Hyperdimension Neptunia - Across the Multiverse
A HyperDimension Neptunia Fanfiction by Dumbrarere1
Chapter 16 - To Kill an Emperor
The group, with Fireteam Kedalbe, made their way to the starship museum in Axial Park and fought their way to the shuttle. They quickly boarded it and, after some messing around, started it up, flying to each Firestorm Laser Tower. Asmund and the CPUs fought through the Sith Lines, while Fireteam Kedalbe's explosives expert planted a charge on each turbolaser battery. When the last one was destroyed, Master Braga called Asmund on his holo.
"I need to know something. Do you think you're making a difference?" he asked.
"The Emperor is controlling you, Master Braga, but not for long. We're coming to free you." Asmund said.
"You're trapped in old, narrow patterns. You believe this galaxy is worth saving." Master Braga said. "None of your victories matter. You're desperate insects clinging to a burning leaf. In the end, the Emperor wins. This fallen galaxy will be consumed. Purity will be restored." he continued.
"The Emperor doesn't care about purification. He wants to destroy this galaxy." Asmund said.
"You can't see they are the same thing." Master Braga countered. "One way or another, Corellia dies in flames. And we will all burn together." he continued, before cutting contact.
"He didn't sound like any of the other fallen Jedi. I have a bad feeling about this." Kira said.
"Yeah, there's something totally sketchy this time." Neptune said
"Maybe Doctor Godera and Watcher One have a lead on Master Braga's location." Kira surmised.
"Agreed. Let's go." Andrew said.
They returned to Doctor Godera and Watcher One to find Godera dead on the floor, and a medic standing over a heavily wounded Watcher One. Var Suthra was there, standing over Godera's body.
"Godera's dead?!" Ironfist exclaimed.
"General, what the hell happened?!" Andrew asked, looking to Godera, then Watcher One, then back to Var Suthra.
"Doctor Godera… The Sith killed him, and badly wounded Watcher One! Damn them!" he swore.
"One of my field agents… an Imperial spy! Told Master Braga... about me and Godera! Auugh!" Watcher One cried.
"One of the SIS was a double agent?!" Andrew asked.
"Crap baskets! It's too early in the story for this!" Neptune exclaimed.
"Doctor Godera was a brilliant man… He served the Republic with loyalty and dedication." Asmund said. "I didn't know him well, but I think he'd want us to keep fighting, rather than panic or stop to mourn him." he continued.
"I wish the people who believe we can make peace with the Empire could see this." Var Suthra said.
"Tell me where that traitor is, so I can put a blaster bolt between their eyes." one of Fireteam Kedalbe's members demanded.
"And what good will that do, Commando? Revenge will solve nothing." Kira exclaimed.
"This is such a mess…" Andrew muttered. "Medic, evacuate Watcher One to a medical facility and prepare him for an emergency trip back to Coruscant. We've already lost Godera, but we're not losing our best spymaster as well." Andrew instructed.
"Right away." the medtech said, ensuring Watcher One was stable enough for travel before taking him to the emergency vehicles for extraction.
"All enemies accounted for, General. Commander Phraken-Nal of the Voss Commandos and his squad are cleaning up the rest of them." Brint said. "We also caught the double agent as he tried to slip away. He's being sent to Belsavis awaiting trial for his crimes." he added.
"Good. If he gets the firing squad, ask for Fireteam Kedalbe. We've got unfinished business with this bastard." the Fireteam Kedalbe member requested.
"If it comes down to that, I'll forward the request to General Garza and Colonel Bartaph. Until then, you may be needed elsewhere on Corellia." Brint said. "In other news, we found Doctor Godera's work. It looks important." he continued.
"He and Watcher One were tracking Master Braga's holotransmissions. He found… signals coming from a Harrower Star Destroyer above Capitol Square." Var Suthra reported.
"Why would the Empire bring a warship down to the planet's surface?" Asmund asked.
"Maybe to act as a staging area and headquarters for the invasion of the planet." Andrew theorized.
"We assumed it was to intimidate us. It might be much worse." Var Suthra replied. "Republic troops, aided by soldiers from House Organa, established a small forward base in the government district. Gather your forces and meet me there." he continued.
"Will do." Andrew said, before he and the group separated from Fireteam Kedalbe and went to the forward operating base.
The group arrived at the forward base, and met up with Var Suthra.
"We're at the point of no return, my friends. We either kick them off Corellia for good, or lose everything." Var Suthra said. "Erris Wyum is with Corellian Intelligence, and is taking Watcher One's place while he's on medical leave. He's just learned our job here is even harder than we thought." he continued.
"My reconnaissance teams, and what SIS field agents are left from Watcher One's command, just picked up an energy surge from the Harrower Star Destroyer's reactors." Erris reported.
"Wait a minute… You don't mean…" Kira said.
"If they overload the reactor and it self destructs above the city, it'll be a catastrophe!" Andrew exclaimed.
"Why not simply crash it into the surface?" Var Suthra asked.
"A reactor detonation at its present altitude won't just flatten this whole sector. The radiation released will kill people for hundreds of kilometers." Erris said, confirming Andrew's explanation.
"Can things get any worse?" Asriel asked.
"Good news is, there's a secure turbolift connecting the star destroyer to the government buildings. They use it to send troops there." Erris said.
"So we just got to fight our way to the turbolift, board the star destroyer, cancel the self destruct, deal with Master Braga, and get out with our hides intact." Andrew said.
"As straightforward of a plan that is, yes. Asmund, Kira and the CPUs are the only ones capable of this." Var Suthra said.
"Lord Scourge will be coming with us as well. His intimate knowledge of a Harrower Star Destroyer's inner workings will be vital to stopping this attack." Andrew said.
"Agreed. Take him with you. Meanwhile, I'm commanding a battalion of combined Republic, Voss and House Organa troops. With our Jedi squads backing us, we'll hit command-and-control centers all over this area. Our two victories combined should force the Empire to make a hasty retreat." Var Suthra said.
"Without all these Jedi, I'd say you were crazy to even try it. But, you might just pull this off, General." Erris said.
"My people won't let you down." Asmund said.
"I'm counting on that." Var Suthra said. "This is it friends. May the Force be with us." he continued.
"Better yet, may it not be with the bad guys." Kira said.
The group fought their way through Capitol Square, and to the turbolift, where they rode their way into the star destroyer. From there, they fought their way to the engineering bay, where Master Braga awaited them.
"You slipped past my invasion forces. That's unfortunate, but you won't win." he said. "For the Emperor to succeed, the people of Corellia must die. Only then, can this ruined galaxy be redeemed." he continued.
"The Emperor has filled your head with lies, Master Braga. Death is not redemption. You know this." Andrew said.
"There is no redemption through peace. The Emperor showed me the truth." Master Braga countered. "This galaxy isn't worth saving. Every being, every creature, is weak and useless. All except him." Master Braga he continued. "The Emperor is strong. Perfect. Transcending both Sith and Jedi. He will cleanse the stars of our impurity!" he added, finishing his mini rant.
"The Emperor broke you, Master Braga. Surrender, and we will help you." Asmund said.
"The Emperor's thoughts were with me for a long time, but I broke free. And when I did, my eyes were opened."
"Interesting… Tol Braga accepted the dark side willingly." Scourge mused.
"You're kidding!" Kira exclaimed.
"I have seen such horrors… That these things are allowed to exist… It has to end. Here. Now." Master Braga said as he drew and ignited his lightsaber. To their further surprise the blade was a deep crimson. He then rushed in against Asriel before he had a chance to transform, only to be saved by Asmund, who used the Force to cast a shield around himself and the young CPU.
"I see… If you would throw away everything you believed in for the Emperor, then so be it." Andrew said as he transformed. Asriel and Neptune transformed next. Lord Scourge quickly used the Force to knock Master Braga off guard, whilst Asriel went in with a share-based melee attack using the Trinity Blade. Master Braga was able to somehow block the majority of the blows, and used Force Push against Asriel.
"No sense going in one at a time. We have to cooperate." Andrew said, before he, Neptune and Asriel went in with Trinity Strike. Master Braga was able to block the first ten seconds of the EXE group attack, but it created holes in his defense, allowing Asmund to zap him with Force Lightning. This further weakened their former friend enough that the rest of Trinity Strike would finish him off without killing him. Asmund quickly shut down the self destruct sequence, bringing the power levels in the reactor back down to sustainable levels.
"General Var Suthra, I've shut down the star destroyer's reactor overload sequence. I repeat, the star destroyer is under my control." Asmund reported.
"Understood. I'll send troops to secure the vessel and hold it for the Republic." Var Suthra said. Around him, the last of the Imperials were being finished off. "The Imperial invasion force is routed and in open retreat. The day is ours, my friends. Meet me back at base. Var Suthra out." he continued, ending the call.
"Do you really think you've won? You've only prolong the galaxy's suffering." Master Braga said. "In the end… no one is saved. This battle will be fought forever. Nothing I do matters." he continued.
"Back when I was a Padawan, Master Orgus taught me and the CPUs that every choice we make, whether good or evil, affects the living Force. You chose to accept the dark side willingly, and people suffered for it." Asmund said.
"I wanted it all to end… No Sith, no Jedi… No war." Master Braga said. "You've stopped his plans for now, but the Emperor is patient. He will try again and again, until he wins." he continued. Andrew could tell there was a bit of guilt and regret in his voice.
"This is true. But given that we've all stood in his way, he'll wait until he and Kurome have stopped us all before he tries again." Scourge said.
"The Emperor is on Dromund Kaas. Go to him. You will see how pointless our struggles have been." Master Braga said.
"Everything we do leads us back to the Emperor. It is the circle of fate. We cannot run from it, only move forward." Asmund said. "On Voss, I saw a vision from the Force, much like the one that Lord Scourge has had long ago. The CPUs and I were standing before the Emperor, victorious in battle. He was defiant, but I knew that it was the end for him. It is the end for him, Master Braga. Our efforts to stop this madness won't be in vain." he continued, explaining his vision.
"Beware of destinies. They are rarely what you expect." Master Braga warned. "I will give you the Emperor's coordinates. Even in his weakened state, he will be a tough opponent for you… for the CPUs…" he continued, giving Asmund the coordinates to the Emperor's location. "I tire of this horrible existence. My life has been a failure. End it." he begged.
"There is value in mercy, Master Braga. We learned this in the last dimension." Andrew said. "If you truly believe your life a failure, then take this as your chance to start over. If you hate what you are..." he continued, despawning his weapon. "Become something better." he finished.
"I know you still care about this galaxy. Do something to make it a worthy place. Go to Tython, rejoin the Jedi Order. It needs you." Asmund said, adding onto what Andrew said.
"You're all so confident… I remember that feeling. The sense of purpose. Was it only a dream?" Master Braga asked, finally coming to his senses. That was when the Sharicite Fragment appeared before them, and the CPUs collected it like before. "Perhaps it's not too late. Maybe you can defeat him and save us all. I'll go to Tython… I'll… hope. May the Force be with you all." Master Braga said, before taking his leave with the hopes of surrendering himself to the Republic.
Asmund and the group returned to the base, to find General Var Suthra absent.
"Let me get this straight... Not only did you save millions of lives, but you also seized a Harrower Star Destroyer?" Erris asked.
"I'll tell you, it wasn't easy." Andrew replied.
"Nope. Doesn't sound any less incredible when I say it out loud." Erris said, standing up. "Let me ask you something, CPUs. That power you get. It's not the Force, like the Jedi have… so how do you get it?" he asked.
"Our powers come from the Shares - the collective faith of those that believe in us and pray to us. It's what grant us immortality, and the ability to perform miracles." Andrew explained.
"I see. I doubt I'll understand it, but... after that, I think I found a reason to believe…" Erris said. "Anyways, the Rogue Jedi. Did you all catch him?" he asked.
"He's on his way to Tython, now. He is surrendering himself to the will of the Jedi Council." Andrew said, mirroring what he said to Master Kiwiiks about Praven back on Tatooine.
"Not sure how I feel about him going free… At least he isn't our problem anymore." Erris said. That was when Var Suthra and all the Jedi made it back alive. "Welcome back, General. My scouts, and the SIS field agents, say they've never seen such a decisive victory." he said.
"We've got the Empire running. Their command-and-control network is in shambles. The Voss Commandos, House Organa, and Jedi Troops performed brilliantly." Var Suthra declared.
"This victory was absolute, as foreseen by the Mystics. Songs and poems will be written, of how the Republic and the Jedi Order defeated the Empire and saved Corellia." Phraken-Nal declared.
"It was an honor to fight alongside the Republic again." the captain for House Organa said.
"I'm recommending this brave Jedi army, the Voss Commandos, and House Organa's troops for the Republic's top military honor. You've all earned it." Var Suthra said.
"The Jedi Order is grateful for the recognition." Asmund said.
"I know you can't stay, but Corellia needs the rest of us. There are still pockets of Imperial forces scattered throughout the planet. This isn't over by a long shot." Var Suthra said.
"Yep… We've got a date with the Emperor." Neptune said jokingly and confidently.
"The Emperor?" Var Suthra asked
"Yeah. It's past time that he pay for his crimes. This will only end in death. Let's hope that it's his." Andrew said. "We'll let Master Satele know of our victory here." he continued.
"I shall return to Tython with Bengel Morr. I hope you and the CPUs win." Nodru said.
"For what it's worth, friends… if you don't make it back… it was a pleasure to have known you. Perhaps the Force told me to do all those horrible things on Tython to train you for this… Perhaps I fell to the dark side back then out of necessity." Bengel Morr said. "I pray to the Force that those I made suffer to get you this far didn't do so in vain." he continued.
"With the Force, anything is possible." Asmund said humbly.
"Perhaps. You may very well be the saviors of this galaxy. May the Force be with you all." Bengel said, before he departed with Nodru.
"I promise I'll take good care of your people here. As Bengel Morr said, may the Force be with you." Var Suthra said.
The group returned to the Endeavor and took to the skies. The battle in orbit was just about over, as multiple Imperial ships were either destroyed, disabled or captured. What was left were covering the retreating ground forces. Asmund went to the Holoterminal and contacted Master Satele.
"Master Satele, our mission on Corellia is complete. The Imperial invasion force is in open retreat, and Master Braga is no longer aiding the enemy." Asmund said.
"He had… accepted the dark side willingly, after breaking free of the Emperor's domination on his own… But we managed to turn him back to the light. He's on his way to Tython now, to submit himself to the will of the council." Andrew reported.
"That is welcome news. It is unfortunate that he chose to accept the dark side, but I'm glad you were able to turn him back.. We'll take good care of him." Master Satele said.
"We've also learned that the Emperor is on Dromund Kaas. His efforts have weakened him. He's vulnerable, and now is the best time to strike back and finish this battle for good." Andrew said.
"The Emperor is determined to destroy the galaxy. It's him, or us." Lord Scourge said. Kira was inwardly amused at how his words were very Jedi-like.
"You must face the Emperor again. And this time, you cannot fail." Master Satele said.
"The CPUs and I are stronger than the last time we met." Asmund said.
"Dromund Kaas is the Imperial capital. Legions of Sith call it home. The remaining population is almost entirely Imperial Military." Scourge said. "We're invading a planet of people who want us dead. We'll have to fight for every centimeter of ground." he continued.
"It is equally possible that the Imperial navy will be waiting for you in orbit. This will not be easy." Revan added over the holo, warning them.
"In that case, we won't even be able to land on Dromund Kaas, unless the enemy is too distracted to notice." Asmund said.
"We must surprise the Empire by doing what they least expect: a frontal assault on their homeworld. Jedi and Republic warships will converge on Dromund Kaas and engage the Imperial fleet, while Fireteam Havoc joins you on the ground for clandestine operations to keep the Imperial Army off your backs." Master Satele said.
"Master Satele, that's a suicide mission." Andrew said.
"If you defeat the Emperor, whatever sacrifices are required will not be in vain." Master Satele countered.
"I will help you and Havoc Squad navigate the planet's defense network and land safely. After that, no promises." Scourge said.
"Your success or failure will not merely decide the galaxy's fate… It may have a role in deciding the fate of the Multiverse, and it will change everything. Forever." Master Satele said. "Find the Emperor, and stop him once and for all. May the Force be with you." Master Satele said.
The Excalibur, having been redirected from Corellia to a priority strike mission above Dromund Kaas, was in Hyperspace, having joined the rest of the Republic fleet. Arrow Squad was in the briefing room, going over the data with the ops commander.
"This is the big one, pilots. We're going in for a priority assault on the Empire's homeworld of Dromund Kaas." the ops commander said.
"Dromund Kaas?" Kara asked.
"The heart of the Sith Empire?" a bomber pilot attached to a Republic attack squadron asked.
"Why are we risking our hides for the Sith homeworld so soon? We haven't taken any of the worlds currently occupied by the Empire." Ryan asked.
"This priority strike is at the behest of Grand Master Satele Shan of the Jedi Order. Apparently one of her knights and the CPUs are going in on a mission to kill the Sith Emperor." the ops commander replied, to the gasps and cheers of some of the men and women in the room. "We're to engage the Imperial fleet to keep them occupied." he continued.
"But if we handle the orbital battle, who's keeping the Empire busy on the ground?" Pete asked.
"A Republic Special Forces unit, the one and only Fireteam Havoc, will be on the ground causing as much destruction as they can. We split the Empire's attention three ways, and the Jedi and CPUs have a fighting chance." the ops commander replied. "I won't lie, this won't be a milk run. The Imperial Navy's pilots will be well trained, many of them veterans of the First Great Galactic War, and they will be very deadly." he continued.
"I don't like the odds, but… I'm not a gambler for nothing. Count me in." Clyde said.
"Me too. It's about time we take the fight to the Empire." Marc said in agreement. The entire squadron, and the bomber squadron that were in the briefing room with them, were entirely in agreement.
"Alright. Arrow Squad has the job of clearing enemy fighters and protecting the bombers as they make their runs. If we all do our part, we'll come back from this alive." the ops commander said.
"All pilots, report to your fighters. We're leaving Hyperspace in two minutes." Captain Kirk said over the intercom.
"Good luck to you all. And may the Force be with you." the ops commander said, ending the briefing.
The Endeavor came out of Hyperspace in the Dromund system, idling beyond scanner range, until the Republic fleet arrived. A BT-7 Thunderclap belonging to Fireteam Havoc formed up with the Endeavor, just as the fleet began its engagement.
"Endeavor, this is Fireteam Havoc, we're sitting off your port side, ready to hit the planet." the leader of Fireteam Havoc, Lewtys Patton, said on the holo.
"Good to have you with us, Fireteam Havoc. I've heard of your accomplishments in the defense of Alderaan during the first war." Asmund said.
"And I've heard much of yours and the CPUs' against Darth Angral. It's an honor to fight with you this time." Lewtys said. "The Republic Fleet has begun its engagement, and Arrow Squadron will be making a name for itself this time. It's up to us to get to the planet." he continued.
"Follow us in, Fireteam Havoc." Andrew said, as Asmund took the controls and guided the Endeavor in to land on the planet below. Fireteam Havoc landed nearby. Asmund and the group discussed the plan with everyone.
"We've landed on Dromund Kaas. Any sign we've been detected?" Asmund asked.
"T7 = scanning area. Results = no enemy movement toward this position." T7 responded.
"Good for us and Fireteam Havoc, but the Republic fleet's getting blown to bits up there. We need to wrap this up fast." Doc said.
"I examined the coordinates Tol Braga gave you. The Emperor has gone to an ancient temple deep in the jungle Access is highly restricted." Scourge said.
"What do you know about this ancient temple?" Andrew asked.
"The Emperor built it. He imprisoned his enemies there for many centuries. It is a place of vast, dark power." Scourge explained. "One of the Emperor's private shuttles is not far from here. It has full security clearance to enter the temple grounds." he continued.
"Great. Now for Fireteam Havoc to cause some, well, havoc, and allow us a chance to fight through a city full of bad guys trying to kill us." Kira said.
"Moving as a single unit will give away our objective. We could pair off and follow separate paths to the shuttle." Sergeant Rusk said.
"Good idea, Sergeant. If we time our own paths with Fireteam Havoc's attacks, we can move through the city without them knowing our real goals before it's too late." Andrew said.
"You all have the shuttle's coordinates. I recommend no one be late arriving there." Scourge said, before taking his leave to find the shuttle.
Grand Moff Ilyan Regus was in the Imperial Tower with some of the men, some officers, and a Sith Lord.
"So, Regus. How's it feel to be the the new Grand Moff?" one of the soldiers asked.
"Under Lord Denzion? Utter hell. But I am only too happy to do my duty." Regus replied.
"How do you think of our chances in the battle overhead?" the Sith Lord asked.
"I think we've got this in the bag, but I'm cautiously optimistic." Regus said.
"Oh? You worried about them getting men on the ground?" the soldier asked. "There's no way they can get men past the armada. Let's not forget that Denzion's fleet, including the Eclipse, are on their way to reinforce our forces above. The Republic is doomed." he continued.
"Hopefully you're right." Regus said with a shrug. That's when he heard pops and explosions against the background noise of the rain and thunder, and he turned around to see military resource posts, ammo dumps, and command posts go up in flames, and he realized that some ground forces had, indeed, breached their defenses.
"Sir?" the soldier asked.
"Are we blind?! DEPLOY THE GARRISON! MOVE!" Regus shouted, ordering the men working to get into overdrive and deploy the reserve forces on the planet.
The CPUs split off from Asmund and Kira, heading through the town square and fighting through enemy reinforcements as they deployed from their garrisons. They used all of their known tricks and tactics to their advantage, fighting through the Imperials, Sith acolytes, and even Sith Lords to get to the shuttle. It was a long, grueling struggle, and they lost some ground here and there, but they made it to the shuttle in one piece.
"We've made it. Is everyone accounted for?" Andrew asked.
"We're all here, CPU." Sergeant Rusk said.
"I will fly us to the temple, but you and the CPUs must face him alone. Nobody else can resist his direct influence." Scourge said. "We will provide support and destroy the Emperor's guards. The droid can use the temple's network to coordinate our efforts." Scourge said.
"Emperor = no influence over droids. T7 = go + watch CPUs' + Jedi's backs." T7 said.
"We'll do whatever it takes to stop the Emperor. The rest of you, just stay alive." Asmund said.
"We will do what we can, but no promises." Rusk said.
"Don't worry about me… Ol' Doc's got some tricks up his sleeve." Doc said confidently.
"We have surprised the Emperor, but he will recover quickly. We cannot grant him time to gather his power." Scourge said as everyone boarded the shuttle.
"You can count on me! Victory or death!" Rusk declared.
"I'll take victory. Let the Emperor have death." Doc said.
Arrow Squad launched from the Excalibur's hangar bay, moving in to escort the bombers making runs on the enemy capital ships.
"Arrow Squad is mobile. Ready to kick some ass." Clyde declared on the comms.
"Understood. Be advised we-" Captain Kirk said, only to be interrupted as the bombers got wiped out by fighters as they left the hangar bay. "Bombers have been destroyed." he announced.
"But we only just started!" Ryan exclaimed.
"What's going on?" Pete asked.
"Unknown at this time, Maverick. Twenty percent of our forces are already lost." Captain Kirk announced.
"Dammit… We can't handle them all!" a Republic pilot exclaimed.
"Reinforcements from Corellia, Balmorra and Nar Shaddaa are on their way. ETA is three standard minutes." Captain Kirk announced.
"Three minutes?! We won't last that long!" another Republic pilot exclaimed.
"We have to try! We need to give the Jedi and the CPUs on the ground as much time as they need to complete their mission." Clyde said.
Asmund and the CPUs were fighting their way through the temple, killing Sith Lords and Imperial Guard that stood in their way. Eventually, they came to a large ray shield that stalled their progress. Asmund accessed the terminal nearby, but the ancient computer proved temperamental, and was difficult to work with. He slammed the terminal in frustration.
"Jedi = experiencing high levels of stress. T7 = wishes to help." T7 said.
"See what you can do, Teeseven." Asmund said. T7 carried out his instructions, attempting to lower the ray shield. He'd find himself successful, and the temple ray shield went down, allowing them to proceed further in the temple.
Fireteam Havoc was still fighting roughly half of the Imperial forces on the planet's surface, chewing through their reinforcements and destroying critical infrastructure to keep them off the strike team's backs. Aric Jorgan, an HK-51 unit, and Lewtys were fighting on one side, while Elara Dorne, Tanno Vik, and Yuun were fighting on another.
"HK. You and Aric, head for the rooftops and find a sniping position. I'll cover you." Lewtys ordered.
"Statement: Taking out organic meatbags from afar is a favorite pasttime of mine, master. I shall indulge myself and follow your orders." HK said as happily as an assassin droid could be.
"Yeah, yeah, just make sure your shots are accurate. We've got a limited supply of ammunition." Jorgan said as he and HK rushed to the top of a nearby spire, taking out Imperials in the way. They then took up their positions and began sniping.
"Elara, here. Enemy forces in this part of the city are making a big push. We may have to fall back soon." Elara said on the comms.
"Hold your position, Elara. Aric and HK are providing sniper fire. HK, Aric, focus your fire on the soldiers attempting to push on Besh team's position." Lewtys ordered.
"Understood, sir." Aric replied.
In orbit, Arrow Squad was fighting for its life, and multiple ships were on the verge of complete destruction. Two cruisers had already been disabled, and another three are pulling back crippled.
"We're getting overrun here! Dammit, I told Master Satele this was suicide!" a Republic admiral swore.
"Hold your position. Reinforcements are almost here." Captain Kirk ordered. On cue, nine ships, including the battleship Coruscant Star, the former Emperor's Glory, two Thranta-class cruisers and five Atlas-class frigates leaped into the fight from Hyperspace, before engaging the Imperial fleet.
"Right on time." Clyde said.
"Is that Harrower Star Destroyer on our side?" a fleet commander asked.
"It's the Emperor's Glory, the one that the Jedi and CPUs secured on Corellia. Republic engineers were quick to get her operational again for this battle." Helen said. That's when another comm channel connected to the fleet.
"This is Major Lewtys Patton of Fireteam Havoc. We're under heavy fire from tanks, walkers and enemy infantry on the ground here. We need to buy more time for the Jedi and CPUs, requesting air support." Lewtys said.
"CAS is on its way, Havoc. Stand by." Captain Kirk said in response. "Arrow Squad, you are being retasked. Cancel engagement and help out our special forces on the ground." he ordered.
"Got it. Arrow Squad, form on me. Let's knock the door down and say hello." Clyde said.
"Righto!" Ryan exclaimed energetically.
"Understood." Pete said.
"Understood." Kara said.
"Roger that." Marc said.
"Fireteam Havoc's position has been marked on your HUD. Once you break atmosphere and make contact, you are weapons free. Give the Empire hell." Captain Kirk said.
"Roger that. We're entering the atmosphere now." Clyde said. The eight FT-6 Pikes screeched through the upper atmosphere at high speed, the heat of reentry causing them to streak in like meteors, the only thing keeping them from burning up on reentry being their shields. The seconds ticked by until they made it into the lower atmosphere, in view of the burning Kaas City and the Imperial soldiers, tanks, walkers and artillery that lined the streets. "Fireteam Havoc, this is Arrow Squad, we're responding to your request for air support. Where do you need us?" Clyde asked.
"The extradimensional aces? Couldn't have asked for better support. Fireteam Havoc is split between two teams, one on the east side, the other on the west. The enemy is trying to push us out of the city from the North, and we don't know if they'll try to flank us from the center and crush us in the middle. Aric and HK are acting as snipers to cover the other part of our squad in the western side, but we need help." Lewtys said.
"Understood. Count, Maverick, Wedge, form on me and we'll help the people on the eastern side of the city. The rest of you, help the team on the western side." Clyde said. Upon his instruction, the squadron broke into two strike teams of four, each one firing concussion missiles and laser cannons into the enemy lines. The airstrikes caused massive fatalities amongst the Imperial forces. Arrow Squad came around again, cleaning up the rest, before dealing with anyone trying to go through the center and flank them.
"Air strikes on target! Good shot, Arrow Squad!" Lewtys said.
"The Imperials are falling back. I'd say they outdid themselves." Elara said.
"It'll be a matter of time before the Empire consolidates and kicks us off the planet. We'd better hope that the Jedi and CPUs can accomplish their mission before then." Aric said.
Asmund, T7 and the CPUs arrived in the Emperor's throne room, standing before the Emperor. Andrew, Neptune and Asriel activated HDD.
"And so, the circle closes. The end begins." the Emperor said, standing up and approaching. With the covering off his face, everyone could see what he really looked like, down to the hatred in his very eyes. "You wasted your energy saving the weak… on Belsavis. Voss. Corellia. There are consequences." he said, before throwing a torrent of Force Lightning in Asmund's path, who was quick to draw his lightsaber and block it. When that failed, the Emperor summoned projections of himself created from Force Energy. The CPUs defeated these next.
"Are we supposed to be impressed?" Andrew asked.
"My life spans millennia. Legions have risen to test me." the Emperor said.
"You are a threat to every living being in this galaxy… A threat to this very dimension. If you do not surrender, we will destroy you." Asmund said.
"You are blind insects, contemplating the void of space." the Emperor said.
"Perhaps blind. But in that blindness, we have given the galaxy another chance." Asmund countered.
"My ascendance is inevitable. A day, a year, a millennium… It does not matter. I have the patience of stone and the will of stars." the Emperor said in a futile attempt to intimidate them.
"You think that will intimidate us? We've stood the test of time, and won against all odds. Whether or not you believe it, your end is at hand." Asriel said.
"Your striving is insignificant. Let your Jedi friend's death be the same." the Emperor said, drawing his lightsaber, before leaping into battle. First, he went after Asriel, who parried and countered most of his attacks. Then Neptune, who found herself almost overwhelmed by his immense power.
"You think your power will be enough to defeat us, Emperor?" Andrew asked.
"This galaxy is my canvas, and I am the painter who will shape it to my will!" The Emperor declared, before leaping to a great height and striking down, slightly injuring Andrew and temporarily knocking him out of the fight.
"Andrew!" Neptune shouted in shock, before coming to his aid. "You will not harm him!" she shouted, running in with all her fury. Asmund and Asriel joined her in a three-on-one attack. The Emperor blocked all three without any hesitation. Asriel saw his chance and kicked him in the chest, before unleashing a series of critical strikes. His attacks were interrupted with a powerful shockwave of Force energy from the Emperor that blew all three of them back.
"Asriel!" Neptune shouted, before looking back towards their enemy. "Take this! Neptune Break!" she shouted, rushing in and using her iconic attack against him. She managed to get a number of successful critical hits in, before she too would be interrupted. A blast of Force energy sent her flying into the wall, before she recovered. Andrew recovered from his minor injuries, going all out with sword and shield, and dealing major blows. Asmund ran in from the other side of the room, attempting to catch the Emperor off guard. He would find his attempt futile as their enemy leaped over him, before summoning more Force ghosts of himself. The group were quick to dispatch these ghosts, before going all out once more on the Emperor. He continued to parry the attacks for various minutes, until Asmund pushed him back with the Force. Then debris got thrown his way, and he chopped up each piece.
"Enough!" Andrew shouted, flying in. He blocked a strike from the Emperor's lightsaber with his shield, before countering successfully with an otherwise mortal blow. It was enough to make him collapse.
"You harness… immense power… But you lack the purity of will to direct it!" the Emperor spat, before blowing everyone back with a mix of Force Repulse and Force Lightning. It knocked the CPUs out of the fight, still conscious but stunned and unable to recover. Asmund barely survived the attack, and used all his strength in the Force to recover. "It's over." the Emperor declared.
"Not yet…" Asmund said weakly, standing back on his feet. That was when the room lit up with purple lightning, both light and dark sides of the Force combining in a desperate bid to save the galaxy.
"No…! NO! I will not- Aagggg! URRGGG! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" the Emperor cried as he took what amounted to millions of volts of electricity all at once. Asmund continued his torrent of Force Lightning. The Emperor continued to cry in pain, before he fell his side in defeat. The CPUs and T7 managed to recover from their stunned condition, walking over to the Emperor as he lay on the floor.
"I cannot be contained… I will not be redeemed! Death is all that remains! And you will not kill me." the Emperor declared in defiance of their victory.
"We will kill you. If only to preserve future generations in the galaxy." Asmund said, before he tossed the Emperor deeper into the room and reached up to grab stalactite-like structures in the room with the Force. He broke them off the ceiling, and they crashed into the Emperor's body, smashing him until nothing was left. That's when another Sharicite Fragment appeared, and the CPUs collected it, before T7 contacted Scourge.
"It's over, Lord Scourge. We've killed the Emperor." Asmund declared.
"I can feel him fading… but he is not gone!" Scourge said.
"If I must die… everything dies with me!" The Emperor's voice shouted, before the entire temple began to collapse.
"The temple is coming apart! We have to leave, now!" Andrew shouted.
"Don't have to tell me, twice!" Asriel said, and the whole group began to run from the collapsing temple. Much like their escape from the Oppressor above Tython, their escape was comprised of dodging falling debris.
"I see the exit!" Neptune called out. They were denied as the exit was completely covered, just as Scourge, Kira and the others joined them.
"Our path of retreat has been cut off! We're trapped!" Andrew shouted.
"Stand back, Andrew. Kira, Scourge." Asmund said. Andrew stood back as Scourge, Kira and Asmund reached out at the collapsed entrance with the Force, and the entire wall broke apart, opening up a pathway and allowing them to escape just before the entire temple collapsed around them.
"That was a huge rush…" Neptune said, returning to her human form. Andrew and Asriel followed.
"Let's get back to the Endeavor and report in." Andrew said. Asmund contacted Lewtys on the holo.
"Fireteam Havoc, this is Asmund. Our mission is complete, we're heading back to the Endeavor. Get your men out of there." Asmund said.
"I hear you, Master Jedi. We'll make a fighting retreat back to our ship, and meet you in orbit. Fireteam Havoc out." Lewtys said, before ending the holocall.
"Master Satele. Enemy signature is on our scanners, coming out of Hyperspace. The signal is massive… It's the Eclipse." the Excalibur's officers in charge of the sensors reported. That was when the super star destroyer appeared above Dromund Kaas, its armored hull acting like a battering ram as it slammed into two Republic cruisers and crippled the Coruscant Star.
"This is the Coruscant Star. The Eclipse just slammed into our port side as it came out of Hyperspace. Our port stabilizers and engine are out, and we've lost contact with engineering. We need to pull back immediately!" the captain of the Coruscant Star reported.
"Pull back to the emergency rally point, Coruscant Star. We cannot lose our most powerful ships." Helen ordered.
"The Republic fleet cannot hope to best the Eclipse on their home turf… What are your orders, Master Satele?" Captain Kirk asked, looking toward the grand master.
"All forces still able to fight should hold position until we receive word from our strike team, then make a hasty retreat." Master Satele said.
The group fought back through the city, and met up with the members of Fireteam Havoc, before they continued on their way to their ships. Once on board, Andrew and T7 rushed to the bridge.
"Teeseven, get us out of here!" Andrew said. T7 chirped as he connected with the ship and started it up, getting the Endeavor and its crew off the planet safely. Fireteam Havoc joined them on the way up. Andrew went to the holoterminal and contacted Master Satele.
"Master Satele, do you read me? The Emperor is dead! I repeat, the Emperor is dead!" he announced.
"Good to hear your voice. The Super Star Destroyer Eclipse and its fleet just jumped into the system, and are wreaking havoc on our forces in orbit. We must retreat from Dromund Kaas." Master Satele said. "All ships are to rendezvous with the Valiant at these coordinates. Asmund, CPUs, I'll meet you there. Master Satele out." she continued, transmitting fresh coordinates to the entire fleet. One by one, the ships jumped into Hyperspace. Arrow Squad followed the Excalibur into Hyperspace closely, and soon the fleet made it out alive.
Grand Moff Regus stood there, stunned as to what he saw. He wish it wasn't true, but he knew it was: The temple collapsed, and he knew that the Emperor was dead. What's more is that large swaths of military infrastructure and over a million credits worth of arms and armaments lie in smoking ruin.
"Sir… what do we do?" one of the remaining officers asked.
"The Emperor is dead… Kaas City is in shambles and our entire military command structure has been uprooted… All we can do is put our faith and trust in Kurome and Lord Denzion…" Regus said, knowing who had most of the Empire's power in the galaxy now.
"What remains of the Dark Council is prepared to discuss putting Denzion in charge of the Empire… but there are those of us, including Darth Marr, who will be dead against the idea." Lady Acina said as she walked in.
"I agree with the Grand Moff… The Lady of Nightmares and Lord Denzion are the only ones who can help the Empire recover from this, and lead us to greatness." a Sith Lord said.
The Endeavor left Hyperspace at the coordinates and landed in the Valiant's hangar bay. A shuttle from the Excalibur and the fighters of Arrow Squad were already docked there. After some preparation, with the CPUs once again in HDD and in more formal attire, the group gathered in a separate hangar, where members of the Jedi Council, Republic Army, and Republic Navy were also gathered for a ceremony. The pilots of Arrow Squad, Fireteam Kedalbe, Fireteam Blackstar, and Fireteam Havoc were present. So was Captain Kirk, in his original Starfleet uniform, adorned with both the Starfleet and Republic badges. Lord Scourge, Kira, Asmund, Neptune, Andrew and Asriel stepped forward. As they walked forward, the Republic personnel present saluted them briskly and confidently. At the end of the red carpet were Admirals Helen Dodonna and Dabrin, as well as Master Satele and Revan.
"You saved our galaxy from destruction. The Emperor's death has turned the tide of this war." Master Satele said.
"Combined with our success in driving back the Imperial invasion of Corellia and the destruction on Dromund Kaas, the Sith are in chaos. It's glorious." Admiral Dabrin said.
"You have done more for the Republic than we could ask of you." Helen said.
"For too long, the Republic has feared the Sith Empire. Today, we've proven they aren't invincible." Asmund said.
"You've raised the morale of every Republic soldier, engineer and pilot from Coruscant to Yavin." Admiral Dabrin said. "For your actions on Corellia, General Var Suthra recommended you all receive the Crescent of Service. But you've earned more than that. It is my honor to present each of you with the Republic's highest honor: The Cross of Glory." he continued. Andrew smirked at the thought of being a decorated war hero in a foreign dimension.
"You will live forever as heroes of the Republic. Jedi Knight Kira Carsen… Sergeant Fideltin Rusk… Teeseven Oh-one… Doctor Archiban Kimble…" Master Satele said.
"Just call me "Doc". Please." Doc corrected, preferring not to use his name.
"CPU Purple Heart… Paladin-Knight Purple Shield… Auxiliary CPU Asriel Dreemurr…" Master Satele continued, before resting her eyes squarely on Scourge. "Even you Lord Scourge. Though you joined us for selfish reasons, you spared more lives than your own." she concluded.
"Scourge will be a Jedi before he knows it." Asmund joked.
"I wouldn't count on that." Scourge countered.
"And then there is you, Asmund. How do we even begin to account for the actions your life has taken since you first arrived on Tython?" Master Satele asked. "You embody what every Jedi strives to become. Your courage, commitment and leadership have seen us through this dark time. Revan and I agree… From this day forward, you are no longer a Jedi Knight. You are a Jedi Master." she continued, giving the title of Master to Asmund.
"I will uphold the Jedi Code and bring justice to the galaxy." Asmund declared.
"You've earned it, Asmund. You're the best student Master Orgus has ever trained, and a terrific Jedi. I'm proud to have met you." Revan said.
"These are the moments we strive for. When the hope of victory becomes real. When we can see peace on the horizon. May the Force be with us." Master Satele said, and the crowd cheered.
Master Satele, Revan, and the entire crew of the Endeavor met on Tython in the council chambers after the ceremony to discuss what was next.
"So… You three will be departing, then?" Master Satele asked.
"Afraid so. We've gathered all the Fragments that we could find, and the war is just about over. In order to save Gamindustri, we must move on." Andrew said.
"It'll be hard without you all… The Endeavor will feel empty without the CPUs in its crew." Asmund said.
"We feel you, Asmund. We'll be certain to come visit you and Kira sometime soon." Asriel said.
"Aww, I'm touched." Kira said, partly joking, while also glad that this isn't a hard goodbye.
"The Jedi will never forget what you have done for us. The CPUs' exploits will be forever woven into the history of our order." Master Gnost-Dural, the Jedi Order's historian, declared.
"Perhaps I was too critical of you when we first met. I never had the chance to apologize for my outburst." Master Kaeden said, which was a surprise to everyone.
"There's no need to apologize, Master Kaeden. We understand why you felt the need." Andrew said.
"You're free to come see us again, anytime. The Jedi Order will always welcome you with open arms." Revan said. That's when they were interrupted by an unsanctioned call on their holoterminal. The faces of the two people on the holoterminal filled them with dismay.
"Denzion…" Asmund swore.
"Kurome." Asriel said.
"What's going on?" Master Kaeden asked.
"I don't know… He's somehow gotten into our holo. I can't isolate it!" Master Kiwiiks said.
"He's broadcasting live across the galaxy… Probably taking a page from Darth Angral." Andrew theorized.
"People of the Empire… It is with my utmost regret, that our Emperor is dead… killed! By the Jedi and their CPU and Republic allies! I know many of you are upset of these developments, and I can feel the rage building within you, boiling and ready to burst." Denzion began.
"What's he saying?" Neptune asked.
"I don't know, and I don't like it…" Revan admitted.
"Fret not, for all is not lost. With the blessings of the Dark Council, I hereby claim the throne of the Empire for myself, with the Lady of Nightmares at my side! I therefore ask you, to embrace your rage! Let it feed you as we vow revenge for our Emperor's death! Direct it towards your enemies, as we prepare to strike a mortal blow against the Republic!" Denzion continued.
"He's declaring a continuation of the war against the Republic… Does this ever end?" Master Kiwiiks asked out of shock.
"But this is not all we shall do. There are worlds ripe for the taking! Not just in our galaxy, but across the Multiverse! Millions of different dimensions with infinite possibilities! Through Kurome's power, we will conquer them all!"
"Not just that… he's declaring war on the Multiverse…" Master Satele said, horrified at what she was hearing.
"And let me leave a message for our enemies… The Republic, the Jedi, the CPUs of Gamindustri, and all who oppose us… The Sith will rise! The Empire will rise! And you will burn!" Denzion declared, finishing his galaxy-wide holomessage, before the forced call ended.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" Asmund said.
"I agree with him, Master… shouldn't the order step in and do something?" Kira asked.
"To have the Jedi interfere with the affairs of other dimensions is dangerous… but I'll leave the decision in the hands of the Grand Master." Master Kaeden warned.
"I agree with Kira. If the Sith Empire extends its reach beyond this dimensional plane, it will cause a cataclysmic chain reaction that will most certainly accelerate the resurrection of the True Goddess, and the destruction of many dimensions. The Jedi Order must, with caution and patience, expand outward into the multiverse in order to stop the Sith threat." Revan said.
"A sentiment I agree with. Kurome and the new Sith Emperor, Lord Denzion, must be stopped, but we cannot do so from within the confines of this galaxy. We will have to work with people in other dimensions to prevent this greater cataclysm." Master Satele said, before looking to Asmund. "Asmund… you, Kira and Lord Scourge should go with the CPUs. They and those they meet will need intimate knowledge of the Force, and the Sith. The Order will keep in touch through Andrew's N-Gear, and provide updates as they become available." she continued.
"If this is what you believe is the best course of action, I will follow the will of the Force as I work with the CPUs in the multiverse." Asmund said.
"You can count on me, Master Satele." Kira said.
"Knowing that Denzion and Kurome's actions will undo our victory, I must agree. I will go with the CPUs." Scourge said.
"It is settled then. Everyone, as we have won a war against the destruction of the galaxy, we enter a darker, more hectic war. Not just for the galaxy, but also for Gamindustri, and the entire Multiverse. The order will be tested in new and unpredictable ways. We must all be on guard against the dangers of the unknown, and the undeniable call of the dark side. May the Force be with you all." Master Satele said, adjourning the meeting.
IF, having been successful in questioning Ganache and Avenir's CEO despite their initially uncooperative nature into the matter of Kurome and the True Goddess, was busy compiling reports with Histoire on exactly what they were dealing with. The CPUs of Aurelius, Leanbox and Lowee have all regained access to their powers, and the Candidates of the affected nations were just as strong as ever.
"Miss Histoire." Frisk asked as she walked in with Toriel.
"Hello, little one. I assume you're here again to play with Daniel, Violet, Nepgear, Rom and Ram?" Histoire asked. Frisk nodded, and Histoire told her where they were. She gleefully ran off, into the room. Histoire then looked to Toriel.
"How goes your classes?" she asked.
"The kids are sometimes a handful with Frisk, one nasty boy in particular, but otherwise they're well behaved. I had a well-executed lesson on pre-algebra, and a few of them loved it." Toriel responded.
"Glad to hear. It is good that your people have acclimated to our world so well, and I'm happy that you've been treated fairly." Histoire said with a smile.
"Yeah… But I fear for Asriel sometimes… Going off on this big adventure in other dimensions… It must be hard on him." Toriel said.
"I understand. Worry not, for he is in good hands, and there are always the friends that he, Neptune and Andrew make along the way that will help keep him safe." Histoire said, reassuring Toriel.
"Thank you, miss Histoire." Toriel said. "You know, I'm happy for everyone. Undyne made it through cadet training with the police force, Muffet's new tea shop has been regarded by the media as the most successful tea parlor in the past thirty-two years, and the new Grillby's Diner and Pub has been a smash hit with sports fanatics and families. And then of course, there's the Guild's newest agent, Sans. As lazy as he is, sometimes, I hear he's been quite effective, especially in helping Miss IF in questioning two particular people. We've all come a long way since the Underground." she continued.
"I see. They've all made many strides in the few short weeks they've been here." Histoire said. That's when IF's phone beeped, and she was shocked at the message she got.
"Histoire! We've got a problem!" she announced.
"Oh dear… What's happening?" Histoire asked.
"There's been a break-in at the Guild's HQ. Sans stopped two of the intruders, but a third made off with hundreds of written requests and important documents. I have to look for and halt whoever is responsible. I gotta scramble." IF reported, before holstering her firearm and rushing out the door.
"That sounds bad…" Toriel mused in shock.
"Very… The CPUs may not be ready to handle all the threats. We have to take things slow." Histoire said.
Back in the galaxy, Clyde was in the rec room of the Excalibur, playing Sabacc with an Iridonian marine.
"You sure seem to know the rules by heart." The Iridonian said.
"I've played a very similar game to this, by the name of Poker. Want to keep playing?" Clyde asked.
"Ah, why the hell not, I've got you beaten anyway!" the Iridonian replied, confident in his deck. "What've you got?" he asked. Clyde laid down his cards, the Sabacc equivalent of a Full House. The Iridonian chuckled as he laid down what Clyde came to attribute a Five of a Kind, all aces, and he knew he'd lost. "Wipe your mouth, Blackburn." the Iridonian said snidely.
"That… wasn't supposed to happen…" Clyde said, shocked at the sudden loss, and his dumb luck.
"Well, we've been playing by Republic Senate Rules. Nothing gained, nothing lost… You were a tougher opponent than I anticipated. Let me offer you a drink, on me." the Iridonian said, congratulating Clyde for his knowledge of the game.
"Yeah, thanks." Clyde said. In the background, Kara and Pete had been watching closely, and Pete also recognized the strategy and playstyle.
"Gotta say. Clyde knows his way around a gambling table more than I thought." Pete said.
"You know the game?" Kara asked.
"Poker? Yeah. Like Sabacc, it's a game of chance and skill. You have to place cards of varying types and values to get hand that's greater than your opponent's. The game continues until there's nothing left to bid, or in the case of the game we witnessed, when the players run out of time or get bored. Bidding often leads to one person walking away with millions, even billions, while others walk away with little to no return on the investment made into the game." Pete said.
"But if one person walks away with all the money, how do they handle cheating?" Kara asked, very confused.
"There are regulations that are enforced by the government. They can't catch all the cheaters, but they do catch a majority of them." Pete explained.
"Did you play?" Kara asked.
"Not often. Only when I had some downtime on the carrier USS Enterprise, back in the eighties. I was still flying Tomcats back then, of course." Pete said.
"Eh… hearing the stories of my fellow squadmates is nice and all, but it gets rather boring after a while. Perhaps we should join Blackburn in the cantina for a drink, to celebrate our victory at Dromund Kaas." Kara said.
"Agreed." Pete said, looking back to the other five pilots. "You guys care for a drink in the cantina? I'll buy." he offered.
"Sure, why not? After that battle, I'll drink whatever the hell I get." Ryan said. The other four pilots were in agreement, and they all went to the cantina. The lights from the dark side of Coruscant shown brilliantly from below, and some of the pilots in Arrow Squad were amazed at the spectacle.
"WHOO! That's some strong stuff!" Clyde said, having had a sip of Juma Juice.
"Careful, Blackburn. Your next gamble would be with our commanding officers, if you drink too much." Kara said jokingly.
"Oh, don't worry. It's only one drink, it won't suddenly turn into a hundred." the Iridonian said, reassuring Clyde's squadmates. Pete bought everyone a round of Juma Juice.
"Everyone. I propose a toast. To victory, and to the Republic." Clyde declared.
"To victory, and to the Republic." the squad, the Iridonian, and even the bartender, replied, before they downed their drinks.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Another chapter that, sadly, couldn't meet the 10k word quota on Google Docs. It is sometimes hard, and I got as close as I could with the filler scenes in Gamindustri and with Arrow Squad at the end.
This may be the end of the Old Republic storyline, but this isn't the last time the CPUs will be in the galaxy. Thus the Jedi go interdimensional to stop the spread of Sith influence outside of the galaxy.
Grand Moff Regus' comment about the attack on Kaas City is another nod to the films, specifically Rogue One, where it's a direct quote from Director Krennic.
Major Lewtys Patton of Fireteam Havoc is a nod to one of the greatest Allied tank commanders of World War II, General George S. Patton. He takes the role of the Republic Trooper character from the game.
We get to see an insight into Clyde Blackburn's amusing gambling habits. Like I said, he's an eye-roller.
I reimagined Sabacc to be closer to Poker than to Blackjack, which Pazaak is already a counterpart of.
Asmund's use of Force Lightning against the Emperor, and how he killed him, is best synchronised with the more epic middle part of "Clash of Destiny" from the SWTOR soundtrack.
That's about it. See you later.