can to the Sith, and ready myself for service to the Grand Design."

"You seek to understand what the One Sith is truly about." Krayt knowingly surmised. "You mask your emotions well, but cannot hide your true feelings from me, young Palpatine. The Dark Side reveals all to its worthy followers. And it helps to have better control of your micro expressions."

"Thank you for your wisdom, my Lord." The Edaan-clone reverently bowed his head again. "But until I can take Jedi Palpatine's place in his order to further the Grand Design, I wish to truly comprehend what drives the Sith beyond what I have witnessed from you all and your servants. For what little time I have as my own, I wish to experience a sense of… self, and of kinship with those that call this place home.

"And I believe there is a prime candidate who can answer my many questions. A middle-aged and bald human, one with the look and bearing of a scholar and teacher about him. I sense his great enthusiasm for the Sith and wonder when he saw me."

'He wants to learn from my father?!' Chelli horrifically deduced. 'Did my rewriting make him a few cards short of a playing deck?' Although, to be fair, if her indoctrination was truly malfunctioning, then the Edaan-Iteration would have revealed her treachery to Krayt and his advisors right then and there.

Immediately clamping down on her growing fear, she instinctively believed there was more to this than learning from a Sith sycophant. Whether it was from a genuine desire to learn about the Sith, or a way to get closer to the female Aphras so he could determine their course of action before making a move, she knew how she, her mother, and their mechanical allies would have to move even more carefully from here on out.

"Would that be to your satisfaction, Dread Lord?" The clone gently asked, interrupting the woman's worried reflections.

A long silence followed, before Krayt surprised everyone, "Very well. I will grant your request and have Doctor Aphra and his family host and instruct you on the culture of the Sith. But you will have many other responsibilities to keep you busy and productive until your deployment."

"Thank you, Lord Krayt." The Edaan-replica obediently stated. "I will not let your faith in me be displaced. This, I promise you all."

"See that you do not." Krayt said with an air of finality. "You may go now. I have other matters to tend to soon that will lead me offworld for a time. It is time for me to fully rejoin the galaxy and give the Jedi the first lesson about their fateful place in history."

'Oh, that can't be good.' Chelli ruminated, wishing Krayt would give any kind of clue on his plans before the seven Sith and the Iteration were dismissed. If he was getting involved in this war ahead of schedule, then it had to be serious.

Perhaps her makeshift team could carefully uncover the truth before Krayt made his move. After all, if they hoped to join the Alliance of Light and earn their full trust and protection, they would need substantial incentive, and giving the Sith's opposing armies a chance to eliminate their enemy's leader would certainly fit that gigantic credit bill.

Falleen, Ten Kilometers from Port Nowhere

Aboard the Mon Adapyne

"He actually went through with this vindictive and petty gamble." Keyan numbly observed alongside the holograms of Traest and Thornton, seeing the planetary address Haxim was giving, how he had called upon the Royal Family's military to either join his cause, or stay out of the Resistance's way. He was currently beseeching the civilian populace to avoid acting recklessly or throw away their lives, vowing that when the time came, they would be able to help rebuild their broken society.

The most glaring problem with that strategy was how Haxim was expressly ordered to wait until Port Nowhere was secured, and nowhere in the plan was the revealing of the Sith's entire network of training academies. Now the Sith would work even quicker to relocate their potential converts to safer havens, and countless agencies would flounder all over each other over the uproar about to arise.

He might save his planet back, but this reckless defiance could cost the free galaxy the entire war.

"He's quite an eloquent speaker." Thornton observed from his own flagship. "But aside for the breaches in confidential secrets, a more immediate question remains, can he control the planetary fires he's setting ablaze?"

"That's if we can prove the Sith's temple exists." The Mon Adapyne's captain worriedly interjected.

Quickly elaborating, the officer zoomed into Port Nowhere, right above the city's cargo facilities, and focused on the blips approaching the area. "It looks like Redhan and his Sith masters are preparing to do a heavy dose of damage control."

"My fleet can intercept them and begin rescue efforts, but we will still be cutting it close." Traest warned.

"Then don't wait for me." Keyan agreed before the Confederation admiral signed off to carry out his task.

"Perhaps now might be a good time to offer terms of surrender for the enemy's Port Nowhere fleet." Thornton offered. "We may need their help to contain the pandemonium our ally has unleashed."

Ordinarily, the general would wonder if his peer, a Mandalorian, no less, was trying to make a poorly timed joke over leaving a battle unfinished.

But he knew the son of Belok Rhal was not a jokester and had an infinitesimally better grasp of military tactics and honor than just about every member of Neo Death Watch put together. And this suggestion made perfect sense to the onetime Jedi Knight. With the enemy force depleted of its offworld allies and having lost over a third of its remaining fighting capabilities, it would be prudent to preserve its strength to keep the peace and move against any stubborn Royalist holdouts.

"Agreed." Keyan simply stated. "I might recommend you and Admiral Kre'fey to try and persuade his targets from carrying out their cover-up."

Gesturing to his comm officer, he ordered, "Open a fleet-wide transmission. Have them cease all offensive actions immediately and identify the enemy's command ships. It's time to offer them a chance for mercy and redemption."

Falleen Orbit

Aboard Ship

In less than ten minutes, that accursed exile of a rebel prince had been able to ruin everything the Sith had taken years to create for one of their prized worlds, along with exposing all their other redoubts scattered across the galaxy! Now the galaxy would be on the hunt for any trace of Sith collaboration, and it was all because someone leaked intel of one of Krayt's personal projects to the Alliance of Light, and an overzealous disgraced noble exposed it all out of vengeful spite towards his abusive and greedy relatives. If he knew anything of the Dread Lord and his terrible wrath after all these years of serving him, then many heads would soon roll from this act of high treason.

Malleus, after ensuring his allies withdrew to a safe distance, let his anger bleed out through the Force and the scream he unleashed against the fighter wing leading a coordinated assault against the self-aware warship. From the shockwaves his blast created, he disintegrated all but the outermost groups of enemy fighters, leaving only about a half-dozen of out of the thirty-five left that once flew to oppose him. The yell even was powerful enough to blow away the largest enemy warship that was assaulting his raiders, and rip two of their escort craft apart in a handful of seconds.

Exhaling out his anger, at least enough to stop continually seeing red, he knew it was time for his people and still-useful agents to break camp from this doomed world. But he could not leave before extracting what little left out of the once-useful royal family, saving those he could of his fellow Sith and their hefty investment here, and sending a lasting reminder to the Jedi and their dupes of the cost of such a "decisive victory."

The Jedi may have won this small brushfire conflict and crippled an enemy cult. However, if manipulated correctly, their ally's miscalculation could give the Sith a far more versatile tool to use in winning this war, especially in a populace that would have had more than their fill of death.

Telepathically calling out to Lady Irola, he sternly ordered, "The battle for Falleen is all but over for us, and we've lost our grip on this world. Have your forces jump to hyperspace and get as far away from here as you can before you lose any more people. I have a bit of housekeeping to take care of with our allies before I can rejoin our master."

Feeling Irola's dismay and fear, he consolingly promised, "I will provide you and Admiral Gage with sufficient cover to make your withdrawal. You will not receive any blame for this disaster. I will personally make sure of it when I return."

"And just how do you plan to escape a planet besieged by legions of Jedi-led armies?" Irola pointed out.

"Don't worry about me, for I have survived far worse odds than this with much less, and I am not alone this time." Malleus patiently reminded her. As much as he wanted to feel disgusted from hearing such sentimentality in a Sith, it was admirably touching to see how at least some of the Dark Siders followed Lord Krayt's example in valuing comradery and cooperation among their fellow Lord and Ladies.

"And we still have all the excess energy from your temple, so we might as well make good use out of it." Ship quickly added as he flew in a 180-degree shift to race towards the enemy fleet, drawing a rare chuckle from the ancient human at the vessel's enthusiasm.

His respect for Ship was quickly replaced by utter disbelief when he heard the warning, "You would also do well to convince Lord Phobar and your surviving subjects to retreat from the Observatory. I sense a great deal of hostility emanating from several allied ships that are encircling the shrine."

Behind his helmet, Malleus felt as if his eyes could pop out of their sockets from this bombshell. Drawing on the Dark Side to see the battle on the planet below, he was enraged to see the Reprisal, the command vessel of Prince Idenn, a repulsively sycophant of his father, and five escort ships taking up positions above the Observatory. He gleaned into the prince's mind and discovered how Redhan had been selfishly trying to betray his masters and preserve what little remained of his reputation for his future schemes.

When he made it back to the palace to tie up the final loose ends and extract his surviving allies, he would have a nice and long chat with Redhan on his duplicity before doling out the appropriate punishment. But for now, he needed to warn Phobar about the desperate situation on his end.

Deep Within the Unknown Regions

Within the Kharmort's Miasma Nebula

On the Planet, Vagar Praxut

Within the Capital City Eskarrh

The Chiss leader of the Vagar Praxut occupation, Mid Admiral Chaf'oor'akiord, his core name being "Fooraki", was typically a man of few words with most people, preferring to let his subordinates and actions speak on his behalf.

Having personally learnt how loose lips were capable of dooming countless lives and many carefully laid military strategies, had worked excruciatingly hard to redeem himself for his blunders in the Third Vagaari War. He eventually rose back to his original rank three years ago and was entrusted by the Six Ruling Families with keeping the Vagaari honest in their new lifestyle, even if he knew it would be a losing battle.

True, he had uncovered dozens of insurgent cells trying to sabotage the Ascendancy's efforts, but most of his top officers knew the unspoken truth. These rebels were merely a front to protect their true leaders who had mastered the art of manipulation in ways their predecessors were unable to comprehend, thanks to their mysterious new allies.

It was almost enough to drive the Mid Admiral insane with anger, until Supreme General Ba'Kif and his non-Chiss partners had revealed the truth to him and his most trusted officers. The Sith, relentless in their endless quest to dominate the entire galaxy, had reached out to many of the Chiss's old enemies to use in whittling down the Ascendancy. It was enough for him to wish that their people would break their isolationist stance with allies of their own from the greater galaxy.

But working alongside a mixed fleet of outsiders and Chiss ships in uncovering the source of the Sith-led corruption was almost too much for him to take. He knew he could handle such a change if it helped the Ascendancy, but he also realized how many of his people would not share his pragmatic outlook.

Either way, with the combined fleet of the Alliance of Light's force, which was about to be led by a massive Guardian-class Super Star Destroyer, a ship resembling a Nebula-class Star Destroyer made by the now-defunct New Republic, set to depart with Chiss reinforcements in five days, it could be the break the Ascendancy needed to turn the tide in this shadow war.

At the very least, the fleet would keep the Vagaari off-balance while the dozen Jedi and their allied Intelligence and agencies could help the investigation. Having Chiss-friendly smuggler kingpin Khedryn Faal along would also be able to open a few new doors for their search.

But this Senior Captain that Ba'Kif mentioned, this "Kivu'raw'nuru", that was to be treated as the Supreme General's personal representative, it raised many alarms in his wary mind. The act of an agent conveying secret orders violated almost half the protocols in the Expeditionary Defense Fleet and reminded him too much of the family infighting back home. Were it not for the promise that all would be explained once the task force arrived, he very well might have reported the order to the rest of the Defense Council the moment the meeting concluded.

Now, if no one was foolish enough to blather to anyone about this, be they friend or suspect, it was only a matter of time before everything fell into place and this tumorous assignment could reach its crescendo. Although, with the inevitable divisions in the Chiss on this level of an alliance, anything was possible, and his people would have to be ready for whatever scenario came up.

Falleen, Port Nowhere

Within the Sith Observatory

Inside the Command Center

Both Phobar and his apprentice, the exhausted Chaor, could hardly believe the warning Malleus gave them, even as they knew how egotistical and idiotic Redhan could truly be. Never in all their years down here did they think the fool would betray his benefactors, let alone hold the delusion he could pull it off

They had to escape this doomed sanctuary now, before their futures evaporated away. And to do that, they needed just the right leverage, leverage Phobar could give his enemies, if only he could get his adversaries to halt their onslaught.

But first, he needed to deal with the troublesome duo that was slowly breaking their way through his defenses. Through their combined mix of short and long-range attacks by Vestara and Mirta, the emaciated Sith was almost consistently put onto the defensive. He had already been deprived of two of his lightsabers when being caught off-guard by the women's cortosis laced blade and blaster, leaving him with only one saber and his hoverchair's built-in blasters. To make matters worse, his energy reserves from the shrine were all but dissipated, and he only had been given enough from Malleus to make a handful of strong strikes, two of which had already been used up in futile attacks.

If he wanted to live to fight another day, he had to make a bold move quickly, and he had the perfect stratagem to use. Gathering his dark energies to strike at his target's spirit, he gloated towards the two women, "You both should have killed me when you had the chance."

Seeing the jolt of recognition in Vestara's eyes, everything clicked into place for her just before Phobar released a dark stream of energy at a wide-eyed Mirta.

Using her Force-enhanced speed, Vestara moved to put herself between the blast, taking the full force of the blast into herself and blowing her into the adjacent wall.

"VESTARA!" Mirta shrieked, catching everyone's attention and horror at what transpired, even Choar at seeing his master expend his strength so much, as Vestara violently convulsed and shivered from the agony of the attack.

Exactly as I planned. Phobar smirked, even as he felt haggard in his seat from exhausting all his strength.

Seeing everyone's attention focused on the scene before them, he tiredly pressed several buttons on his hoverchair, and pressed on, "You may have won this battle, but now my surviving apprentice and I must withdraw before we are all buried alive by Redhan's bottomless ego and desperation. And before you espouse how we need to face your weak brand of justice, look at this." As soon as he finished, a holographic projection of Port Nowhere appeared, and everyone saw six Royal Family warships aim their weapons on the storehouse above them.

"Your efforts to uncover our secrets drove the good king to madness, and he will soon destroy us all rather than admit defeat." Phobar continued. "So, in the interest of goodwill and mutual self-preservation, I will allow us all a few more months of respite before we confront each other again, and give you access to the precious children trapped here."

"You think we're gonna let you leave after what you did to our friend?!" Allana shrilly demanded, her grip on her lightsaber strong enough to leave her knuckles white and bloody her palms.

"I'm surprised you would make such a claim of friendship with that kind of traitor, honored Chume'da." Phobar curiously observed. "But it makes little difference to our situation. Either we continue this pointless battle and doom everyone around us, or we focus on more pressing matters, like our very survival."

Of course, he omitted several key details about the attack, such as the Confederation force aiming to stop the attack and the temple's own defenses, but what the Jedi did not know would only help him escape.

"You can still help your friend, but only if you act quickly enough. So, what's it going to be?" Phobar knew he had them as Chaor retreated to his master's side, ready to protect him if the worst came to pass.

Mirta, to everyone's fear, aimed her blaster at Vestara, and trembled as she heatedly vowed, "One day, I'll get you for this. I'll make you pay for what you did to my sister."

"Perhaps." Phobar conceded with a casual shrug. "I take it we have a deal?"

"Don't push it." Leia growled out, obviously as a warning and to keep herself in check. But Phobar sensed the barely held restraint in the Jedi and their conscious allies, so he would uphold his deal.

"Very well. A bargain is a bargain" Phobar agreed, pressing a few more buttons on his chair and exiting through a now-exposed secret door. He quickly decided to explain, "The temple's defenses will take care of Prince Idenn's fleet, and then they will be under your complete command. Enjoy your temporary victory, because we'll be back to claim our treasures once we win this war."

"I suggest you work quickly to 'save' the children from here and get them the appropriate medical attention. Many of them are, at least in your eyes, rather damaged from our instruction."

"Why you-!" Garazeb tried, before being immobilized by the combined efforts of Allana and Tesar.

"This prey…" Tesar hoarsely rasped out. "Will have his due when the Force wills it. For now, we must focus on saving those he has harmed… and that are within our power to help."

Being held in place by a Force-generated stasis field was not an experience Garazeb wanted to reexperience after dealing with Vader and several of his Inquisitor stooges, and he craved expunging the Sith's bloody legacy after one of their empires decimated his people in the known galaxy.

But through a deeply ingrained military discipline of decades of service, and knowing that there were others, other poor souls that were being tortured just as his surrogate little brother, Ezra Bridger, had been through his decades trapped on Korriban after the Spectres' last mission together, helped him rein in his rage. As an extra precaution, only once Phobar and Chaor vanished from sight and the door closed behind them was the Lasat high general released.

Breathing out his lingering anger, Garazeb bitterly warned the Jedi, "Don't ever do that again."

Hurrying over to the downed Vestara, Allana, with a forced optimism, hurriedly told Mirta, "I'll call up the Whirlwind and we'll get Vestara to a medic soon. She's gonna be just fine. You'll see."

"I'll believe that when I see it." Mirta bitterly bit out before realizing her offense, and awkwardly apologized, "I'm Sorry. I'll… I'm sure Ves will be grateful for your help later on."

"I know." Allana sympathized, flashing a reckless grin that would make her paternal family members proud before offering, "I can also call Bralo and Parja to help you, if you want. They're down here to help rescue the kids trapped down here and are eager to see you again."

Gently carrying Vestara in her arms, Mirta politely declined, "They might be young by your standards, but they're hardy Mandos by ours, borderline adults. They'll be fine a little while longer. But your concern is appreciated."

Inside the Dormitories

Xule Indaw, a captive of the Sith for what felt like an eternity, shielded her eyes from the blinding light that filled her cell. It was not mealtime already, she memorized the day cycles, and there should still have been a little more rest before today's ordeals. Since she had been imprisoned down here, she had been continually tested by the Sith to push her to embrace her latent Force potential and make her full of hatred and evil, just like them.

She was able to endure the torture so far, but many others had not been so resilient, and had given into their despair and anger. When that time came, they were whisked away in the dead of night for the "next stage of their training", never to be seen or heard from again by any of their fellow inmates.

But there was a new presence, a blazing fire in the Force, one that was different from Lord Phobar and his stooges. In fact, it was unlike anything she had experienced before, and after an untold number of tortuous months and learning under the Dark Siders, this powerful signature terrified her. Was it Lord Phobar's superiors, here to take them away as they had done to dozens of other children? Or, if she dared to hope again after so long, was it the liberators of her and those like her, trapped down here and subjected to such barbarity?

The doors to her cell opening, she found herself facing a tall human male with shaggy reddish hair, blue eyes, and brown robes and combat armor of a design, nothing of the man's look Xule was able to recognize. But seeing the lightsaber attached to the man's belt sent a subconscious jolt of fear through her as she took a terrified step back.

Raising his hands in a placating gesture, the unknown man anxiously said, "No, no. It's alright. I'm not a Sith, and I'm not going to hurt you. I'm Ben. Ben Skywalker. I'm a Jedi, and I'm here to get you and those like you out of here. What's your name?"

Any human male could claim to be the son of Luke Skywalker, even a twelve-year-old of Xule's intellect knew. This could be a test of some sort. Phobar was always unpredictable with his sadism. Yet, something in the man's inflection and presence in the Force calmed her rampant terrors, and she could not help but honestly answer, "Xule."

"Do you have family outside of here, Xule?" Ben patiently asked, earning a meek nod in confirmation. "Would you like to see them again after we get you somewhere safe?"

"Of course. But no one can escape from here. The Sith made this prison impossible to break out of." Xule bitterly pointed out.

"Then how did I get down here in the first place?" Ben teasingly reminded, offering her a hand. "Come on. Let's get you to the other kids, and then we can get you all out of here."

Hesitant to take it out of lingering suspicions, Xule, whether through the Force or foolish hope, believed this man could be trusted, and accepted the hand. The moment she did so, she somehow knew that from here on out, everything was going to be alright.

A moment later, as Ben led her out of the cell, she felt a torrent of worry coming from him, but it was not aimed at her. Rather, it was directed inward. Worried for her would-be rescuer, Xule asked, "What's wrong, Ben?"

"Nothing." Ben evasively said, even as his face told a different story with several tells, from his compressed lips to his frantic eyes and scrunched-up forehead. He feared something, and her curious and scared mind wanted to know what it might be. If it threatened her family, then she would do practically anything to save them, consequences be damned!

"Don't lie. I can tell you're scared, just like I am." Xule sympathetically pointed out.

"It's not for you or me." Ben confessed. Eyes turning to her, ones full of conflict over some unseen danger, he elaborated, "Someone that I care about very much got hurt really bad a little bit ago, and I'm worried about her."

"Do you want to go check up on her?" Xule concernedly deduced.

"Not yet. After I help get you and the other children to safety. Until then, I know she can stay safe." Ben promised, just as they rounded a corner and entered a large chamber resembling an amphitheater from Xule's old school, with at least fifty other children or teenagers present with over forty well-armed individuals of at least six different affiliations.

Many of Ben's friends belonged to species Xule had never seen before and filled her mind with wonder. Her already stressed-out mind grew fearful, however, when she saw many of her fellow prisoners sporting many injuries and disfigurements, and even recognized one man belonging to a race Xule was taught to fear above all others, the Yuuzhan Vong for the pogroms and experiments they subjected her people to!

As if sensing Xule's heightened fear, Ben sympathetically promised, "Don't worry. These guys may look strange, but they're all great people. See Vua over there?" He pointed at the Yuuzhan Vong and explained, "He was an orphan because of his people's invasion, and suffered a lot before he found people that helped save him from bad people, just as I'm helping you. Now, he's good friends with us Jedi and our friends, and we're all going to get you kids out of here and back to your families, exactly like I promised. I just need you to try and trust us, all of us, for a little while."

"Can you do that?" Ben gently asked, receiving a reluctant nod in return. "Thank you for taking a chance on us, Xule. I swear, on my life and honor, that we won't leave your side until we get you to safety."

"I hope your friend will be alright." Xule gently told her newfound guardian, feeling through the Force how he was thinking the same thing. With nothing else left to say, out loud, at least, the two Force Users made their way towards the rest of the assembly to regroup and plan their extraction.

Well, I think this is a good place to end the chapter! With the Falleen battlefront heating up, and the Batuu (Sorry I didn't include this, I felt it would have crowded the chapter too much), Dathomir, and the Chiss Ascendancy situations about to kick into high gear, I'd say things are progressing nicely. And with the Iteration having his own agenda, that will be an amazing piece to write. So, how are you all doing on this warm day of Friday, March 18, 2022? I'm doing well, if a little nervous since I'm on the hunt for full-time work and might have found a couple prospective leads. At least I got through work today and have a TobyMac concert to hang out at in exactly seven days. That's gonna be a blast, I just know it. Oh, and I need to get back to reading my Rush Limbaugh book, as I haven't touched it in a few days. So, with all that out of the way, I'd best get this chapter ready for review in a few days or so, and then publish it. I hope you all have a blessed weekend and please, pray hard for the healing hand of God over the world as things keep getting crazier. May the Lord be with us all in these mad times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!

(Tuesday, April 5, 2022, Addendum) Hey, everyone. I hope you've all been well in these mad times. I've been good, as I have my upcoming trip in a couple weeks, and I will hopefully have my next chapter published in a week or so. Sorry this chapter took so long to publish, I had to wait a bit to get it revised, given my friend's busy schedule and him not having much free time, and I did look for other points of view to examine my works, but no one was able to. Anyway, I'm going to publish this chapter now, and I hope you all enjoy, as I have another two chapters after this one almost ready for publishing, but I need to get them examined first for any errors. And between the two chapters, I've got 24k words, so that'll be a big update. I hope you all have a blessed day, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!