Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm and gloomy night of Monday, May 23, 2022? I'm doing well, as I am close to finishing my latest book, and will soon start rereading a few Star Wars Legends novels before shifting gears again. So, I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter, long overdue, I know, but better late than never. And with the endgames set, or just about so, for Batuu and Dathomir, it won't be long before the Falleen battlefront is ready to finally reach its climax as well. First, though, I need to plan this chapter's outline out, just so I know what I'm writing. Then I can work on the actual substance of this piece. I hope you're all ready for plenty of intrigue, action, and character development, because all this is long overdue. May the Lord be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
1445 Hours
Dathomir, Allya Mountains Outskirts
'So, the Jedi were able to make a few improvements to Dathomir's defenses that my network of infiltrators failed to properly uncover.' Krayt mused as he observed a familiar sound of a series of shield generators stretching over the entire planet's atmosphere.
The Jedi and their allies must have installed the generators before Dician's agents could infiltrate their support staff, and kept it hidden from the rest of their allies and the populace until the right time arose, just like the fleet Krayt had deployed to help him and the Nightsisters eradicate their shared enemy's network of installations across the world. A surprise and impediment to the Grand Design, but one he and his followers would inevitably overcome, especially with the numbers and time on their side.
Thanks to Snoke and the Nightsisters' elite predator scouts, they would be able to home in on the energy signatures the generators emitted, and work to sabotage the Jedi's defenses while their many defenders were kept distracted by the feints Krayt and the Nightsister clan chiefs previously planned on the offworld settlements. All they required was a little more time, and if Darth Zorra and his forces worked quickly enough to jam the planet's holonet and subspace relays, they would have every bit they needed.
1500 Hours
Deep Within the Quelli Sector
Just Outside the Vinsoth System
Aboard the Nantz
Thern observed the distress signals that were able to get out from Dathomir before the Sith were able to create a communications blackout, and he knew what it meant for every soldier in his fleet, let alone the fate of this entire region of the Outer Rim.
Turning to face his comms and navigations officer, he solemnly ordered, "Prepare all our forces for a jump to Dathomir, and make sure all forces are ready to engage the enemy once we revert to realspace."
Addressing a fully recovered Jaina at this point in giving out orders, he warned her, "You and the rest of your Jedi had best be ready to do your full part and help us pull a victory out of this massacre we're walking into."
While hearing the calls for help may have fully vindicated Master Solo Fel and her validated vision of the vital Jedi fortress world coming under attack, it did precious little to settle the pit of dread settled in the Galactic Alliance Security Lieutenant Colonel's stomach. He vividly remembered how poorly the Alliance of Light fared when facing off against the Dread Lord of the Sith during their previous encounter with him above Korriban, and he did not look forward to going up against him and his elite disciples once again while the coalition worked to protect Dathomir.
"We'll more than pull our weight, Sir." Jaina promised, before advising him, "A few of your navigations officers and I have been analyzing our projected path, and we believe that if we make a small deviation by about Five-Point-Six degrees to port halfway through the jump, then we'll shave about forty-five minutes off our original ETA."
"Let me take a look." Thern walked over to Jaina, examining her findings. Quickly becoming impressed by her work and findings, he inquired, "You can vouch for this projected path and its relative ease?"
"The Order devised this route decades ago when the Yuuzhan Vong invaded Dathomir, and it just about continues from the Hapans' route to the world. It's been tested through far direr circumstances than what we're under now." Jaina defended her idea, earning an approving nod from the GAS commanding officer.
"Then have all our ships prepare to take this route to Dathomir. We jump to hyperspace in exactly thirty minutes." Thern ordered everyone occupying the Star Destroyer's bridge.
1530 Hours, Kelona 3rd, 59 ABY
Batuu, Black Spire Outpost
Inside Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities
Wrapping up his download of all his research and accumulated data on a series of hard drives, Dok-Ondar was prepared to complete his staff's evacuation of the doomed outpost and escape to safer worlds, even as his heart broke for the remaining souls that would be unable to make it out of this atrocious devastation. Although his personal transport could handle taking fifty occupants with no problems, he would do everything he could to save at least twice that number before the melting pot of a town was abandoned for good. The least he could do for the world that gave him decades of respite from the galaxy's woes.
For all his years of wisdom and knowledge of the ways of his fellow sentients, he underestimated the madness devouring the Sith and all those that served under them when they unleashed a hellish firestorm on this once pristine world. And that guilt would tear a hole in his heart until the day he died.
Well, since the Sith took away his life of peace and contemplation, he would have to settle for repaying them back in kind by helping the Jedi eradicate their influence on the galaxy, and then help them prepare for the war that would arise against Abeloth whenever she would fully reconstitute herself.
Thanks to the final works of the legendary Arhul Hextrophon and his research into the Celestials, a testimony the Ithorian had spent a vast fortune and lost many agents to pilfer from the Galactic Alliance's Historical Council's confidential data vaults, the Jedi would not be caught unaware a second time on just how powerful, treacherous, and ancient the monstrosity truly was.
To help them in this mission, he would especially enjoy watching the flabbergasted looks form on everyone's faces when he told them the purpose of this army of Esh-kha entombed on this world for countless eons, courtesy of the knowledge Xasha and her adjutant were able to pilfer from Dician's databanks before they were compromised. Knowing how the Sith would not share this knowledge with others, Dok-Ondar would not be so greedy or impractical in the pursuit of studying the Force's countless mysteries to simply hoard the truth from a willing audience, especially when he held the fate of a species and the galaxy in his fingertips.
1535 Hours
Dathomir, Singing Mountains
Jedi Outpost Rell
Kirana could not help but feel forebodingly nostalgic at seeing the enemy fleet try to bombard this mountainous fortress, even as it was hidden away in the valley and protected by multiple shield generators and other modernized weapons emplacements. Remembering when over forty years ago Imperial warlords, Admiral Natasi Daala and Vice Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, launched an invasion on the moon of Yavin Four to try and annihilate the reborn Jedi Order's original headquarters there, she hoped such an attack would never take place again.
Except this time, the eternal war between the forces of Light and Dark had come to her homeworld and had legions of Sith and their proxies invading the Jedi's regional stronghold and trying to capture the last blood relative of the most dangerous Sith Lord in the collective galactic memory, even decades after his final death and damnation. While the parallels were undoubtedly there, Kirana hoped how this attack would not cost as much for the followers of good as back when Dorsk 81 and the thousands of New Republic personnel gave their lives that day to protect the few dozen Jedi and their students.
But with the shields stable, and the planet's defenses ready to engage any Sith that dared come within firing range, it seemed the true battle would be delayed for a brief time. Still, that did not mean anyone here could afford, or even would relax, not with the One Sith's leader personally taking control of this operation. If help did not arrive soon, everything Kirana and her family and friends had accomplished would be washed away by a tsunami of evil and its countless dark abominations.
1545 Hours
Allya Mountains, Jedi Praxeum
Within the Command Center
Observing the holographic feed of the Sith fleet hovering in the skies above Dathomir, the assembled Jedi leadership knew the orbital bombardment the fifteen enemy capital ships were unleashing on five targets, each a key facility to the Jedi's foothold on the world, and it was a grave portent of doom for the outnumbered defenders. Matters certainly did not improve when reports came in of hundreds of various apex predators assaulting dozens of cities, and about fifteen hundred Nightsisters, a staggering number previously unheard of in the world's entire history, aiding the beasts in trying to eradicate the Jedi's presence on their world.
Fortunately, for the time being, the Sith seemed to be focusing their attacks on crucial Jedi installations that were spread out across the world, while leaving just enough ships free to maintain air superiority over any foolhardy souls that might try and test the stranglehold over Dathomir. The actual dirty work was left to their Nightsister collaborators in keeping their enemies distracted and unable to respond to the last army ready to breach the Allya Mountains.
Morale only plummeted further for many of the Jedi Knights, Apprentices, and their allies and support staff when they noticed how the final Sith/Nightsister army had perfectly positioned itself outside the Praxeum's shields and would surely attack the moment their orbiting fleet ended their bombardment.
With the technological advantages the rest of the galaxy provided to Dathomir and its Jedi and offworld installations, especially in state-of-the-art shield generators and weaponry, a frontal assault would likely have been far too costly for their dark enemies. With the Dread Lord of the Sith said to be personally leading this attack, remembering how he devastated Jaina Solo Fel, a master starfighter ace, in a dogfight back in the Horuset System, no one looked forward to the possibility of facing him on the ground.
But somehow, the Jedi and their allies had to do just that before everything was lost. With the nearest allied fleet at least a full day away, they had to execute their defensive strategy with absolute precision and perfect strength if they hoped to survive this brutal invasion.
Edaan broke the pall of silence by gratefully pointing out to the three highest-ranking Jedi Masters present, "It's a good thing you and our current Council members had the Initiates and nonessential personnel covertly evacuated Hapan Space before the battle began. That's one less matter for us to worry about, and they'll be safer on Shedu Maad than here for the time being."
"They won't be safe anywhere in the whole galaxy if we can't stop Krayt and his followers soon." Streen warned him. With Kirana assisting her old clan's defenses in the Signing Mountains and Solona leading the planet's starfighter complement to harry the enemy fleet, he and Taron were the only remaining senior Jedi able to lead the Praxeum's defenders against Krayt's armies. "At our best estimates, the Praxeum's shields will collapse in no more than eight hours, and then Krayt's fleet can annihilate us all, and that doesn't account for our network of outposts and allied settlements."
"Krayt won't destroy us so easily, not without his prize." Adari grumbled. "He still wants to capture Edaan and bring him over to his side, and that means personally razing this academy to the ground."
"Then all we have to do is hold the enemy back long enough for reinforcements to arrive." Taron resolved. "Since we don't have the numbers here to confront the Sith's legions head on, we'll use our knowledge of the terrain to slow their advance. He might have the numbers and firepower on his side, but we still have the home field advantage."
"What about our defenses on the surface?" Edaan pointed out. "I know Dathomir isn't the most technologically advanced world in the Outer Rim, but the Order must have installed some type of advanced defenses out here to protect our interests."
"We do have a few key emplacements planted across all our facilities, but not the kind you're undoubtedly thinking of." Streen calmly answered. "They will be utilized to help slow down the enemy, and thin the enemy's ranks down by a substantial degree."
'I hope you're right.' Edaan ruminated, even as the sounds of turbolaser bombardment could be heard deep inside the Praxeum's pristine walls.
1600 Hours
Batuu Orbit, Aboard the Dodonna
Kara recognized that this ultimate battle would be a grueling challenge, especially for one with an enemy carrying an intellect equaling hers. She was aware of the terrible lengths the Sith would go to in denying their enemies a victory, but even she was caught off-guard by the sheer madness of Dician and her followers and what they did to Batuu.
Thanks to the lethal amounts of radiation rolling across almost the entire world, many of the Alliance of Light's starfighters and heavy ships were either destroyed or rendered immobile. Not even the larger capital ships were impervious to this damage, with several systems in many ships malfunctioning or failing altogether in the Galactic Alliance fleet's flagship.
And to make matters worse, the Sith were still entrenched in one of the few regions still unaffected from the radiation, with the bulk of their fleet concentrated in the Black Spire Ruins to protect their mistress and assets. With the forty-two capital ships still occupying the area, it appeared that the only way left in preventing the enemy from escaping with their prize was to rush them head on while relying on their groundside allies to evacuate the few survivors of the holocaust.
In concurrence with the Confederation and the Jedi's diverse array of allies, the Dodonna and her surviving ships finalized their preparations to begin the coordinated attack. If the Sith wanted to wage total war on the galaxy, then the powers that existed would be more than happy to oblige them now, and thanks to the exact calculations of a particular asset, the Alliance could enact a bloody vengeance on Dician and her followers.
And with the Confederation's military leader already implementing a plan to undermine Dician's foothold through quieter means, it was only a matter of time before this world's final retribution was achieved.
1610 Hours
Zakuul, Deep Within the Endless Swamp
Inside the Capital City of Serall
"It seems Paladin-Lieutenant Terall was correct in her warnings regarding the Dathomir Jedi Academy." One of the Grand Councilors assessed Grace's report. Turning to the Aquilians' clandestine Jedi ambassador, she requested, "How long would it take High Admiral Gaia to assemble a full-fledged expeditionary force for entering the war?"
"You wish to send such a high-ranking leader in the Navy, a leading member in your War Cabinet, into battle so soon?" T'Ra inquired, pointing out, "The rest of the galaxy might take that as a prelude to a new invasion, not the outcome your people want or need after your last attack."
"Then any fool who thinks that will just have to get over such far-fetched paranoia." The second Grand Councilor resolutely denied. "Zakuul has more than atoned and learnt from all its ancient sins, and it is time we make our return to civilization as full-fledged equals.
"All we must do now is prove our intentions to the rest of the galactic populace and help restore stability to the galaxy. But you did not answer the question that Grand Councilor Theyn posed. How long would it take for you and Julius to ready a full attack squadron?"
"No more than sixteen hours." T'Ra dismally answered. "His fleet and a platoon of Paladins will have to be fully ready for the inevitable war we'll be entering, and we will have to reach out to our scouts to ascertain the situation before we reach Dathomir."
Grimly nodding, the elder human man ordered, "Then I will reach out to Julius at once and have him start moving with all due haste. I have a feeling Dathomir might not have even that much time left."
1700 Hours
Korriban, Sith Citadel
Just Outside Darth Krayt's Quarters
BT-0, finally slicing through the dozens of security systems that protected the creator of the One Sith's personal quarters, let out a small chirp of triumph before scanning ahead to see if any more defenses guarded the chamber, or if any alarms were triggered by the doors opening. Detecting nothing, even with Prowl's sensors synched to his, Beetee went right in and started searching for the item he had to retrieve.
Hearing from Mistress Lona and Master Tau how Krayt had been hoarding the fabled Mortis Dagger for his own selfish ends infuriated the astromech droid, even as he wished he could destroy Krayt for keeping him trapped down here for so long and ruined countless souls out of his own spite. Even so, Beetee relished the chance to hone his skills and intellect against a true challenge such as slicing his way into the Dread Lord's personal room.
Searching for the dagger, his only clues were the knowledge that it was concealed as a unique blade hilt until it was wielded by a living being, he knew he would not have much time before someone stumbled onto his work. It would take a miracle for the droid to uncover it in time to be of use to his allies. Hopefully, his friends could keep the Sith occupied, otherwise all would be lost for their grand gambit.
Offhandedly, Beetee wondered if 0-0-0 would be able to rescue the Mandalorian Protector in Krayt's vile custody, for bringing a prisoner of Jaing Skirata's worth with them would ensure they were protected by an entire planet's worth of lethal mercenaries. But if breaking him out was impossible, the clandestine group would have no choice but to fall back to their contingency, which would be detrimental to all and only deny the Sith the intel they desired from the Null ARC deserter.
1715 Hours
Within the Intensive Care Medbay
Reveal yourself. Tau commanded the flickering life force that represented Ochi's soul. He had finally pinpointed the Vahl's essence and was prepared to fill him with energy needed to start reversing the Malichor's damage, if only the stubborn proxy would accept the clone's healing energies for his spirit.
But Ochi, not knowing Tau's Force signature and averse to anything related to the Light Side as his people's custom, was fervently resisting his efforts. Well, if the assassin would not willingly accept his healing, then he would just have to settle for having to be forcibly brought back from the brink of death, even if it was a bit slower than he would have liked.
Drawing on his connection to the Dark Side, Tau felt his spirit constraining the Vahl's, and began to apply his link to the Light Side and neutralize the Malichor poison out of his patient. Even when considering his efforts to forestall the agent's recovery, he knew the titanic risk he was taking, leaving himself so vulnerable to exposure from Ochi if he made one simple slipup.
Still, Tau pressed on, knowing he could not falter now, not unless he wished to lose his individuality and doom countless more lives to eradication or enslavement if he was to loyally serve the Sith. Knitting Ochi's body back together, one cell at a time, he knew this work would take days, a week, two at the very most. Hopefully, that would be more than enough time for the Aphra women to finish preparing for their rapidly approaching flight to freedom.
1730 Hours
Batuu, Black Spire Ruins
Sith Command Center
Within the Maximum-Security Wing
Shoving the Clawdite into the cell, the guard mockingly called out to Turman, "Hope you enjoy your new cellmate for whatever meager hours you've both got left!"
Opening his one good eye, Turman saw a Falleen woman, with bloodstained robes cut all over her body, indicating torture, huddled over in a corner with her knees concealing her head and trembling. Perhaps a cultist that defied Dician and wound up down here.
Whoever she was, concern washed all over him and the Wraith sympathetically called out to her, "Hey. Whoever you are, don't lose hope now. I don't know for how long whatever Dician and her cronies did to you, but we're not gonna be in here for too much longer. I've got friends working to end the Sith's hold here, and we'll be saved soon enough."
Whimpering, the woman confessed, "You might yet be saved, but I don't deserve any kind of deliverance from this evil. I doomed this world to extinction and ruined countless souls when I had my cult collaborate with the Sith." Raising her head, she revealed the disheveled form of Xasha Xizor, with her face marred by lightsaber cuts, the burst left eye socket, and the remnants of many tears from her one good eye: a tragic sight for a traitor to her people and the Sith alike, and a perfect example for any remaining potentially defiant souls left within their ranks.
Burying his hatred for the woman's sins over seeing her regret and utterly broken, Turman sat down beside Xasha and promised, "The Alliance and my squad aren't going to leave anyone behind, especially a woman who still has time to atone for her wrongdoings. We Wraiths don't do that, especially with a misfit and desperate soul like you."
A flash of recognition crossing her eyes over the admission of the commando squad, Xasha almost believed the Clawdite's words, but her guilt kept her trapped in the prison of her own regret. Still, something in the man's attitude and words resonated within the Sith pawn, and she allowed a flicker of hope to smolder, "Well, if half what I've heard about them is true, they'd better hurry before the Sith leave all their prisoners here for dead and make off with their loot."
"I don't think you need to worry about being abandoned today." A gruff voice cut in as several thin and well-armored commandos entered the room, scanning the room for any possible threats, and dashing Xasha's flickering hopes. "Our master has specific plans for you two, and every other prisoner of Dician's insanity in this citadel."
1800 Hours
Above the Black Spire Ruins
Aboard the Lancer-class Frigate Striker
Seeing the diverse array of ships belonging to the Mandalorians, Hutt mercenaries, and Antarian Rangers, flying westward while the Galactic Alliance and Confederation armadas engaged the bulk of her remaining warships at the east, Dician uttered a silent curse on all her enemies.
Her acolytes and the last of her transports had finished loading up the final batches of Esh-kha and were ready to leave this fallen world behind. But first, they needed to break past the encircling vise before any more of her followers deserted her, and to do that, they needed to surprise the enemy and break their focus long enough to give her fleet a means to survive past the night.
How fortunate then, that she still had seven brilliant and talented acolytes that could follow orders and work to execute each of their grand escape. Even if they would be unable to replicate the grand efforts of Sith acolytes of the Old Republic, just like the long-deceased Queen Amanoa of Onderon, a few well-placed Force nudges and a series of small tactical errors on her enemy's part would serve just as well.
All that remained was to survive the next few hours, and ultimate redemption would be hers to pursue in the name of Darth Krayt and the Grand Design. And commandeering Liara's transport to use as her personal escape vessel would be the icing on the metaphorical cake.
But, just in case she did not escape this system, or if her fleet carried additional traitors, she gave instructions to each of her acolytes, aboard each of their flagships, to take their complements and scatter throughout the galaxy's farthest reaches. The prizes they carried, and their own individual value to the One Sith were too valuable to leave anything to chance.
Aboard the Aidel Saxan
"Has he finally agreed to all your terms?" Kara pressed Turr, earning a nod from the aging human.
"He'll do his part, provided we uphold our end of the bargain." The Supreme Commander answered. "Now, all we need is to maintain the ruse until he and his loyalists are in the right position to strike."
Even as Turr knew the offer he made disgraced the victims of Dician's brutality, this was the only sure way to guarantee the Alliance could cut the head off this Sith Wyrm here today. With their auxiliary forces keeping Dician's rearguard squads occupied, and her main fleets engaged in a fight for survival while protecting their vulnerable transports, the coming betrayal would only seal her doom and deliver a terrible blow on the One Sith's overall strategy.
By today's end, Dician would fall victim to a simple but effective and timeless strategy, a rather poetic end for a proficient but elaborate and cunning schemer such as herself.
1830 Hours
Korriban, Darth Krayt's Citadel
Deep Within the Dungeons
"What, your masters run out of interrogators, they send a kriffing tinny to try and do their dirty work?" The prisoner spat before 0-0-0. "Your darjetti masters must be crazy to set you up against me."
Having never seen a clone of Jango Fett before, let alone as unpredictable as the last survivor of the Null-class genome, this was a rare and very tempting opportunity for the assassin droid to try countless different interrogation tactics against a subject with a will and mind as strong as his. Even if his body was worn out from nearly two months of containment by the Sith and their Inquisitors' efforts, 0-0-0 was certain the attempt would be an invaluable learning experience for any future interrogation endeavors.
Reluctantly, though, duty to his friends and his freedom came before any pleasure, which meant possibly silencing this brilliant subject if he could not escape, but that would be a last resort, one he would withhold from the master combatant.
Keeping every conceivable factor in mind, 0-0-0 cheerfully corrected Jaing Skirata, "Fortunately for you, Null-10- or Master Skirata, if you prefer- I am not here to torture you for the Sith, or for my own amusement. Although, if I am being entirely honest, I am quite certain I could succeed in making you spill all your juicy secrets on your fellow Mandalorian Protectors and whatever else desired if I put even half of my processing power to the effort.
"No, the reason I am here is on behalf of my friends, and to offer you a deal of a lifetime, something a highly experienced mercenary of your caliber ought to recognize. In the spirit of good faith, I would advise you to listen quite carefully with your audio receptors, even as aged and damaged they might be."
1900 Hours
Batuu, Black Spire Ruins
Just Outside the Sith Command Center
Aboard the Razor Crest
"Give 'em hell, cyar'ika!" Din called out to his wife before opening the docking bay, allowing Cara and two dozen of Clan Djarin Supercommandos to activate their jetpacks to fly into the falling citadel, unleashing an opening volley of fifteen Z-6 antivehicle homing missiles on the enemy defenders. Ripping apart several emplacements and an untold number of soldiers trying to withdraw into fleeing shuttles and troop transports, it was far too easy for the veteran's liking as she ordered her clansmen to press on, knowing they would have little time to search for prisoners or intelligence before they had to withdraw.
Anyone else, and she would assume the enemy was slipping and making amateurish mistakes. But the Mandalorians here had fought against Dician and her cult long enough to know the Sith Lady always wove plots within every all her schemes, and few surprises could throw her off her game for too long.
Their only chance of defeating Dician for good was to keep hitting her so quickly and ferociously that they could keep her off-balance and unable to effectively retaliate. That was why the rest of the Alliance's non-governmental allies were striking against her most vulnerable targets, whether against vulnerable and damaged enemy ships or decimating the citadel's remaining defenders, all to keep the momentum stacked against the Sith.
1940 Hours
Aboard the Quarren Eye
"Dician must have moved the prisoners to one of her ships." Jesmin bitterly reported to Voort after hearing Cara's report of the citadel being devoid of any life remaining signs. Normally, the Antarian Ranger would not so easily take stock in sensor readings, comm signals, or her tenuous connection with the Force, but combined with the information gleaned from the last surviving batch of enemy guards and Cara's rough methods of persuasion, it was safe to come to such a conclusion.
Of course, there was the chance Dician had simply disposed of the prisoners as a last act of spite before fleeing, but she was not willing to give up on her teammate so easily. And it was a sentiment she knew all her teammates shared, even if none of them gave voice to such thoughts with the crisis they were in.
"Then we adjust our strategy; Scan the comm waves for any mention of new prisoners, and we'll work from there." Voort instructed her. "And have we pinpointed Dician and her flagship?"
"Afraid not." Thaymes regretfully replied. "Whichever ship she's now on was kept hidden from everyone else in her fleet."
"Then we'll just have to rely on our own Force user to locate her." Voort responded. Turning to Jesmin, he ordered, "Do whatever you can to track her down. Myri can take over your post for the rest of the battle's duration."
"Math Boy, we're getting an encoded message from an enemy MC80b. I think you'd best see this for yourself" Scut called out.
Scanning through the message's contents, whoever sent it claimed to provide the Alliance with the identity of Dician's vessel, along with a vital piece of intelligence on her battle strategy involving her Sith pupils.
Not willing or able to simply dismiss such a possibility out of hand, Voort decided to do a quick bit of digging and verify a portion of the potential turncoat's claims. If the Sith were influencing the minds of several Alliance captains to help pave the way for their escape, then now might very well be their only chance to bring Dician to justice for all the evils she committed here.
2000 Hours
Korriban, Darth Krayt's Citadel
Within the Aphra Family's Quarters
"Well?" Chelli impatiently asked 0-0-0 and an exhausted Tau. "Tell me if either of you have any good news."
"The prisoner is understandably skeptical of your promises but will strongly consider your offer carefully before my next visit." The assassin droid shamefully answered. "If only I could have offered him more to ensure his cooperation."
"He'll take the offer, buddy. He'd be even crazier than we thought to refuse the chance to get back to his people." Chelli patiently consoled the droid. Turning to Tau, she warned, "How's the stooge's recovery doing?"
"We've only just begun, but he's responding quite well to the procedure now. Even so, I can extend things along so healing him will take a few days, maybe a couple weeks, if my luck holds out. But you and your mother need to finish up your work long before I'll be forced to divulge everything the both of us know." Tau answered, on a five-hour reprieve from his healing session and was ready to sleep soundly before resuming his lifesaving work.
Just then, a surprise visitor rolled right into the chamber, and everyone was prepared to silence them before recognizing the droid. Breathing out his relief, Chelli groaned, "Oh, it's only you. Glad you made it back in one piece, Beetee, but I'm guessing you came back empty-handed."
Tweeting victoriously, the astromech droid opened a compartment to reveal a hilt, and Tau, ever suspicious if this was indeed the Mortis Dagger, used the Force to grab it, allowing the legendary blade to materialize right before him.
Smiling triumphantly at the droid, Tau graciously praised him, "If I could, I'd give you both medals for your heroism. You and Prowl just might have saved this entire plane of reality with this one theft, you little wonder of a murderous misfit."
"Careful, Tau. Don't inflate his ego any further, or his personality matrix will overload." Chelli laughed.
2100 Hours
Within the Settlement of Galma
Aboard the Wild Karrde
"That's all we can take with us, Gaslin! Punch it!" Shada shouted to her navigator, just before her flagship took off with its convoy of villagers, mere minutes before the town was to be hit by a small star's worth of nuclear energy.
After leading the Smuggler's Alliance and a handful of defecting Freedom's Riches transports in rescuing the populations of five large settlements and six small villages from the radiation, just over six thousand refugees, the maverick flotilla was ready to withdraw and deliver their precious cargo to safe havens.
Although she wanted to be in the attack force on the Sith's fleeing force, someone had to rescue as many victims as possible of Dician's bout of insanity, and Shada had lived through enough impoverishment and desperation on her homeworld of Emberlene to work in stopping others from meeting a similar fate. Besides, from the small micro expressions Turr and Kara gave off from their briefing, it seemed they had a hidden ace up their sleeve to permanently deal with Dician and her acolytes.
Now that the last batch of retrievable civilians were safe, it was time to leave this doomed planet behind and help the refugees find a new planet to start over on. Doing so was the least the Alliance could work for, since they brought this war to home for these innocent victims of a war that they wanted no part in.
2200 Hours
In Batuu's Stratosphere
Aboard the Striker
Something was wrong with this escape. Terribly wrong. Dician knew someone was interfering with her strategy since the enemy was countering every single move she made.
For every Force nudge her subordinates initiated, it seemed that the Alliance's leaders rectified every order with their own set of commands, even without the Jedi there to cancel out her people's influence. Woefully, though, that was the least of her worries right now for her future with the One Sith.
Over the last four hours, the five-dozen transports she procured for the Esh-kha army were falling to the Alliance's crews, with no more than fifteen remaining in her custody.
Even worse, with many of her remaining damaged but loyal warships were systematically ruthlessly being eradicated by the Jedi's allies, never mind their rescue efforts concluding, soon, she would no longer have the offensive capabilities to keep the Alliance from hunting her followers across the galaxy, if they escaped this star system at all. Despite the Sith's enemies preaching the value of morals like compassion and restraint, she knew even they would not adhere to such absurd notions with a threat such as her still on the loose, especially not with the diminished prize still in her custody.
To make matters worse, her bait within the lost command center had vanished from all her forces, with scattered reports of allied commandos rescuing the prisoners and spiriting them to safety. Once again, it seemed someone within her command structure had betrayed her and allied with the moralistic Jedi, whether through self-preservation or a guilty conscience, it hardly mattered. If she managed to make her escape, it was clear another inquisition and purge of her ranks would be needed.
"My Lady, we're receiving a priority transmission from Admiral Tonith aboard the Defiler." A comms officer warned Dician.
'What could Tonith want now?' Dician fretted before accepting the transmission. Seeing the beleaguered Muun appear on the main holoscreen, she demanded, "You'd best have a bit of good news to deliver, Admiral. Make it quick!"
Guardedly smirking, the meaning behind such an action concealed to Dician, Reep solemnly answered, "Lady Dician, I do, in fact, have much to be grateful for right now. Just as you promised, many lives will be saved today, and my family will soon be given a chance to rebuild themselves and their reputation.
"My forces are finally ready to withdraw, and we'll make sure the cargo is delivered to the right hands. But before we all do that, I wanted to say farewell, and to remind you of the tale of Captain Sair Yonka of the Imperial Navy and New Republic Defense Force by paraphrasing his words in this message."
"Madam Director Dician, I regret not being able to bring you this message personally, but not that much. In the years I have found myself working for you I have found you to be borderline psychotically self-centered, prone to irrational and impulsive reactions to situations outside your control, and prey to a preference for egocentric perfection over practicality and efficiency.
"I have no doubt these qualities were seen as skills by many of your fellow Sith, and indeed may have enhanced your ability to command obedience from your followers and disciples, but by no means are these traits that make for great, or even adequate leadership."
'By the Dark Side. This isn't obedience. This is a cowardly coup.' Dician's blood ran cold at the terrible epiphany, before being replaced by a white-hot fury while ordering her comms officer, "Tonith's betrayed us. Order all my acolytes to have all ships disregard his authority, and immediately have their task forces make a break for hyperspace!"
Immediately after she barked out those orders, Dician nearly lost her footing from the ship being jostled about, followed by her officers sputtering out contrasting readings and comm messages. The message was clear, Tonith's fleet was ensuring its own self-preservation by eradicating her and whatever other vessels that did not follow the putrid Muun.
Ignoring the shrieking audio bombardment, Dician called out through the Force to her acolytes, commanding them all to flee with their few still-loyal ships and their cargoes, and warn their fellow Sith of this disastrous failure.
A moment before her flagship's bridge was exposed to vacuum, and everyone got sucked into the endless void of open space, Dician regretfully wondered how her strategies could have backfired so terribly, while being grateful she would be spared Lord Krayt's inevitable retribution for such idiocy.
2230 Hours
Ordo System
Aboard the Mandator
'Dician and her followers have been destroyed, and the prize she sought has fallen into the Jedi's hands.' Krayt telepathically told Wyyrlok, nearly causing him to stumble from shock before regaining his balance. Ignoring the panic in his mind, Krayt ordered the Chagrian. 'I need you to return to Korriban immediately and finish overseeing the evacuation.'
'What of the Neo Death Watch and Lecersen's soldiers?' Wyyrlok pointed out. 'Do we just leave them to face oblivion at the hands of the Alliance of Light and Fett's Mandalorians?'
'When that sector falls to the Jedi just as Batuu has, we shall have an escape route planned for the survivors and whichever leaders of theirs remain. All we can do now is buy ourselves as much time we can and deal as much damage to the galaxy as we can until the endgame is ready to begin.' Krayt reminded his most trusted subordinate before concluding these orders, 'Time is running out for us all. There can be no more mistakes on anyone's part.'
2300 Hours
Batuu Orbit
Aboard the MC80b Star Cruiser Deliverance
On the secondary flagship's bridge of his haggard remnant of a fleet, Admiral Tonith felt utter relief as he left the lost world of Batuu behind him, even if it was under the humiliating terms offered to him by Supreme Commander Phennir and the Galactic Alliance's representative.
Still, having been forced to permanently lay down arms and testify before the Alliance of Light and his knowledge of Dician's strongholds would be a small price to pay to escape repercussions for Dician's madness in enacting the enslavement and ruination of Batuu. It certainly helped that he proved to be the key factor in saving Xasha Xizor and all the other prisoners from certain doom in Dician's lost fortress while eliminating the troublesome Sith Lady and all but two of her disciples and the handful of ships and transports still in their control.
With such mad fanaticism soon to be known to all in Darth Krayt's ranks, only a complete lunatic would be willing to stay and fight for a doomed cause like the One Sith's, no matter what empty promises the Dread Lord offered. Only death and ultimate disgrace remained for anyone who would stick with master deceivers like Krayt and Dician, a path Reep was not inclined to follow any longer.
Even if he could no longer conventionally battle, there were other methods to restore his family's fortunes and prestige. For a mind as brilliant as Reep Tonith II, these possibilities would unfold faster than he could imagine, for his talents would quickly be needed in repairing this war-torn galaxy. Soon enough, he would be able to explore the countless options open to him. All that remained was for him to seize the opportunities that would be laid out before him when that moment came.
0000 Hours, Kelona 4th, 59 ABY
Korriban, Darth Krayt's Citadel
Inside Darth Nox's Chambers
Nox could not believe what tragedies and setbacks had befallen the One Sith on the Batuu front. Not only had Dician and her cult been completely obliterated, but now virtually all the prizes they coveted had now fallen into the hands of the Jedi.
Now it would be an even more daunting task to take control of the galaxy and would cost the Sith even more dearly in the months ahead. Still, such a task was what Nox had longed for after the Yuuzhan Vong were defeated. But what better way to prove the Sith's superiority than winning against impossible odds?
Unfortunately, before he could help the Sith do just that, they had to complete their evacuation of Korriban before the Jedi could invade their sacred home. And as a prelude to abandoning their citadel, they had to silence the foolish enemy observers that were desperately trying to hide away across the star system.
That task fell to Nox and his fellow fallen Jedi in Darth See-Chok, who once called himself Shon-Ju before he and his cult of Force-Sensitives overlooked by the old Jedi Order joined the One Sith's ranks. And though the Alliance's covert squads hid their presences well from conventional scans, they made one fatal mistake.
Where technology so often failed its users, the Force was always a far more reliable tool of the worthy, and he had currently located more than ten of the enemy's stealth vessels entrenched across the system. Once he found where the rest of them hid, the Sith could destroy the entire enemy net in a single swoop.
Then again, there would be an advantage, not to mention personal entertainment, in wiping out a portion of the network right away and force the rest to scramble in a futile last-ditch bid for survival. And the chaos could be of use to the Sith if they were successful in misleading their enemies. Perhaps he ought to pitch the idea to Lord Wyyrlok soon and see if the One Sith's second-in-command shared his vision. It never hurt to take the initiative against such a virulent enemy.
And there was one more bit of housekeeping that needed to be done before leaving Korriban behind. The traitor that wounded Ochi still lurked within this fortress, an insult to the Sith and their security. It was almost as if someone was shielding them from discovery all this time, but who could they be? Everyone here had been thoroughly vetted and ensured for their loyalty to the Grand Design, but clearly something had been overlooked. Well, there was the example of the Aphras and their kidnapping and brainwashing, but they were a rarity among the Sith's retinue of servants, and-
Wait. How did he not see this earlier? If his new hunch was correct, then he just narrowed down his suspect pool substantially and might now be enough to capture the traitor and whatever conspirators they had in a mere handful of days, if even that.
0030 Hours
Coruscant, Senate District
Within Galactic Alliance Security Safe House 245
"I'm not even going to ask how you came across this confidential transcript that relates Abeloth, and your information on this incarnation of the Sith. Instead, as Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance, my people and I'll graciously offer you and the rest of your fellow refugees whatever you need to start rebuilding your lives. It's the least we can do after your terrible losses because of our invasion." Kajin wearily acknowledged Dok-Ondar after he heard the various reports from Rear Admiral Kara and the rest of the factional leaders on the calamity that had consumed Batuu and driven its remnant of a population into exile.
"Thank you, Sir. I am glad my knowledge of your compassion and realistic approach to facing evil was accurate." Dok-Ondar bowed his head. "I will confer with the survivors, and we will soon have a list of our preliminary needs. But I would not be worried about the sector's resources being strained. Most of the survivors are simple folk and will not require anything extravagant or too taxing."
"Very well. I shall have my best Reconstruction officials ready to receive your list when it is compiled. On behalf of the Galactic Alliance, we all owe you and the survivors a debt it can never truly repay." Kajin formally thanked his guest before signing off the transmission.
Having heard the Ithorian historian offer the Alliance of Light's leadership all the information he had accumulated on ancient galactic legends and his research into countless Force cultures, and his resources in working to eliminate the One Sith, all in exchange for helping the Batuu survivors resettle on Naboo and other lush worlds in the Mid Rim's Chrommell Sector, it was an easy agreement for the leader of the Galactic Alliance to comply with, along with every other leader in attendance.
The information that the planet held an army hidden deep within its Rakatan ruins, the Alliance of Light might be able to use in their efforts to destroy Abeloth for good when she inevitably returned, if they could verify the information Xasha Xizor and her cohort had procured for them among Dician's notes. If the Esh-kha army entombed in Batuu's tombs was truly a force assembled by a rogue Rakatan Predor to prepare for the possibility of Abeloth being released near the Infinite Empire's height of power and had explicit instructions to obey any force capable and willing to opposing her, then their help would be pivotal for the eventual crusade against her.
Even in Kajin's wildest hopes, the entire theory had to be part of a fever dream, even if the opportunity was too good to pass up. Nevertheless, if the demented Sith misled her pawns or misinterpreted the carvings, then the coalition might unleash a force beyond anyone's control. Even so, regardless of long-term ramifications, at least they had helped keep a powerful force out of the Sith's hands and could be evaluated later after this war ended, so that was a victory in and of itself.
But the madness Dician and her followers enacted smacked of a portent for the rest of this war. If such a veteran Sith could unleash such depravities so early into this galactic war, Kajin shuddered at the possibilities Krayt would conjure up when pushed into even greater acts of desperation. Even with Dician's fleet deserting her and the leaders agreeing to testify in exchange for a limited pardon, he knew this war would only fill the populace with fear and drive many to commit desperate acts to try and protect all they held dear.
If that was the case, then the theory Grand Master Katarn had provided from Edaan Palpatine's vision ought to be investigated with every resource the Galactic Alliance could spare. Whatever Krayt might have planned for Zonoma Sekot, if Edaan's premonition was accurate, it could only wreak absolute madness and destruction for all, and it would only serve forces far darker than the Sith and their armies.
Even though the Sith still had strongholds on Falleen and the Mandalorian Space, his instincts told him that the real conflict would soon take place in the Unknown Regions, which meant the Chiss would be crucial allies for winning this war.
He had to reach out to the Alliance forces already out in that region right away and give them the support they would undoubtedly need. Fortunately, he knew of a few mavericks that had been helping clean up Coruscant's underbelly after the Sith's manipulations in the Senate became known to all. All he had to do now was reach out to Wedge Antilles and see which of his friends and allies would best be suited for this covert assignment.
Falleen, Within the Capital City
Inside the Royal Palace
'Everything has been prepared for our evacuation.' Phobar typed out on his personal hoverchair to Malleus and Ship. Having listened to Redhan and his pointless ramblings of preserving his government and wealth, the Columi was almost ready to break the strategy and murder the useless puppet where he stood. But the ruined king still had one final use to his masters, even as his remaining resources had been siphoned off from his illicit accounts to serve a worthier cause than serving an idiotic and greedy ruler.
'Then all that remains is for Haxim and the Jedi to make their move and begin their final attack.' Malleus called back through his bond with Ship.
Knowing the Royal Family's last garrison outside the capital city, the city of Horus, was about to fall to the Jedi, it would not be long before the Alliance's full power was brought to bear on the enemy's final presence on this world. And with its facilities capable of repairing almost any ship and the base's supplies able to fill a hungry army's bellies for a month, it would be a perfect staging ground for their inevitable attack.
Keeping that in mind, Malleus brutally suggested, 'Then is time for us to offer the Jedi a little extra incentive to attack and deprive them of a key asset.'
Before he could confirm just what the human Sith meant by that, Phobar was interrupted by Redhan despairingly calling out to him, "Lord Phobar, we've just lost contact with the Horus garrison."
"The Alliance finally captured it?" Phobar sighed, feigning sympathy even as he reached out for his agents to prepare to begin with the final evacuation.
"I wish it were that simple. Someone inside the garrison triggered the self-destruct sequence, right as the commander was on the verge of surrendering." Irola dreadfully answered, even as her eyes conveyed to Phobar how she also figured out just how this terrible loss came to be. "It caught about four thousand Alliance soldiers, the surviving loyalists, and half the city in the blast radius."
"Did someone within our alliance do this?" Redhan accusingly stared at the two Sith.
"If anyone in the palace did this, it was done without our knowledge or consent." Phobar misleadingly vowed. "Unfortunately, we have far more immediate matters to tend to right now with the Alliance just about prepared to launch their full might on us and destroy us all.
"I would advise everyone to start preparing our remaining diversionary fleets for battle, and ready our personal transports for escape. We need to be off this planet before the Alliance arrives in force."
'Not that any of you will be able to make it off this world when the moment comes.' Phobar inwardly smirked.
0100 Hours
Csilla, Cssplar
Inside the Defense Fleet Headquarters
'If he is about to do what I fear, Saganu will have to be watched closely from here on out for any hint of sedition or collaboration with the One Sith and their followers.' Ba'Kif ruefully ruminated after dismissing the House Miurani attaché that had the discomfort of delivering this data package to him.
According to the messenger's questis, the traditionalist aristocra was prepared to convene an emergency meeting of every major legislative and military branch of the Ascendancy in nine hours, even the heads of each Ruling and Great Family through holographic attendance, claiming to have uncovered a massive conspiracy that threatened the sovereignty of the Chiss people. A brazen move, but one in full accordance with the ancient laws of the Syndicature and could not be denied, not if Ba'Kif and his allies wanted to maintain the support of most of their supporters.
But the Supreme General did not get to attain his position without surviving the hotbed of intrigue that dominated virtually every aspect of the Chiss's lifestyle, and he was smart enough to know a power play when he saw one. The disappearance of his most trusted agent embedded in House Miurani coinciding with this mysterious machination was only fuel to the experienced military leader's alarm, and he had a terrible hunch of what Saganu was aiming for.
If Rensalm had been compromised and his information was in his faux-patron's custody, then many of the Ascendancy's best-kept secrets were about to be in jeopardy. The only decision now was how to respond to this foreboding turn of events, and it had to be made quickly before all Chaos broke loose.
Although, deep down in his heart, Ba'Kif knew there was only one possible path to saving his people and society, even if it meant sacrificing all he had accomplished in the process with such a desperate measure.
The time had finally come for the Chiss people to take control of their own destiny and take an active hand in building their own future instead of blindly trusting their leaders, decaying institutions, and inflexible traditions and family loyalties. And all of this would begin with the announcement Ba'Kif and his fellow high-ranking conspirators would make in exactly six hours. He only hoped the truth would set everyone free from the shackles of their own making instead of sending their entire civilization spiraling straight into damnation's waiting arms.
Dathomir Orbit, Aboard the Pius Dea Cathedral Ship Retribution
Inside Darth Zorra's Quarters
Darth Zorra could feel the darkness his fleet was spreading while bombarding Dathomir, relishing in the insidious power that could be felt growing in strength and ferocity across half the galaxy while he was ready to eradicate most of the Jedi's influence on this treacherous world. Once the Jedi and their insufferable allies were eliminated, the Sith would be able to establish their own academy there, just as the Brotherhood of Darkness did over a millennia ago at the end of the New Sith Wars.
But this level of calamity, this level of darkness spreading across the galaxy, it simply was not enough for the Sith Lord and his fanatical mind. For the man who once called himself Keldo, a native of the doomed Wild Space world of Parnassos, brother of the traitress Phasma, and Head Instructor of the One Sith's Sith Sorcerers, nothing would be sufficient for him until every spark of Light permeating the universe was snuffed out and replaced with eternal darkness and Sith domination of all life.
And this great vision would all start with Lord Krayt and his disciples completing the eradication of the Jedi Order and their latest mass ensemble of collaborators before they worked on breaking the defiant will of the pampered galactic populace.
But what Zorra was looking forward to the most was the chance to personally dispatch his naïve sister, who was once fully devout to the Sith Code and their master's Grand Design, but somehow lost her way and fell prey to misplaced empathy for the weak before joining the Jedi's paltry allies.
Once, many years ago, he would have risked everything to save his only surviving relative from any kind of danger, for they had worked together to keep their clan alive in the hellish world that they used to call home. But he was long over such foolish sentimentality and realized the ultimate truth of the motto "survival of the fittest." The meek and powerless only deserved to serve the strong or be culled from the galaxy, and anyone who opposed the dictum would meet the same fate as the Sith's enemies.
Thanks to that realization, he would do whatever it took to enforce that core principle in the Sith's ranks, and he planned to do so long after they became the rightful rulers of the galaxy. And everything would all soon be back on track once Lord Krayt captured Edaan Palpatine and molded him into the ultimate vanguard of the One Sith's armies. A rather fitting fate for the last blood relative of a Sith Lord of Darth Sidious's caliber and abilities.
But his meditations were interrupted by a new presence, one filled with the insufferable light of the Jedi, pressed against his consciousness. Hearing a chime from his comlink interrupting his meditations, Zorra activated the device to utter, "You wish to inform me that the Jedi have attacked us in force from beyond the system, Commodore. Is that correct?"
"Precisely, My Lord. Our long-range sensors have detected a dozen enemy ships of many configurations exiting hyperspace in between Barmasel and Dathomir. And our probes have reported about six Mandalorian warships approaching from the system's outskirts."
'It's always one thing or another with these kinds of battles.' Zorra fretted while walking to the bridge.
Well, that's a wrap on this chapter, and it finally concludes the Batuu Arc in this saga! What did you all think of it? Do you think it met many of your expectations, or was there something I could have improved upon? Well, either way, I'm proud of my overall result, and it's sufficient for my needs. Now that one arc's all done, it won't be long before Falleen and Dathomir are wrapped up, and this story can meet its conclusion. So, how are you all doing on this warm night of Tuesday, May 31, 2022? I'm all right, if a little off in the head right now. Hopefully I'm better for work tomorrow morning, and other stuff to worry about over the next six days. Well, I guess there's nothing else I need to discuss right now, other than how I am starting to read a powerful book by a journalist named Julie Kelly. But I ought to warn you, it's very controversial in most circles due to a certain travesty of last year, even if the book's supposed to be an objective examination on it (and that's all I'm going to say on the matter). I'll head off now and give you all a break from my rants. May God be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
