Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, despite my spending spree earlier

Fate of the Force

The Star Destroyer Singularity drifted through space, returning from its long exile, drifting around the edges of the galaxy. It had been many years since the black clad flagship of Cronal, the former Emperor's Hand and the mastermind behind the catastrophic Battle of Mindor nearly forty years previous had been seen in the mainstream galaxy. Now it had mysteriously returned, under a new master...or at least so it seemed.

Cronal watched with tired eyes as the ship, the mighty ship that he had been given so many years ago by the Emperor drifted back towards the galaxy. His crew was young, fit and able, and they were eager to restore his rule to the galaxy, the rule of the Dark. Descended from the Sorcerers of Rhand, his belief would soon be imposed upon the galaxy. Albeit through an unsuspecting method.

His plan was nearly ready, they were poised. The players in question were ready, one ripe to fall, and the other ready to rise into the void that would be left open by the fall of the other. However, that time was not yet. Firstly, he had to draw the attention of the Galactic Alliance so that they didn't figure out what was about to start going on in their own backyard. And for that, he had been plotting for years. An old debt was about to be repaid. Fenn Shysa and his spawn would pay for their interference in the Mindor affair. And it would draw the Alliance's attention, tie them up in yet another area and with any luck it would also tie up the false Jedi, the ones who disobeyed the way of the Dark. And with everything in the galaxy heating up to boiling point it would just be one more thing to further weaken the Alliance, in a galaxy that was increasingly getting harder and harder to control. But for now, he had his own part to play, in order to ensure his plans were carried out to the letter.

Heading to his quarters on his mechno-chair, a gift from the Emperor, when he entered he set up the call to the world of Concord Dawn, in the Mandalorian Sector. It was time to put his plan into motion. The man on the other end of the holo was dressed from head to toe in armour, just like a usual Mandalorian. However, several distinctions marked this man from the usual run of the will Mandalorians who followed Boba Fett's rule on Mandalore. Their armour was the same construction as a Mandalorian set, however that was as far as the similarities lasted. This armour was in a darker hue, deep green or black. The capes they wore were ragged and shredded, and their armour wasn't nearly as dented as a Mandos would be. Unlike the Mandos, the emblem on their shoulder was not the mythosaur head, but was instead a jai'galaar, a avian predator. The helmet was also different, also being in black, with the t-shaped visor having a thicker border. And there were also two small horns protruding from the top of the visor.

Death Watch had returned to the galaxy.

Cronal had contacted them a few years before, when he had first heard that they were beginning to stir up the old hatred and rally against the rule of Mandalore. Promising them his help, he had contacted the leader and had advised him to wait before embarking on a conflict with the Mandalore, who many people were disillusioned with it had to be said, as he seemed to have little interest in leading his people. He had been slowly channelling funds to them, funds accessible to the Emperor's Hand. While he knew that at least two of his most deadly opposite numbers, Mara Jade Skywalker and Lumiya, were still out there, he had long ago siphoned off significant funds which he had been funnelling to his two projects for years. And now, the time was right for Death Watch to make its move.

The leader's name was Belok Rhal. The new leader of the Death Watch, with a personal grievance against the Mandalore. And he was his pawn, his tool to use in the furthering of the cause of the Dark. He was one of Fett's advisors, but he was known for his brutality, and with Fett getting older and his injuries chipping away at him as he went on, Rhal's position was increasingly under threat from Fett's granddaughter, Mirta Gev and her husband, Ghes Orade. Mirta, who Fett was shaping to become Mandalore after he was gone, was emerging as a strong leader for the Mandalorians, and Cronal knew full well that she would not tolerate Rhal to live once she took over. And what was more, her husband detested Rhal and had made it clear that as soon as his wife or his grandfather-in-law gave the go-ahead, he would stick a blaster bolt right between Rhal's eyes. As such, he would be a most useful ally in the times to come, due to his knowledge of his foes and of the Mandalorian infrastructure. Especially after Cronal performed the next part of the plan.

"Greetings Rhal. I trust your preparation are complete?" he asked, his voice distorted and the leader of the Death Watch inclined his head, and from several sectors away Cronal could feel the ferocity of anger blazing through the man. Provided his anger controlled him well, then he would be satisfied.

Rhal nodded.

"My agents are well placed, all around the sector. I will contact you when it is time your move. That will distract Fett and weaken the economy both here and in surrounding areas, getting more of what you want, and more of what I want. We're ready to go, just give us the word." He said, and Cronal smiled from behind the holo.

"It will take us thirty six to forty hours to get to the Roche system. I trust you will be ready to move by then?" Cronal asked, and Rhal inclined his head.

"We'll be more than ready. We've been ready to go for ages. Remember dark sider, play me false and die." Rhal threatened, and Cronal narrowed his eyes at his impudence.

"I would say the same to you Rhal. Do not fail me." He sneered and cut the link.

The board was set. The way of the Dark would soon take over the Mandalorian sector, and Fett would struggle to fend off the Death Watch, which were a lot more numerous than he could ever suspect they would be. The civil war would then spread, igniting similar passions across the galaxy and straining the Alliance all the further, the foundations of which were already beginning to crumble. And with his other plan in place, a shadow empire, corrupting all it touched, spouting the way of the Dark, and serving the Dark, would become the way of things in the galaxy. But first, he had to ensure Fett didn't receive any help from his Verpine friends.

"Captain, set a course for the Roche system, and prepare all forces for battle." He ordered into the comm.

Attacking with a Star Destroyer would have an extra benefit. Along with causing all sorts of disruption for Alliance supply lines and military re-supply problems (which as things got worse, which he could feel coming with the rising power of the Dark), it would weaken Mandalore's position as Fett would be unable to help his allies and vice versa, meaning Fett would struggle against the coming wave of Death Watch attacks, especially when Rhal and his men acted in Keldabe. But the best benefit was the fact that by using an ISD, it would ignite tensions between the Alliance and the Empire, weakening both governments and further eroding Pellaeon's position. All would serve the will of the Dark.

Cronal smiled as his ship shot to lightspeed.

XX

Malinza smiled at her companion as he opened up the basket containing their picnic. She was the daughter of Gaeriel Captison and Pter Thanas, two players in the first Battle of Bakura, which had been one of their contacts between the civilised galaxy and the Ssi-Ruuk. Following the battle, Malinza's mother had married her father, but the two of them had been taken from her at far too young an age, with her father dying of Knowt's Disease when she was three, and her mother dying a few years later during the First Corellian Insurrection. Ever since then, she had been a passionate advocate for Bakuran independence from the galactic government, creating the Freedom Movement, which had been instrumental at forcing off the Ssi-Ruuk the last time they had invaded in the Vong War. Since then however, she had reduced her campaigns and grown into a beautiful young woman, with long black hair with crimson streaks running through it, and two mismatched eyes, one green and one grey. Becoming a rather prominent hero during the Vong War had given her access to the Bakuran Senate, just like her mother, and she had amassed quite a lot of support and she was in the running to become the new Prime Minister at the next election.

The man across from her was called Vyram, another former member of Freedom. The two of them had been close during the fight with the Ssi-Ruuk, and ever since then they had become closer. He was a handsome man, with long black bangs that fell into his bright green eyes. Since the war, he had gone on to revamping the defence computers, utilising his slicing skills in order to better improve Bakura's defences. Ever since the conclusion of the conflict, they had been seeing each other on and off, and this time the two of them were determined to make it work.

It was a beautiful day, the sun was bright in the sky as they tucked into their picnic. Malinza could barely see the reporters approaching, and she rolled her eyes. The press were a nuisance. So what, she and Vyram were dating. It was hardly news worthy.

"Just ignore them." He advised, squeezing her hand as he passed her some of the food packets he had brought.

"I just wish they'd go and do something useful, like, you know, expose corruption from the opposition or something." She said with a wicked smile and Vyram grinned.

"Not that you're seeking to use them for your own purposes." He said teasingly, and she smiled.

"Certainly not. You on the other hand..." she said, smiling alluringly, and she leaned forward to kiss him.

XX

The battleship Xikree, the mammoth flagship of Admiral Ivpikkis, was edging slowly towards Bakura. The defence fleet belonging to the planet, intended to protect the planet should the Ssi-Ruuk return, was floating in the space around the planet, leering at any freighter close enough to give them cause for concern. Ivpikkis tasted the air, feeling satisfied. Despite his reservations about working with the Vong witch, he had to admit he was enjoying the feeling of stalking his prey. Soon now, he would be the conqueror again. However, despite his eagerness he couldn't shake the feeling of trepidation from working with Vongerella.

"Prepare all warriors for battle. It is time we return to that which is rightfully ours." He said, his tongue fluttering as his task force moved in towards the planet.

XX

They broke apart and just as Vyram was about to say something, there was a massive explosion. Looking up to the sky, they saw the source of the noise, and Vyram seized her hand and pulled her under the cover of trees as fiery shards of debris fell from orbit.

"What the hell is going on? Did something collide on orbit?" she asked breathlessly as more debris rained down.

Vyram shook his head, and then his eyes widened in alarm.

"No...it's an invasion!"

Malinza looked up in panic, and saw what he had seen. Dozens, if not hundreds of assault ships were descending upon Bakura. The Ssi-Ruuk had returned to the planet.

The screams began as fires, caused by the fiery debris, began to spring up across the city. Vyram grabbed her hand and the two dashed through the trees, and emerged into a scene of chaos. Salis'Daar was in an uproar. Shuttles were landing left right and centre, disgorging dozens of red skinned Ssi-Ruuk warriors, clad in armour and wielding their paddle beamers, sending shots into the panicking people, cutting people down as they tried to flee from the invaders. Vyram led Malinza down an alleyway, wincing as a shot blew some shrapnel over their heads.

"Where are we going?" she asked as smoke billowed from a shattered window as they went past.

"We need to get you out of here." He said, his eyes filled with worry as he looked at her.

"The war ministry, they'll be trying to take the building. If we can get there..." she said, but he shook his head, wincing as a starfighter crashed down a street away, sending debris and flames up into the air. Howls and screams erupted through the city as the Ssi-Ruuk advanced through the capital, blaster bolts and paddle beamer strikes causing chaos.

"The war ministry has probably already been hit. All we can do is hope that the spaceport is still there so we can get you offplanet!" he said urgently, but she pulled back on his arm.

"Vyram, no! I am not running! We'll fight like we did last time!" she said fiercely.

Vyram looked into her eyes, and she saw the fear and panic that was in them, the desire to protect her...and the love he felt for her.

"Honey, this isn't like last time. The Ssi-Ruuk have ambushed us, and I'm willing to bet they have something nasty up their sleeve. We need to get you out of here, and I really don't want to imagine you getting enteched! Now come on!" he ordered, and reluctantly she followed him through the city streets, avoiding a brawl between Ssi-Ruuk warriors and outnumbered policemen who were trying to protect the civilians as they fled in all directions. One warrior saw the two of them and he leapt towards them his paddle beamer rising to fire at them...then a shot punctured the middle of his snout, as Malinza revealed a hold-out blaster that she had carried with her since the last invasion.

"Good shot." Vyram breathed as they continued to run.

"Thanks. Old habits die hard I suppose..." she murmured as they headed for the spaceport, joining several dozen terrified civilians as they rushed to the building that the hoped would be their salvation.

What was the state of Bakura? Had the other cities fallen? Was the fleet still intact? What was happening? And why were they back? Why attack now when everything was actually going well in the galaxy?

They entered into the spaceport, with Vyram cutting a path through the crowds, never letting go of Malinza as he pushed through. Malinza looked up and went pale, as she saw a squadron of Ssi-Ruuk ships descending from orbit, bound right for the spaceport.

"Vyram!" she yelled in panic.

Vyram saw the descending ships, and the last of the ships with an open ramp was about to raise its landing ramp and depart. With a jolt, he dragged her forward, making Malinza stumble and the next thing she knew she was flying through the air, into the arms of the passengers inside the ship.

Then she realised what he had done.

"Vyram, no!" she bellowed as the ramp closed and the ship shot spacewards.

As the freighter hurtled spacewards, she saw the Ssi-Ruuk battle fighters descend on the spaceport, and the next second, the entire building, along with whatever ships had remained, was consumed by a massive ball of fire.

"No..." she whispered, tears forming in her eyes as she realised that Vyram was gone.

Up in orbit, the situation was no better. Most of the defence force had been taken out in the initial stages of the ambush, so much so that only four ships remained, and they were trying their hardest to shepherd the civilian transports to safety while over a dozen Shree class cruisers fired at them from all directions. Barging her way to the bridge, and wiping her eyes as she did so, she entered the cockpit, and saw dozens of transports limping to the two remaining Bakuran Destroyers, old models that had seen service during the First Corellian Insurrection, the Pride of Selonia, a Lancer class frigate that had been gifted to Bakura following the end of the Vong War, and her father's old command, a Carrack Cruiser called the Dominant.

"Captain, can you get me through to the Dominant?" she asked, and the man shrugged and nodded, making the connection.

"Dominant, this is Senator Thanas. Are you the acting command ship?" she asked, wincing as another civilian ship was blown apart by a well placed round from an enemy cruiser.

"Yes Senator, we are. Do you have any suggestions? We tried to send a message to any Alliance forces in the area, but the Fluties took our long range comms out first. We're losing civilians, and we are also losing ground. We can't hold here."

Malinza fought down a fresh wave of grief as yet another transport detonated. Destroyed in a flash, just like Vyram. Steeling herself, she breathed out then spoke into the comm.

"Alright Commander. Set a course for the edge of the system. While we still live, we have a chance, but not here. Get us out of here, and we can strike back at a later date." She said, and she heard a click of acknowledgement.

All four of the Bakuran ships opened up with all of their weapons, making the fighters and cruisers break off their pursuit. A temporary solution, the civilian ships hustled into the centre of the quarter of military ships and with a last longing look at Bakura, Malinza sobbed as they made a break in the Fluties forces, and jumped to safety.

XX

Vyram winced as the shockwave of the explosion hit him and the ones who had run in the same direction as he had. Tumbling along the ground, he watched in satisfaction as Malinza's ship got out of the spaceport, as the main area was turned to slag by the Flutie bombers.

"That was a very brave thing you just did." A grizzled freighter pilot said as he helped him to his feet.

"Um, thanks." Vyram said as the other five men clustered around him, looking nervously over their shoulders as screams and flames continued to rise into the air.

"Well son, you seem to have a decent head on your shoulders, so what say you we get out of here before those damned lizards come back, and then we can see about what we're going to do next." The man said, and Vyram grinned as he pulled a vibrodagger out of his boot. Like Malinza, old habits died hard with him too.

"Good idea. Come on, I have an idea where we can find some friends. Follow me." He said with a predatory grin, and the group ran after him as they left the flaming ruins behind.

XX

Ivpikkis looked at his prize. Three dead Bakuran destroyers floated in space around his forces, and along with that were a couple more IPV Patrol Craft hulks too, and the hulk of the defence force's escort carrier, which they had taken out in the first stage of the battle. All had gone exactly as planned, and now, forty years later than intended, Bakura was finally his. He now ruled Bakura.

He still didn't trust that Vong Sith. But...this time the Ssi-Ruuk would triumph.

XX

Keldabe was quiet. And what was more, so was her grandfather. Ever since she had had to kill Aurra Sing, he had been in a strange mood. They were sitting in the Oyu'baat tapcafe, with Fett looking at his ale contemplatively. Her husband, Ghes, reckoned that the Mandalore was finally beginning to realise his age, and along with that, that he had few links to his past left. And there was also the stress of being Mandalore. While initially reluctant to do the job after the death of Fenn Shysa, he had stepped up recently, especially when a large deposit of beskar had been discovered. Revitalising the economy, he had entered into an agreement with the Verpine, and along with that had started to make the Mandalorians a defensive force again, not building enough ships to alarm the Alliance, but still, increasing their arms, so that perhaps, one day, if the situation demanded, they could again strike out at the galaxy.

"What's up Ba'buir?" she asked kindly, and he sighed, shaking his head. If there was a man who was impossible to reach, that man was Boba Fett.

"Nothing, Mirt'ika. Just feeling old." He said gruffly, then looked up as he saw Goran Beviin, who was by all accounts his second in command, enter the cafe.

Beviin sat down, pulled off his helmet and signalled for an ale. Mirta didn't know him as well as Fett did, but she could tell that the man had news for her grandfather, and that it wasn't good.

"Alright Beviin, don't draw it out, what's up?" Fett asked, sipping his ale.

"Rhal has disappeared." He said grimly.

Mirta had to suppress a smile. She was probably getting her hopes up, but the idea of Rhal lying in a ditch somewhere with a blaster hole through his head appealed to her greatly. Ah well, she could dream.

"He's probably just gone off somewhere." Fett said dismissively, not really concerned.

Although he knew Mirta, Ghes and Beviin hated Rhal with a passion, Fett actually didn't mind him. Yeah he was brutal and some would say evil, but despite that he was actually quite a good lieutenant and could be trusted to deal with various problems to do with law enforcement.

"Yeah well, disappearing deputies aside, we have worse problems." He said eerily, and leaned in close, Fett looking concerned as he and Mirta followed suit.

"There's rumours going around...that Death Watch is on the move."

Fett abruptly slammed his fist into the table, looking furious.

"Death Watch? They're meant to be extinct!" he hissed angrily, and Mirta could feel his anger coming from him. His father, Jango, had made it his mission to hunt down the Death Watch after their leader, Viszla, had murdered his mentor Jaster Mereel. And aside from a small splinter group that had challenged that naive preachy optimist Satine in the Clone Wars, and a few nutters just after the rise of the Empire, the galaxy had been mercifully free of them. Until now it seemed.

"Nothing is concrete yet, but people have been seen bearing their emblem, and there are reports dotted around the planet and the sector that they've come back. Problem is, they're all isolated so there's no telling whether or not it's true." Beviin reported, looking wary.

Fett pondered. The Death Watch returning would certainly be a challenge, and maybe take his mind off things...but there was the fact that he was actually a head of state, which meant if he went after them, or they came after him, it would risk civil war. And that was the last thing he wanted, with things looking a bit odd in the wider galaxy, he wanted the Mandalorians free to go at a second's notice.

"Alright. Begin going round everyone, people we trust, saying they might be back. I saw what happened to the Republic and I don't want that happening here. And...sound out a few extra weapons for us. If the Death Watch are back, they're going to want a war. And if that's the case, then I'll give 'em one."

XX

Tavira smirked. Lumiya could believe what she wanted about Valek's loyalties. However, Tavira knew full well that they now lay solely with her. It was really quite amazing how easy she had been able to get her way with him. While Valek kept up the pretence that he still loyally served Lumiya, he now truly served Tavira and her ambitions, which were manifold. Getting out from under the yoke of the Sith was one, then returning the Invids to power was a second one, and then go on from there.

Back in the Corporate Sector, she had gathered the support of a small but lethal pirate group, which would be the start of a new gang of Invids. But, she still needed to get back the Invidious and that meant she still had to serve Lumiya, as distasteful as that was. But, she supposed the Sith witch had repaired her precious Star Destroyer, so she supposed she did owe it to her to at least help with her plan. But the day was inevitably coming when she would turn on her Sith master...and for that she would need support.

And to that end, she had had her new band set up contacts and follow up on leads until she had what she desired...the contact with the new pirate leader, Collonzas.

The holo shimmered to life, revealing the burly leader of the pirates who against all odds had unified the pirate groups, something that hadn't been done on such a scale since the Stark Hyperspace War.

"Ah, Tavira, isn't it?" he asked, his eyebrow cocked in interest as he observed her from the command chair of his destroyer.

"Yes. I am calling with a proposition. You are unifying the various pirate groups. A noble idea. You also need heavy firepower in order to get the Alliance to take you seriously. I can help you there." She said, smiling slightly.

Collonzas snorted.

"Last I heard Tavira, you had an Alliance task force and a member of the Jedi Council chasing you. I don't need that sort of heat." He said dismissively, raising his hand to deactivate the transmission.

"The heat is gone. And what's more, my Star Destroyer is back to full strength and I have just recruited a small but vicious band to my own cause. All yours, if you help me with a certain...problem." she said elusively, and he leaned forward, his eyes belying his interest. After all, a Star Destroyer was always useful. And when the time was right, she would dispose of him and Lumiya, and take his band for herself, and the Invids would truly be a group to be feared.

"I'm listening." Collonzas conceded, and her violet eyes flashed maliciously.

XX

Collonzas snorted. The irony of it amused him. Here Tavira was, one of Lumiya's agents, and here she was, selling out a woman who could crush Tavira like the bug she is, out to someone who also happened to be one of her agents and a prospective apprentice to boot. No wonder what the galaxy perceived as the bad guys rarely ever won.

Collonzas pondered. It was clear that Tavira had succeeded in seducing Valek to her cause, which would annoy his mistress endlessly. However, he could always use her task force, from what she had outlined it could be quite useful in the coming events. As such, he would use Tavira. And then, at his mistress no doubt intended, dispose of her. Sending a brief report to Lumiya about Tavira's double-cross, he settled himself in and started looking at datapads that contained information: information that would lead to his coalition's first major strike as a whole.

XX

Lumiya harrumphed. So Tavira, as expected, had double crossed her. While that was expected, the turning of Valek was not. However, she supposed that the poor old boy had probably been flattered by the attention. Men.

While Lumiya fumed silently behind him, Han dropped the ship out of hyperspace in the Deep Core, to observe the murky black world that was Prakith.

"Here we are, yet another slice of galactic paradise." He said sarcastically, as K'kruhk, who was sitting beside him in the co-pilot's seat, chuckled.

"I won't have it said that we don't take you to interesting places." He said in amusement and Han grinned.

Lumiya looked out at the world as the ship descended through its murky atmosphere. While it was inhabited, the population centres were mainly centred around the large plateaus that made up the belt of the world. The rest of it was covered with mountainous terrain, which had made it an ideal location for the Emperor to base the Inquisitorious, his secret intelligence finding agents. The dark side pall on the world also made it an ideal location for such servants of the Emperor. The dark side pall itself stemmed from Andeddu's Keep, a dark side fortress in the north pole of the planet, where, the histories told, the Sith Lord Darth Andeddu had fled, fearing assassination by his numerous opponents. And that was the location they now sought.

"You reckon there's anything of importance down there?" Luke asked as he came into the cockpit, peering down at the dark world.

"Well Andeddu apparently locked himself up with all his knowledge before he died. A Sith does not share their knowledge or their power, even if they are on their death bed. So, it is my belief that there should be a considerable repository of dark side lore down in his fortress that we can look at, and if there is anything, it wont bring with it the inherent risk of enticing your precious nephew, niece or son because they can't talk to them, all you'll have to do is read them." Lumiya elaborated, and Han turned in his seat to look at her, giving her a smug glance.

"You mean that even when they're on death's door, the Sith are still spiteful bastards?" he asked, and she smiled beneath her veil.

"Quite."

"Alright. I'll tell the others that we're landing." Luke said, turning to leave.

"Oh, I won't be joining you on the surface." Lumiya announced and Luke looked at her suspiciously, his eyebrow raised and his aura untrusting.

"You aren't going to go out and explore a Sith world? You, the Dark Lord of the Sith?" he asked sceptically, and she shook her head.

"No. I find it difficult to centre myself here, so I shall remain here in meditation with Han. Oh, and take the lunatic with you. I don't want her messing up my meditation." She said, and with one last suspicious look, Luke vanished to talk to the others. Han gave her an odd look then turned back to landing the ship. Lumiya smiled beneath her veil. She actually did need some peace, so she could send off a few messages and get a little bit of a break from minding Alema, who by the sounds of things was whacking the walls with a hammer she had found and ranting about nexu pups or some such rubbish. And after all, Prakith was a dark side world. Smiling maliciously, she centred herself and pondered exactly what this unsavoury world could bring out of her companions.

Once more sinister schemes are afoot. What is Lumiya up to now? What is Collonzas up to? And Tavira has her own agenda, small wonder Lumiya trusts no one.

And the Sssi Ruuk have returned, that can only mean more trouble for the Alliance.

And what plan has Cronal cooked up, what is he up to?

Time will tell! And thank you to SiouxFan for reviewing, you made my day!