Fate of the Force

by lordtrayus

The death of Jacen Solo and the last war was a disaster. A new force has undone what happened in LotF and given the galaxy a fighting chance against a great evil. By doing so however, the galaxy becomes even more perilous than it was before as the rising power of the dark side and the Sith threatens to snuff out the light of the Jedi, and of the galaxy once and for all...AU

13. Episode II: Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars

Fate of the Force

Within the Maw, her power grew. She could feel it. All these years, she had been trapped here. Then, the blissful release had come a few years ago, and she knew the Centerpoint lock must have been destroyed, allowing her to start trying to break out of her prison. And now, she had Sinkhole Station within her grasp. She could feel them, those that worshipped her and the shadows but dared not come closer, the Mind Walkers, up there. She would soon have them. After all, she had foreseen that she would have guests very soon. While that was good in some ways, in some ways it wasn't. She knew these guests didn't seek to help her, free her, comfort her, not like the young ones she had influenced across the galaxy. After all, her influence was spreading, not just to ones who had been near her sanctum, but to those that touched the dark side too, and it pleased her, feeling so many minds out there for her to control. And, then there was the fire headed boy, and she had a fondness for him, just like the bright blue man, and the young grey one. But the fire head, he was most special.

However, he was with the coming guests, and they didn't want to help her. They wanted to harm her. However she had seen trials in their way. But it was always best to be sure.

As such, she gathered her strength and ploughed on, slamming against the invisible walls that kept her prisoner here within the Maw.

XX

The badly listing Mon Calamari Heavy Carrier Blue Diver dropped out of lightspeed in the Roche system. The Heavy Carrier was a much larger version of the MC80 cruisers that had made up the bulk of the fleet of Endor, though the wings were now cavernous hangars, capable of carrying five squadrons a piece, and rather being mid ship now gave the front a Star Destroyer like appearance, like an arrow head. Created to serve as both a destroyer and as an escort carrier, the Blue Diver was one of five such ships that now littered the fleet of the Galactic Alliance.

On the bridge of the ship, the Duros Admiral Tarla Limpan looked at the readouts from the skirmish they had just gotten themselves caught up in. Assigned by Admiral Niathal to patrol the area in and around the Hydian Way, stretching from the border of Remnant space to the border of Mandalorian space, the Third Fleet was up to the challenge. However, it was a wide area to cover indeed, and the fleet was stretched incredibly thinly over the area.

However, a few hours ago, they had struck gold. As Master Skywalker had indicated, a Vong ship had turned up in the area. The problem was, it wasn't alone. A miid ro'ik cruiser was in and of itself bad enough. However, when it was flanked by a matalok and a gunship, tensions started to boil. Limpan had brought her cruiser in, firing warning shots, forcing the cruiser and the matalok into retreat. As they fled to deep space however, the gunship had gone on a suicide run, its molten cannons pelting magma at them as it went. Thanks to the actions of Darkshine Squadron, her resident E-Wing squadron, the gunship had been brought down after only causing a little bit of shield damage, its husk burnt out and floating in space. Just when they had been about to contact Admiral Niathal however, they had been ambushed. An old Saboath Squadron Destroyer had dropped out of nowhere, flanked by two Imperial II frigates. The attack had caught them completely by surprise, losing the cruiser an entire squadron of B-Wings and shredding apart a flight of Darkshine Squadron. Going to evasive action, Limpan had ordered the carrier to come about, just as the destroyer scored a lucky shot, puncturing the shields. Following the battle data of their command ship, the two frigates had also laid into her flagship, destroying the inertial dampeners and the gravity control matrix, sending the ship on a massive tilt, making it cruise lopsided. They had also caused significant damage to the structure of the starboard flank, taking out the communications relay in the process, and as soon as she had recovered her fighters, she had ordered a retreat, preventing any more damage to her cruiser, and had set them for friendly space.

The ship lumbered onward, and as they did so, the bridge was virtually silent, with only Admiral Limpan and her second in command, a young eager man called Baradis, talking.

"Any theories Admiral?" he asked the Duros, who nodded grimly.

"A few Captain. Well, at least on the Vong force we encountered." She said, and he leaned in close to hear her better.

"Well?" he asked, his eyes creased with worry, and Limpan couldn't blame him. His homeworld of Artorias had been one of the first to fall during the Vong War.

"Well, I matched the data that Master Skywalker sent Admiral Niathal about his encounter with a Vong destroyer, and surprise surprise, they didn't match. We've encountered two separate ships. And, on top of that, we also assumed we had taken down most of the mataloks in the latter stages of the Vong War. So, to me, that suggests that whoever is behind this group is either too small just to be one small pocket of resistance and is either a larger group made up of smaller groups, or, whoever is behind this rising Vong threat has been planning this for a while and is just now moving with stockpiled forces, either that or they've been busy since we first got wind of them." She said in a low voice, not wanting to alarm her bridge crew anymore than they were already.

"Great. Really great. And the bandits?" he asked, and his face fell, he had lost a friend in the squadron they had lost.

Limpan frowned as she leaned back in her seat, her eyes on the viewscreen.

"I believe they could be the result of Admiral Niathal's mission to wipe out the pirates. According to the information we have in the onboard databases, the destroyer that attacked us, while old, was called the Governor, which has been reported to be the flagship of the newly unified pirate group Wraith Squadron alerted us about. So by my reckoning, either they were there to find us and got lucky..."

"Or they were there for the same reason we were and wanted to help out a potential ally. According to Director Kalenda's reports, many of the pirates have former members of the Peace Brigade in them." Baradis finished, looking sour.

"Exactly." Limpan said grimly, leaning back in her seat.

She needed to talk to Admiral Niathal. Something was wrong out here, and they needed to report their findings, on both the Vong and the pirates.

"Admiral, we're receiving a pulse transmission from Nickel One!" her comm officer called.

"What does it read lieutenant?"

"The hive mother welcomes us to Roche, and is sending an escort squadron to flank us in. She also asks that we be patient, they have a rather large order of B-Wings to build for the Tenth fleet." He reported, and she nodded, and gave him a dour smile.

"Thank her for her hospitality, and ask if she would be so kind as to donate a squadron to us." She said wryly.

"Admiral, I'm picking up a large ship coming out of hyperspace." Her sensor officer, a Gand, reported.

And just as he finished saying so, a fully armed Imperial Star Destroyer dropped out of hyperspace and opened fire on the Roche asteroids, the ships within, and on the Blue Diver.

XX

Cronal, from his mechno-chair in his darkened quarters, smiled. His plan was on the move. This attack would heighten tensions between the Alliance and Empire, weaken Fett's hold on power and weaken his Mandalorian faction for Rhal, and to top it off it would also have ramifications for Alliance supply lines. His young face smiled, reaching his old eyes as turbolaser blasts pounded into the Roche asteroid field, destroying hangars full of B-Wing fighters before the hive mother even thought of scrambling them. The ship forges were the first hit by the weapons of the Singularity, breaking apart as the Star Destroyer closed in towards the middle of the belt. However, Cronal had spotted something that wasn't meant to be there, an Alliance warship. Checking the telemetry on it, he nodded in grim satisfaction. The flagship of the Third Fleet. Destroying that would be quite the coup.

"Focus fire power on the Alliance cruiser." He ordered into his comm, and settled back to watch the fireworks.

XX

Limpan swore as the Star Destroyer opened fire, hitting the ship forge where the new B-Wing squadrons bound for the Tenth fleet were being stored. Cursing, she had the cruiser come about and scrambled her fighters, the ships turbolaser fire beginning to fill the space between the Blue Diver and the unmarked vessel.

"Any identification on it yet?" she asked, her hands tightly clasped behind her back as she watched the ISD deploy its bombers and interceptors, which her own fighters rushed to intercept.

"None Admiral, it's bizarre, it just isn't in our systems!" the sensor officer called, and Baradis frowned, checking the date with the officer.

"He's right Admiral, it's like this is a brand new ship straight off the assembly line. No encryption because they actually aren't flying any colours. We don't know what ship this is." He said, and Limpan turned to the two of them, her red eyes narrowed in irritation.

"We must have some idea, the ship is probably as old as I am! As such, it should be in the database, unless Admiral Pellaeon is hiding something from us." She said with a growl, and the sensor officer busied himself trying to find it once more.

The fighters collided in the space between the two cruisers, and Limpan knew that, even down a squadron, they should have little trouble with this dogfight. Her own ships outnumbered the TIEs three to two, and from the looks of the enemy performance, the fighters weren't accustomed to dogfights against the latest Alliance materiel. However, there was still the Star Destroyer to account for. A fully armed and operational Imperial class Star Destroyer, while it may be nearly half a century old, the ship was by no means fit for the scrapheap. In fact, despite its age, it was probably in better shakes than her own vessel right now. Ordinarily, she wouldn't hesitate, but with the Blue Diver already damaged, she didn't want to risk taking her vessel into a full fledged brawl with a lethal ISD.

"Bring us about and expose our top to the Star Destroy. Crank up all long range turbolasers and begin to open fire." Limpan ordered.

"Admiral, Nickel One has released a wing of B-Wings to aid us, and they report that other fighters are being scrambled from other asteroids. Also, four V-Wing transports are on their way, each giving us a half squadron, and a group of Gatherer class transports are on their way from the edge of the system." Her comm officer reported, and she nodded.

However, while the reinforcements would be most welcome, there was still the fact that the ISD, which was still unnamed and untraced, had caused quite a lot of damage, and had vented a large part of Nickel One itself to space. Verpine shuttles trying to approach the ISD had been shot down, and ship forges had either been heavily damaged or destroyed, as the fires coming from many asteroids could attest. If she could only risk taking her cruiser in a little closer...

"Admiral, the Destroyer is coming right for us!" Baradis called urgently, and Limpan saw that the massive cruiser was bearing down on them, its weapons blazing as it approached.

"Alright, take evasive action! We need to hold it off until the Verpine forces arrive." Limpan ordered, not seeing any problem with that goal.

That was until her sensor officer piped up.

"Admiral, another ship is leaving hyperspace. It's another ISD." The Gand said grimly, and Limpan's mouth went thin as the new Star Destroyer leapt from hyperspace and to her great dismay, began discharging TIE Defenders.

XX

General Wethen grimaced as he saw what Cronal's ship was doing. The Roche asteroids were aflame, and there was an Alliance cruiser bearing down on Cronal. Which they couldn't have.

"Alert Colonel Vessery that he isn't to engage the Alliance forces. Guns, give them covering fire while they deal with the last of Cronal's fighters." He ordered, and smiled as the Behemoth opened fire, green turbolaser blasts scattering the Alliance forces.

What was the old mad man up to? Clearly the fact that he must be close to death was affecting his sanity if he thought this attack would gain him anything, it was affecting his mind.

The Singularity began to turn away from the Blue Diver, turning to face its cannons on this new, unknown threat.

"Ion cannons, fire at will on the Singularity, and we will have our prize!" Wethen ordered, and blue beams of energy lanced from his ship, slamming into the ISD.

From behind Cronal's ship, the Alliance commander clearly had the same idea. Now, it would be a race to see which faction would get their hand on Cronal's ship. And Wethen was determined that it wouldn't be the Alliance.

"Sir, Colonel Vessery reports that Cronal's fighters are done for and is requesting orders. No casualties reported!" his Rodian officer called, and Wethen smiled. Vessery's expertise had once more paid off.

"Excellent. Recall all fighters, and activate the hyperspace tug. The Alliance is not stealing my new Star Destroyer." Wethen said, and the Rodian nodded eagerly.

XX

Limpan had been worried when the other ISD had arrived, even more so when it had churned out Defenders of all things, and it was clear from their style that they would even give Rogue Squadron a run for their money, much to her discomfort.

However, her trepidation had changed to shock as the new ISD had opened fire on their nameless foe, which had ceased its attack on the asteroids and was now fighting off two cruisers and was badly outgunned.

"Admiral, Verpine forces ETA one minute!"

"Admiral, we have a reading on the newcomer, but it can't be right." Her encryption officer said, his green Zelosian eyes narrowed at the screen.

"How can't they be?"

"Because according to this, that ship is the Devastator, Darth Vader's former flagship, and it was destroyed at the Battle of Endor." The Zelosian said, and she looked at him in disbelief.

"Admiral, the original Destroyer is dead in space!" her Gand sensor officer reported.

"Ready tractor beams, I want to know who this guy is and I want to know now." She said grimly.

XX

Cronal cursed, slamming his hand into his mechno chairs arm rest. How could this be going so well then turn out so badly? And, as his ship went dark around him, he grimaced. If either side found the prisoner in the hold, or the two in solitary confinement...

"No!" he roared into the darkness.

XX

"General, we have the tug in place, and as soon as we come about we will be able to jump to lightspeed" Wethen's Rodian crewman reported, and Wethen smiled. Lumiya would be delighted.

"General, the Verpine have scrambled a response and the Alliance cruiser doesn't seem to want to let us get away." Another crewman called, and Wethen grinned tightly.

He knew that ordinarily the Blue Diver would be more than a match for the Behemoth, more than a match for both ISDs actually. However, the ship had clearly sustained damage, and that was their one saving grace, as the opposing commander didn't seem to want to bring their ship into full out battle. However, there were still nine or so squadrons flying towards his flagship, and the swarm of Verpine ships was en route. They had outstayed their welcome.

"General, we are ready for the jump to lightspeed!"

"Engage."

And with a lurch, the Behemoth blasted forward, dragging the deactivated Singularity behind it as it escaped.

XX

The holo was good quality, a testament to the grateful Verpine's repair skills. However, the quality of the holo did nothing to haze the look on the face of the ruling triumvirate of the Galactic Alliance. Chief Ak'la, Admiral Niathal and Director Belindi Kalenda had been contacted by Admiral Limpan as soon as they had gotten the Blue Diver docked. And it was clear from their expressions that they weren't happy, weren't happy at all.

"You're certain of this Tarla?" Niathal asked grimly, her wide eyes narrowed at her Duros friend.

"Yes Cha. Vong forces, and then your pirate friends both within minutes of each other. I've sent you our battle data. I suspect that we either missed a rather large Vong enclave, or else they've been building while we've had our backs turned. And your pirate leader, Collonzas I think you called him, well he was definitely at the skirmish we had with the pirates. They got lucky in their encounter, so we withdrew to Roche."

"Where you were attacked by an unknown ISD." Kalenda reiterated.

Having more than proved herself during the First Corellian Insurrection, she had risen through the ranks during the Vong War and had eventually replaced Dif Scaur and was now the head of Intelligence, responsible for analysing and evaluating any and all threats to the Alliance. And two unmarked ISDs attacking one of their member worlds is certainly a threat.

"We've tried everything we can think of, and they definitely aren't on any of our databases. Have you had any luck Madam Director?" Limpan asked, and Kalenda shook her head, her eyes closed as she did so.

"None. We've analysed the data you sent us, and we have to agree with you. The ships appear to be brand new."

"But as they're older than we are, how the devil can they be?" Releqy demanded, slamming her fist on her desk.

"My point exactly. Not wanting to sound alarmist, but could it not be a sign of oncoming Imperial aggression?" Limpan asked worriedly, and Kalenda neither nodded nor shook her head.

"Possibly. But why use such old ships, why not use new ones, if it is the Empire?" she asked, and Niathal smiled grimly.

"Simple. Using new ships would betray them. Old ones could virtually be anyone, and I believe we're jumping to conclusions by even contemplating this." She said, and Kalenda nodded respectfully to her military counterpart.

Releqy got up, clasped her hands behind her back and gazed out of the wide window, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Perhaps. And while I am inclined to agree with Admiral Niathal, there is the point that Admiral Pellaeon is having trouble controlling the Moffs. They are getting restless, their ambition is running unchecked. They sense he is getting on in years, as such the throne of the Empire will soon be up for grabs. For any Moff, it is still a tempting prize, and if they through whatever means manage to expand the holdings of the Empire, they will be set up for the big job when Pellaeon retires for good."

"They wish to expand the Empire?" Limpan asked, and Releqy nodded slightly.

"Yes. And Moff Lecersen is making a nuisance of himself, he wants Bilbringi back for the Empire. And unfortunately, I am having trouble finding a way to keep it from the overambitious murglak." She said tartly, and they all exchanged dire looks.

An Empire under Pellaeon they could trust and get on with. If Lecersen got the top job, a Moff who made it clear that he hated all the Alliance stood for, well it could quickly become a serious situation.

"Wonderful." Niathal said grimly.

"I shall ask Pellaeon about these Star Destroyers, see if he can't turn anything up. Anyway Admiral Limpan, what of the Verpine?" Releqy asked, and Limpan frowned.

"Well they are a strange bunch, but it's clear that they're furious. The attack was unprovoked, they did it to cause trouble. And on top of that, the hive mother is going ballistic. Fett was apparently contacted after the first salvo, and his envoy came into the system and turned around again, didn't even offer to help, they just scarpered."

Kalenda groaned. While it did make sense for the Mandos to have fled, perhaps fearing Alliance interference, it would only serve to upset the delicate treaty Fett had negotiated with the Verpine, which could cause a whole heap of problems on its own.

"Great. Doesn't that thug possess any political acumen?" she sneered, and Limpan shrugged.

"You can hardly blame them. Besides, they only sent one of those assault things they made, they couldn't do much anyway. However, there still begs the question, what do we do about the Vong and the pirates?"

Releqy turned to Niathal, her eyes cold, and Niathal could feel a royal chewing out coming her way very soon. Best dismiss Limpan quickly before that happened then.

"Keep monitoring them. If the fleet encounters any more of either group, alert me immediately. You will have Director Kalenda's help in this." She said, to an affirming nod from Kalenda.

"Very well. May the Force be with us." Limpan said, saluting before her holo flickered out.

Niathal and Kalenda exchanged a look of foreboding, before they turned to Releqy. Being a Caamasi, the vast majority of the galaxy believed her to be a nice, friendly cheerful woman who would do what was right and would never condone a course of action that led to bloodshed. And by and large that was true. However, being the Supreme Commander of the Fleet and having masses of pirates causing havoc up and down the galaxy, Niathal would do anything she could to ensure their culling, and by and large the plan had worked, and while she knew of it, provided it didn't cause too much harm to the innocent, she would by and large let them get on with it. However, when a plan went pear shaped and endangered the people she had sworn an oath to protect as Chief of State, then Releqy would quickly show that she would not be crossed by anyone.

"So." She said coldly.

Niathal and Kalenda winced at each other knowing what was coming.

"Your oh so clever plan seems to have backfired a little bit, don't you think?" she hissed as she sat down at her desk, glowering at them.

"With all due respect Chief Ak'la the intention was to unite the pirates against the Alliance, so that once they had formed a coalition we could crush it and severely impede piracy for decades to come, make it serve as an object lesson." Kalenda explained.

"Which the plan did achieve. The problem is, we just haven't been able to figure out how to stop them causing havoc yet. We need the Wraiths for that." Niathal said winningly, trying to make her friend see the pros rather than the cons.

"Be that as it may Admiral, there is still the fact that the pirates are now emboldened, emboldened enough that they feel cocky enough to launch an attack on one of the flagships of the fleet!" Releqy raged, slamming her first into the table.

"We expected a few teething problems. And while the losses are regrettable Chief, the damage was not so catastrophic that we should abandon the plan." Niathal pointed out, and her opposite glowered.

"Yes but with all due respect the plan was agreed to, underhanded and potentially dangerous as it might be, before the arrival of this Vong threat." She said tiredly, heaved a sigh and leaned back in her chair looking drawn out.

"We will stop the Vong before they get a good hold Chief Ak'la. I already have people working on it." Kalenda soothed, but Releqy still looked worried.

"I don't know. Forgive me for saying so but I have a bad feeling about all this. Right, time to divide and conquer. Cha, see what you can do about the Vong and the pirates, see if you can head them off, knock them on the head, I don't care. Belindi, see what you can get from the intel about Roche, the slavery problem, the Mandalorians treaty with the Verpine, the Vong threat and the two rogue Star Destroyers. Meanwhile, I'll get on the blower to Pellaeon see if he can find out anything of use at his end. And will someone at least find some clue as to what Master Skywalker is up to and what the hell he's doing out in the big wide galaxy?" she asked irritably, and with that the other two considered themselves dismissed.

XX

Wethen looked at the report in surprise. Following the defeat of the Singularity at Roche, they had headed straight for Bimmiel, surrounding the inactive ISD with Lumiya's fleet and many of Nazarn's remaining ships. The Royal Guardsmen, most of them given elementary training in the Force by Lumiya, had then entered the ship, on their guard and carrying ysalamiri which Lumiya used to teach them to rely on their other senses. An hour later, they had reported back with some very surprising information.

The first piece was absolutely baffling. Three prisoners had been found within the cells of the Destroyer. While two were fairly on in their years, the other was in their mid twenties. At least their physical body was. The captured Blackhole stormtroopers, stripped of Cronal's mind control, reported to their interrogators that the younger prisoner had been subject to an experiment by Cronal, and it had worked. The man, whose body was beginning to fail him, had been captured by Cronal's agents and taken to a dark lab, and when he next awoke, he was in a new body. And now he was pure unbridled rage and anger, bottled up in human form, a beast of a man waiting to be freed and let loose on his enemies.

However, he was not the only interesting thing on the destroyer.

Cronal himself was impounded in his quarters, kept in place by the Royal Guard and by the ysalamiri. However it appeared that he too was not what he seemed. After all, Cronal should be an aged, withered old man by now. Instead, he was a man in his mid forties, but his body was once more getting ravaged by the power of the dark side.

And there were two other prisoners locked within the vaults of the Destroyer. A relic of the Galactic Civil War, their creation had been ordered by Grand Admiral Thrawn prior to his death. The only two survivors of an entire experiment that had been crushed by one lone Jedi, these clones were heartless, merciless and totally and utterly insane.

XX

In her quarters in the Jedi Temple, Tresina smiled as she saw the news coming from her homeworld of Vinsoth. Madhi Vaandt had once again been first on the scene, and this time the Chevs had been freed from the oppression of the Chevin, which was an unprecedented move indeed.

"...Celebration here on the streets of Vinsoth as the Chevs no longer have to serve the Chevin as retainers and have been given full citizenship rights. Coupled with this news is the intention of the Alliance, the Hapes Consortium and the Imperial Remnant to begin a trade embargo of Hutt space to try and pressure them into at the very least giving their slaves more freedoms and at the most abolishing it all together. And Alliance Intelligence has reported that the Klatoonians are protesting the Hutt damage to the Fountain of the Ancients, with an envoy for the Alliance heading to that sector next week. The anti-slavery movement has even garnered attention in the Senate, with Senator Rockbender of Tatooine endorsing the action and rallying votes to vote for an official end to slavery after a blind eye has been turned for so long. Also endorsing this move is Senator Luew of Sullust, and the news has spread to Queen Mother Tenel Ka and Imperial Moff Sarreti who have spoken in favour of the campaign to free the slaves of the galaxy. Also of note is the group Freedom Flight which has numerous supporters across the galaxy, some of which in the very heart of our government. This is Madhi Vaandt, bringing you joyful news of liberation yet another world!"

Tresina smiled, and turned to look at her holocomm and smiled as the elderly visage of Ackmena appeared before her.

"I thought I would call first and congratulate you. Your world is free." Ackmena smiled, favouring the Jedi with a kindly smile.

"After so long it's incredible... but I owe it to Freedom Flight. Vinsoth wouldn't be free without them." She said with a smile, and Ackmena gave her a swift, calculating look, which made Tresina smile more.

"I did some digging. I was actually trying to find out who your other Jedi member is but the information I came across is much more interesting. Dream Followers was actually a Freedom Flight front, and the port master was an agent of the group." Tresina said and Ackmena hissed in annoyance.

"Show off. How did you find that out? If it got out..."

"Don't worry Ackmena, I found out because I joined little bits of info together, some of it not open to the public. Your secret is safe with me. And by the way, who is the other Jedi member?" Tresina asked curiously, but the old woman smiled.

"Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies my darling." She said mysteriously, and Tresina scowled, with no real force behind it.

"And your government contacts that Madhi just released? Did you approve her doing that?" she asked, and Ackmena nodded.

"Yes, making more and more people think that we're a group to be reckoned with. I'll tell you this much: she mentioned one by name, one in passing and another member is indeed in the very heart. And if it is any help to you, its not one of the big three." Ackmena said and with a dry chuckle she vanished.

Tresina laughed. Ackmena was a fine leader for Freedom Flight. When the group had first been started eight years ago, helped along by the mounting tension with Corellia where it was easy to make a lot of money very quickly, she had never dreamed it would become so large. But now, reporters, two Jedi, Senators, freedom fighters and someone in the heart of the government had all put their weight behind it. It was good to know that no matter how dark the future looked on a whole and during Jedi meditations, it certainly looked good for the slaves.

XX

The Star Destroyer Right to Rule moved slowly through space, headed towards the devastated remnants of what was once a Lucrehulk cruiser. Massive holes had been drilled into it, the large spherical centre looked more like a pockmarked asteroid than a cruiser, and the hyperdrive ring had been chewed up by turbolasers and cannons. And down on the planet, there was a settlement that hadn't fared much better. According to the reports, the weapons of the attackers had created a massive trench around the town, allowing them to land and capture the terrified populace while they burned the village to the ground.

On the bridge of the Star Destroyer, Admiral Natasi Daala narrowed her laser like eyes. This was the third world that had encountered this fate, and it had only started after the Alliance had defended Orvax and blockaded T'Surr. The worlds in the furthest reaches of the Tingel and Divis arms were far too far away from the centre of the galaxy. As such, in conflicts such as the Vong War they were often too insignificant to warrant any action on the part of the main powers. And that was where she had come in.

Following her last confrontation with Garm Bel Iblis and her harrowing escape on the Scylla she had rallied what remained of her loyal supporters and fled to the arms of the galaxy, far away from the New Republic and from what had remained of the Empire that she had served. Once there, she had pledged herself to protecting the small worlds that the galaxy at large didn't seem to care about. Creating a sizeable fleet, she had defended the small worlds against pirates, Hutts and the Vong, and her fleet had grown to a good size over the years. Now however, something was threatening the worlds under her command, pillaging the people she had sworn to protect.

"This attack follows the pattern of the last two. They come out of lightspeed, blowing up whatever is in orbit, bombard the planet, trapping the populace and then they invade, kidnap whoever stands still long enough then high tail it out of here." Her son told her and she sneered.

"So whoever this lot are, they're cowards. How many of our ships have we lost?" Daala asked, her voice constricting in anger.

"Two so far. That Lucrehulk and an Assassin Corvette." He told her and she curled her hand into a fist.

"Send out a call to all our ships within the Tingel Arm. If they encounter the ones doing this, they are to retreat and come and inform me immediately." She said, her voice brittle, and he headed off to carry out her orders.

Daala didn't like this. They were missing something. These raids were dangerous, deadly. And she needed to stop them, and quickly. And preferably before the unseen plan that was going on bit them on the behind.

XX

The sky was dull and cloudy, with a hint of a storm in the air. Tahiri wrinkled her nose as she and Tekli left the temple for some much needed recreational shopping. Ever since the younger Jedi had started going mad, the two of them had been helping Cilghal try and sort them out, to no avail. While the Jedi Master took a break, as along with trying to find out what was wrong with the younger Knights of the Order, she also had her council duties to deal with, which with Master Skywalker still absent were becoming more and more numerous. And frankly, it was a relief to get out of the temple. The strength and speed of the rising dark side in the galaxy had most of the Order rattled, the masters included. Combining that with the rumours of a new Vong threat, a unified pirate threat, escaped slavers, the Chiss and Hutts still being awkward and an Imperial ambush with no explanation behind it, the atmosphere was tense and worried.

"I just don't understand how the dark side is rising so quickly, what the hell is going on out there?" Tekli asked as she sipped a milkshake.

Tahiri shook her head despairingly.

"I don't know, and with Master Skywalker gone the cracks are already showing up in the Council. And with the Battle of Roche, people are jumping at shadows, it's making me edgy." Tahiri cursed, eating her way through a chocolate bar.

"I know, I've never seen Master Cilghal so stressed. What do you think...?" she began, but then stopped, her wide mouse like ears twitching.

"Tekli?" Tahiri asked, swallowing the last of her chocolate.

"All is not well around here." She said worriedly, and Tahiri scanned the crowd.

And of course as always there was the public and their opinions to worry about. Furious at Chief Ak'la tricking her way into the Battle of Orvax, several protests this week had already gotten violent, and what with a new economics bill coming in that was going to hit the wealthiest of society hardest it was only going to get worse.

"Shall we check it out then?" Tahiri asked, nipping into a nearby shop and asking the proprietor to keep an eye on their stuff.

They dashed around to where Tekli was picking up the signals from, and as they ran towards it, Tahiri's own sense of unease was beginning to settle in. When the smell of smoke started wafting their way, her sense of foreboding increased, and her hand fell to her lightsaber. Dashing down the next street, Tahiri blanched.

Fire speeders were high in the air, their water cannons shooting down at the massive columns of flame that were emitting from two towers. And in the courtyard before them, police were valiantly trying to keep hordes of angry people at bay, all of whom were yelling and shouting, smashing bottles and throwing things through the air.

"What the hell?" Tahiri demanded, as a bottle whizzed through the air and smashed on impact with the wall beside them.

"Down with Power-Mad Ak'la!"

"No to women in power!"

"Exterminate the Vong!"

"Stop the piracy!"

"It's our money, not theirs!"

"People for peace!"

"Free the slaves!"

The chants were many and varied, and Tekli scanned the crowd. It seemed as if Unity Plaza had been the site of a series of individual protests, which were now all arming as one. As the noise buffeted her sensitive ears, she looked around to see a policeman running towards them his blaster raised.

"Move along Jedi! Your kind has caused enough damage, so back off!" he snapped, as another fire took hold in another building.

"Our kind?" Tahiri demanded angrily, and in response, he pointed to someone standing on a pile of rubble, wielding a yellow lightsaber.

"Oh shit." Tahiri swore, and Tekli chattered a curse.

Yaqueel Savetu was standing on the rubble, acting like a dirt general for the protestors.

"Let it be known to these false copies that we will not be beaten! We will not be deceived! We will have what is rightfully ours! Onward, and destroy the copies government centre!" she yelled brazenly, and Tahiri looked down at Tekli.

"If they get out of Unity Plaza we've had it. We'll never catch them all." She said grimly, and Tekli nodded.

"Indeed. But the police aren't numerous enough to overcome these protestors, and I'm willing to bet Yaqueel has some Force thing in motion that means they'll be difficult to stop."

"And we can't go straight for her, because we can't get into a duel with all these peoples around, there'll be limbs flying everywhere. Suggestions?"

Tekli looked up at the sergeant, who was beginning to look at them with hope rather than anger.

"We have reinforcements coming, but I'd rather not involve the military. For a start, we'd look brutal, suppressing a protest that way, secondly they take all the credit and truth be told, I'd rather not embarrass your Order. I take it she's gone loopy?" he asked, pointing with his gun at the yelling Bothan.

"I assume so. Hmm, let's think..."

"Why don't we use the fire fighter speeders? Spray them with water, knock them down, we can go and get Yaqueel and sort this." Tahiri suggested, and the sergeant gave a grim sigh.

"I reckon it'll bite us in the ass, but we can try. Alright, let me call them."

However, before he had reached for his comm., the Bothan Jedi turned, and Tekli squeaked.

"Servants of the copies! Take them!" she yelled, and rather than go against the police, they all turned and charged towards the two Jedi.

"Sithspit!" Tahiri cursed, lighting her blue lightsaber, and looking to make sure Tekli was doing the same.

However, her diminutive companion was already on the move, leaping on the heads of the protestors, her viridian lightsaber in hand. The sergeant finished his call, and then drew his blaster as the fire speeders turned to face the large wall of protestors that was moving towards Tahiri. Meanwhile, the police barricade had galvanised themselves, rushing towards the protestors, crossing the debris littered ground.

Tekli landed and leapt at Yaqueel, her saber singing as she sliced upwards. Yaqueel gave a snarl, her yellow saber blocking the attack.

"You see copy, I'm turning your own soldiers against you! You won't take me, they won't let you! I'm onto you!" she declared, and Tekli gave a grumpy sigh and flipped into the air.

Yaqueel span, her saber cutting up to meet Tekli, but the Chadra-Fan was already on the move, dropping to the floor and rolling away from the attack. Leaping up, her blade nicked Yaqueel's shoulder, and she gave a high screech, swinging her lightsaber wildly. Tekli easily ducked away from the wild swing and sliced upwards, nicking her stomach. Yaqueel kicked out, and then turned and ran, making for the edge of the plaza.

"No, you will not take me copy! I'd rather die!" she screamed, and Tekli blanched in fright, blasting the Bothan Jedi with a Force push.

She gave a throaty yell and slammed into a statue, going limp as she did so. These insane Jedi were getting worse. Yaqueel had been willing to kill herself, and she had also nearly taken a bunch of innocent bystanders with her. Alarmed, Tekli turned to see Tahiri waving her saber to ward off the protestors, and the police were closing in on them. But so were the speeders, and it was clear that most of the protestors were coming back to their senses.

"Oh no, stop, don't...!"

She was too late. The fire speeders water cannons opened fire, knocking police, protestors and Jedi alike off of their feet, soaking them through. As people screamed in fright and anger, Tekli frowned, watching as the news cams quickly scurried back towards their masters, the dazed protestors glaring accusingly at the police and the Jedi.

XX

The entire Council was there, aside from the two Masters Skywalker. Tahiri and Tekli stood in the centre of the circle, facing slightly to the left than they usually did, as usually Kyle was closest to the door, with Kam to his left, and then Luke and then Mara to the left of that. However, with Luke and Mara gone, the Council was concentrated beside the large viewing windows.

Tahiri studied the faces around the room. The news of using water cannons on the protestors had spread like wildfire, with the Remnant even actively denouncing it. It had further made matters worse for the Jedi, as Senator Treen was demanding that they be contained to the temple, their privileges removed and their order disbanded. Senator Charr from Corellia had joined the call, claiming that the Jedi were working with Ak'la in order to turn the Alliance into a new Empire, which had received more applause than it ought to have done.

"We had no choice masters. It was either we take action or Yaqueel could have caused a lot of damage." Tekli explained, looking to the holographic form of Chief Ak'la herself.

"Be that as it may Jedi Tekli, all you have done is make our situations worse. Why did you not pursue another course of action?" Kenth demanded, and Kyp rolled his eyes.

"Because as they just said Yaqueel was influencing the crowd with her powers. They did what they were trained to do: subdue the threat with minimum casualties. No one actually died, the only problem with them is their egos are bruised and their clothes are wet." He snapped.

Kenth was about to respond, when Releqy raised her hand.

"No. They did the right thing. If they hadn't, things would be even worse. I can deal with the protestors later. Master Cilghal, have you had any luck figuring out whats wrong with them all?" she asked, and the tired looking Mon Cal shook her head mournfully.

"I'm sorry Chief Ak'la, but no, I haven't. I'm studying them night and day and I'm still no closer to fixing them." Cilghal said, and Ak'la frowned.

"How many have gone mad so far?" she asked wearily, kneading her eyes with her fingers.

"Five so far." Corran said grimly, and Releqy sighed.

"Very well. If you can make no headway in this Master Cilghal, and if anymore Jedi go insane, I want you to ground any potential insane Jedi, its simply too big of a risk for us to keep taking." She said, and the Council all looked at each other in shock.

"With respect Chief, it is not your place to tell us how to run the Order." Kenth said boldly.

Although Releqy was only present via hologram, the room's temperature noticeably dropped with the look that she gave him.

"Master Hamner, I have the greatest personal respect for the Order. I get on well with many of you, and count some Jedi as my friends. I am however the leader of the dominant galactic government. Insane Jedi threatens the people entrusted to my care. And the Jedi Order may be a separate entity, but it is also a part of the government, which means I do reserve the right to intercede in your affairs. These Jedi are a threat that could be very dangerous. Which means, you will listen to me when I tell you that if anymore go insane, they must be locked up for their own safety and the safety of others. Am I perfectly clear?" she snarled angrily, and Kenth looked taken aback at the iciness of the usually very amiable Caamasi's tone.

"We will of course agree Chief Ak'la," Tionne said, "but it will present a problem. If we have to pull Jedi off the duty roster, it could affect our efforts considerably."

She nodded grimly.

"I'm aware of the problems Master Solusar. But if any more Jedi go insane and hurt someone, then we will truly be in the bantha poop. We must act to prevent that. In the mean time, I must insist on the possibility of locking down all those who may be affected." Releqy said, and Kam nodded.

"Agreed Chief." He said with a tired smile.

"Thank you." She said with relief, stifling a yawn.

"Chief Ak'la I must protest this decision. It is not up to the Chief of State to tell the Council how to run the Order." Kenth grumbled, and Releqy once more fixed him with a steely gaze.

"Master Hamner. Let me make some things quite plain. I am more than content to leave the Jedi to their own devices, it suits you and it suits me. We have a very good, open working relationship and I have no wish to change that. However, I am the Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance, which means the vast majority of the missions Jedi undertake are to do with people who voted for me, which means it is my job to protect them. Your young Jedi going insane, tragic though it is, endangers those people, and I am entitled to take whatever steps I need to in order to protect them. You might also note that you are both separate and a part of the Alliance, and as such that means that if I ask you for something, I expect it to be done, else your privileged position within the Alliance could be under threat, which I do not wish to do. And if you think the Alliance shouldn't interfere in Jedi matters, may I remind you of the Swarm War? The lot of you spent so long arguing about what to do, the war was virtually halfway done by the time you agreed on a single course of action." She said coldly, and the entire Council looked down in shame, though Tahiri had to hide a look of glee. After all, despite the Vongforming, she was still mostly only human.

"And if you could try and find out where Master Skywalker is, I would be very appreciative." She added in a kinder voice to the rest of the room, before her holo flickered out.

"You may go." Kyle said to the two young Jedi, who bowed and left, smirking to each other at the subdued expression on Kenth's face.

"The protests are getting worse. The entire government could become destabilised if this goes on much longer." Octa said grimly.

"There are also criticisms that the Alliance is becoming more like the Empire used to be. The Corellian Insurrection, despite turning out in our favour, is used by many as an example of the Alliance being determined to crush any opposition before it materialises. Orvax just further cemented those beliefs." Corran said grimly.

Tresina shook her head.

"The Alliance can't win. The only problem people have is the fact that the Battle of Orvax was done illegally, despite the fact that it helped bring an end to slavery." She said irritably.

"Yes Tresina, but it has caused more problems, not the least of which is setting Nazarn loose on the galaxy at large. Slavers know slavery is going out of existence, and will do whatever it takes in order to maximise their profits before its end, either that or work to ensure that it doesn't end." Tionne lamented.

"The slavery question is part of a larger problem. Our own influence is being undermined due to the insanity of the younger members of the Order. The Battle of Roche is stirring up a hornet's nest in the Mandalorian sector. The Senate is becoming more and more hostile to Chief Ak'la, the Alliance is spread too thin and is facing too many threats, and the fear of the Vong returning is further chipping away at the Alliance's integrity." Cilghal summarised.

Kam sighed and then met the gaze of each member of the Council present.

"I think it is time we tell Chief Ak'la that the dark side is on the ascendency in the galaxy." He said, and was met with mixed reactions.

"Master Skywalker forbade us from telling her." Kenth pointed out, but Saba shook her head.

"That may be, but this one agreez with Master Solusar. We have a good relationship with her, we ought to tell her. And it may help uz get her on her guard if the dark side truly is rising." The scaly Barabel said.

"Saba has a point. I know Luke didn't want us to tell her, but he's been gone for weeks, and is answering very few calls, and Force knows what he and Mara are doing. We're the ones on the ground having to run the show. I say we tell her." Kyp said.

Tionne frowned.

"Whatever action we take, the fact remains: our ability to use the Force is diminishing by the day." She said sadly.

"But how though? A couple of years ago it got a little dark before Corellia, but since then its been relatively normal. Is it really just in the last few months that its gotten as dark as it has?" Octa asked, and Kyle nodded his head.

"Yes. That was the problem. It was quick but it was subtle, we didn't understand what was truly happening until the Force had already gotten considerably darker, turning away from the light."

"The Force will right itself." Kenth said certainly.

"Yez, this one supposez it will. But will it do it before we have a repeat of the last time the Force felt like this?" Saba asked darkly, and no one answered.

XX

The swampy planet of Nal Hutta was the centrepiece of the Hutt powerbase. Since the Vong War, the Hutts had been slowly rebuilding their infrastructure, trying to recover from the brutal damage the Vong had done to their influence. It was a slow process, but Nar Shaddaa was thriving again and they were slowly starting to recover their former strength and prestige.

However, there entire culture could be threatened because of the actions of Freedom Flight, which had started cries for slavery to end throughout the galaxy.

With the various species bound to them under the Treaty of Vontor demanding that they be liberated from their Hutt masters, the power and prestige the Hutts had worked so hard to recover could very well be lost. It would be incredibly difficult to build up an empire again if they didn't have any slaves. And what was more, the Alliance, Empire and Hapans, the three most major powers in the galaxy that interacted with the rest, were blockading them politically and economically in order to try and force the Hutts to free their slaves. And it was beginning to have an effect, much to the Hutts dismay. And the frequent entreaties by Releqy Ak'la over the holo were getting very tiring too. She was subtly applying more and more pressure, and with Qaras now being the sight of yet another suppressed species rebellion, with the Jessar now being free from the Minyavish, they would be getting even more such calls, and if they still didn't free the slaves, there was a chance the Alliance and its allies could impose even more sanctions and further delay their return to prominence.

The Hutt Grand Council were the Hutts responsible for rebuilding Hutt society since the Vong War. After so many losses in the conflict, there were now only four members of the Council.

Borga Besadii Diori had been the ruler of the Hutt clans during the Vong War. She had led the defence of Nal Hutta when the planet had been attacked, but had remained a prisoner during the war. Since then she had once more established herself as the ruler of the Hutts, and had also advocated the building of a strong military so that the Hutts could defend themselves should anyone else attack them. She, like the vast majority of the Hutts, was incensed that the Alliance was trying to pressure them into freeing their slaves, and she was refusing point blank to even consider a repeal of the Treaty of Vontor. The Hutts had had slaves since before the Republic had been born, and they weren't about to stop no matter who was on the throne on Coruscant.

Gorga Desilijic Aarrpo was the nephew of Jabba the Hutt. He had taken over Jabba's criminal empire after the disappearance of Zorba the Hutt, and since then had become the ruler of the Tatooine Hutts. Unlike his uncle, he was a lot less cruel and a lot more pragmatic, and was quietly trying to make the rest of the Council see the sense in freeing the slaves under their control, fearing that if it came down to it, the Alliance could launch an intervention mission and free them by force, and if it came to that, the Hutts would never again recover from the effects of the Vong War.

Zonnos Anjiliac Priare was one of the most successful businessmen of the Hutt Sector, and had financed a lot of the reconstruction efforts since the end of the war, and had been invited by Borga to join the ruling council following the liberation. A cruel master to the slaves, he was also firmly against them so much as looking up at their masters, preferring them downtrodden.

Tooga Jalliissi Gral was the final member, another new addition to the council. Being the one responsible for maintaining the slaves and the relations with the Vontor species, he was even more against liberation than the rest of them.

They watched in distaste as Madhi Vaandt once more reported the fall of yet another oppressive system.

"You realise it will give that meddling Caamasi even more ammunition against us?" Zonnos demanded, a huge, dark skinned Hutt.

"What can she do?" Tooga, a slimmer, light brown Hutt scoffed.

"Simple. If we refuse to free the slaves, she and her allies keep applying pressure to us and cripple our economy, our rebuilding efforts and our business. And if they think that won't work, then they trump up charges of oppression and send people in, whether it be Jedi or an invasion." Gorga scowled darkly.

"The Alliance will not dictate to us, they need us." Borga snarled, though the thought of Hutt Space coming under attack again did worry her.

"Not as much as they used to. And with all this kicking off, and with Pellaeon and Tenel Ka both pro-Alliance we will find it hard to stand against even economic and trade sanctions." Tooga grumbled.

"We need a way to get the Alliance off our back, or at least ensure that they don't force us to comply with this ridiculous liberation campaign. Fortunately, someone arrived this morning claiming to have very important information for us." Borga said with fiendish delight.

"How do we know he isn't a time waster?" Zonnos asked sceptically.

"He's one of our best agents, and his information has always been reliable. Besides, if he is a time waster, my pet acklay is always hungry." Borga said maliciously, and sent for the agent.

He was an Elom, and Gorga recognised him as one of their agents who kept an eye on the far side of the galaxy, in the area around the former Empire of the Hand, the Empire itself and the Ascendancy. He was indeed one of their best agents, and had smuggled goods to the resistance during the Vong War as well. As such, he knew not to waste time, and his information could be trusted.

"You have information for us?" Tooga asked.

"Yes majestic ones. On my last trip to the Ascendancy, I discovered something that the Alliance doesn't know, or probably even suspect. Due to the Ascendancy ignoring them and the Empire for months on end, they have no clue what has befallen the Chiss. They have been destroyed." He said, and looked at the shocked reactions of the entire council.

"The entire government?" Borga demanded in shocked awe.

"Yes wondrous one. Csilla has been completely melted off the face of the galaxy, their ships set aflame. The Ascendancy is gone." The Elom said proudly, happy that he had managed to bring them such information.

"Gone?" Tooga asked in shock.

This news was indeed a game changer. And they had to be the only ones who knew it...aside from the Chiss if any remained, and whoever had attacked them.

"All of them. So far as I know, no one survived."

"Do you know who did it?" Gorga asked, and the Elom turned to face him.

"There were Vaagari ships in orbit, but judging by what happened to Csilla, they don't have that much power of technology. The only ones who could have done that to the planet are the Vong." He said significantly.

The entire Council exchanged dark, foreboding looks. But, despite their fear of the Vong, if the aliens were in the Ascendancy that was on the other side of the galaxy, which meant that there was an opportunity to be made. They exchanged nods, and turned back to the Elom.

"You have data?" Borga asked, and the Elom bowed.

"Yes my lady, I have it all on this datacube." He said, handing it to Tooga.

"There are no other records?" Gorga asked.

"None my lord."

"And you have told no one else?" Zonnos asked, his hand hovering over the button that would send him plummeting to the acklay den.

"No, I came straight to you." He said stoutly.

"You have served us well, we thank you for your efforts." Borga said kindly.

"Sadly though, we must remain the only ones in possession of this knowledge." Tooga said grimly.

"So sad." Gorga simpered.

"Farwell." Zonnos said, and the Elom gave them all a frightened look, before Zonnos hit the switch. The floor dropped out from under him, and with a scream he plummeted into the pen beneath the room, the acklays growls reaching their ears.

The Chiss were gone. Opportunities were to be made. And information could be sold...to the highest bidder.

"Next time Ak'la contacts us, we will tell her we have information she should have. We will get her to back off on the slavery front in exchange for it." Borga said.

"Indeed. She will rue the day she decided to dictate to us." Gorga snarled.

"Won't they be furious if they find out we knew and didn't help? There's billions of innocent people in the Ascendancy, we could help them somehow." Zonnos said, ill at ease with the decision.

"It is of no concern to us what happens in the Ascendancy. Our interest is rebuilding our realm, and making sure the Alliance does not order us around like some spineless vassal. And besides, this is an opportunity. We begin stirring the pot, make people think the Vong are about to launch an assault on the galaxy again, and place ourselves in the best position to benefit. We can then sit back and watch as the Empire, Alliance and Hapans shake themselves to pieces." Borga said with smug satisfaction.

"But to keep information like this simply to get our way with the slaves..." Gorga began, but was cut off by Zonnos.

"It doesn't matter. This is the course we will follow. We will give them the information in exchange for them backing off and minding their own business."

Gorga frowned, but kept his peace. This was a bad idea. They may not be part of the Alliance, but they now had information that an official ally of the Alliance had been attacked and forced to the edge of extinction. Under the terms of the Convention of Civilised Systems, anyone keeping such information secret was basically committing an act of genocide, and if they were part of the government not being told, then treason was also involved. And if Ak'la found out they kept this quiet in order to keep a few slaves, she would be furious. And something made him think that a furious Releqy Ak'la would not be good for anyone.

XX

The planet Qaras was full of cheers as Madhi headed back for the Shooting Star. Unlike some of the other planets with oppressive societies, Qaras had been relatively sedate in its revolution, and now a joint power sharing government, such as what Dac had had during the Clone Wars had been set up, led by Jessar Rokari Kem and Minyavish Tiyuu'cha Mahlor. Th revolutions continued to spread across the galaxy, with more and more species demanding equal rights and fair representation. Various planets were rushing to join the Galactic Alliance, and planets such as Orvax and Klatooine where in the process of being admitted to the organisation. All in all, the slave revolt, planned and hoped for for so long, was going their way and turning out quite nicely.

However, three things were letting the revolution down. Firstly, while the Alliance was generally supporting the plight of the slaves and of the oppressed species, due to political difficulties it could not actively support the revolt as much as the members of Freedom Flight wished, and that made protecting the freed slaves a lot more difficult, especially when it took so long for liberated planets to be admitted into the Alliance.

Secondly, rumours were starting to spread that Nazarn, the most feared slaver in the galaxy, was on the prowl, capturing thousands of slaves and selling them in the outer reaches, to warlords, pirates, the Corporate Sector and worse, the Hutts.

The Hutts themselves were the third problem. Due to the long standing Treaty of Vontor, their own desire to rebuild no matter the cost, and the automatic gravitation of some species to the Hutts, it was going to be incredibly difficult to force the Hutts to free the species under their thrall, especially if Borga and the rest of the Council feared it could hinder their rebuilding efforts. While the Klatoonians outside of Hutt Space were now free of slavery, having forced the Hutts from their world, the ones still in Hutt Space were still enslaved, as were the Nikto and the Vodrans who were similarly enslaved, as were their entire species. Others, such as Weequays and Gamorreans were also virtually enslaved to the Hutts, and if they felt that anything threatened their plans to rebuild their infrastructure they would be highly opposed to freeing any slaves.

But, if Ackmena had her way, that was about to change.

"Wait, you want me to what?" Madhi demanded, and the older woman smiled slightly.

"Do an expose on the Hutts and their slaving practices. Show them up in front of the entire galaxy, make them all sit up and take notice. Start applying pressure to the Hutts to try and make them see things our way." She explained, and Madhi snorted.

"Fat chance, there isn't a profit in it. But anyway, why me?" she asked curiously as the others got the ship ready for departure.

"You're one of our best known agents. There's only two others who might be noticed like you, and I'd rather they weren't noticed quite yet. Besides, I have it on very good authority that Chief Ak'la enjoys your shows, that will give us more publicity." Ackmena reasoned, and Madhi smiled.

"Alright, I'll do it. One expose on Hutt slaving practices coming right up. Who are the two agents you don't want to reveal?" Madhi asked in a teasing voice, and the leader of Freedom Flight smiled.

"Never you mind. All will become clear eventually though, I assure you. But be careful about this Madhi. This is dangerous ground you'll be treading. The Hutts are distracted yes, but some of the ones on the council are known for being petty and vindictive. Tread carefully." Ackmena warned, and Madhi nodded grimly.

"Don't worry about me Ackmena, I'll be fine. Won't I?" she asked nervously, and Ackmena nodded.

"You will be child. I know how much of a risk you will be taking in doing this, and I'm eternally grateful. Like I say though, it shouldn't be a problem with the Hutts otherwise occupied. And if not, I can get you the best protection imaginable." She assured her with a final smile before her holo flickered out.

Madhi grinned. An important piece on the slaving practices of the Hutts. Publicly embarrass the Hutts, and make the other governments sit up and take notice of what was going on. And by so doing, help bring slavery to an end all the faster. Yes, that was a very good plan. Eager to get started, she headed for the cockpit, to tell the pilot to set a course for what will be one of the most important bulletins of her life.

XX

Collonzas was a pirate with vision, there was no disputing that. Since he had unified the groups, the raids they had been carrying out had been getting more and more ambitious, hitting bigger and bigger targets as they progressed. While so far they had all been acting as separate pirate groups, of only two or three groups acting in conjunction at any one time, now Collonzas was happy with their performance, he was moving on to bigger and better targets.

Which put the Wraiths in a difficult position.

While they were authorised to use whatever means necessary to keep their cover, now that Collonzas was wanting to move into the big leagues, that meant they would soon be in direct contact with Alliance forces, and to keep their cover as pirates, it would mean having to fight people who were really their comrades.

Needless to say, Director Kalenda wasn't happy with this turn of events either.

Face had called her, and had also called Admiral Niathal, and now the Wraiths were reporting to two thirds of the triumvirate that ruled the galaxy.

"What is the target?" Niathal asked, her large eyes fixed on Face.

"We don't know, he doesn't tell us until we're actually about to jump to lightspeed. And surely we don't want to betray them just yet?" Kell asked, and Kalenda looked at Niathal worriedly.

"What do we do? If we plan to get them all at once, we need to let them keep playing along with it. But how far do we let them go?" Kalenda asked, her face betraying her concern.

Niathan pursed her lips. While it was technically her decision due to it being a military mission, Kalenda also had an input due to them being intelligence operatives.

Niathal looked at Kalenda, and the director of intelligence sighed.

"We need to take a chance. Alright Face. Go along with the attack. Act to keep your cover, but if you encounter Alliance forces, you must try to harm as few as possible. We want Collonzas but not at the expense of sacrificing our own people. And if you go native, I will have to send General Antilles after you, which I'm sure none of us want. I know you won't, but the warnings there. Be careful, don't cause too much damage if you can avoid it, and may the Force be with you." Kalenda said, and the holos shimmered out.

"Whatever way you spin it, it still stinks." Elassar lamented, and Shalla nodded in agreement.

"Well luckily we have a resident Jedi who'll keep us going straight." Kell said fondly, and Tyria smiled at him.

"Alright, we do this fast and clean people. Remember, we're just playing pirate, we're not actually pirates. Let's keep it that way. Piggy, you, Kell, Runt and Bhindi, you take the fighters, General Kargin will be commanding from the secondary bridge, while Atril commands up here. Good luck people." Face said, and they all headed off to get ready for their mission.

XX

It was a small task force, but Atril had to admit, it could be quite deadly for anyone on the receiving end. Collonzas himself was leading the attack from the Governor, his Saboath Destroyer. There were two old fashioned Trade Federation Missile Frigates, an Assault Transport, an escort carrier, a Corona frigate, a Nebulon, the Night Caller and a Xixytar transport. A small but powerful force, and now they knew the target.

Vena was a rich and powerful world neat the edge of Hapan space. And currently, there was a convoy of Alliance supplies going through the system, which is what Collonzas planned to hit.

"Everyone, you know your targets. Leave the defences to me, you lot disable the ships and bust them open." Collonzas ordered before the final jump.

"Alright people, you know the drill. Casualties to a minimum, anyone asks, we're just being surgical." Face in his disguise said.

The raiding group jumped into the outskirts of the Vena system, just as the convoy, protected only by a bulk cruiser and a squadron of E-Wings, was about to leave. And as the pirates had come right out of lightspeed in their path, they had no way of avoiding what was about to happen.

The Governor was merciless, its heavy cannons lancing out and smashing right through the cruiser's bridge. Explosions illuminated the inside of the ship, and as the blackened hulk span slowly out of the way, the rest of the ships rushed into attack formation, disabling weapons and shields while the Assault Transport and the Xixytar closed on the first of the cargo ships.

"Heads up people, Vena has bigger guns than anticipated, and they're on the way! Get what we came for, and then make like a tree and leave!" Collonzas ordered, and Atril frowned at Tyria on the bridge.

"Since when did Vena have a defensive ship?" Tyria asked worriedly.

"Well I haven't heard that it did. Recall the fighters as soon as they're done, I don't want us to tangle with any more Alliance ships than we have to." Atril said, her eyes focused on the burning hulk of the bulk cruiser.

Fortunately, they weren't the only ones that had thought along those lines. The two frigates were already edging back from the convoy, which was in the process of being pillaged. Just as the transports disconnected from their victims, a Nebula class Star Destroyer shot into the space in front of them, turbolasers pounding for the attacking ships. The Governor immediately turned to meet the new threat, while the pillage loaded ships started to jump away from the lethal Star Destroyer.

"Atril, what the hell is that doing here?" Face asked from the other bridge, and the woman frowned.

"No idea. My suggestion is we leave though before it gets too friendly." She said as a flight of pirate fighters were obliterated by the cannons.

With the others TIEs on board, the corvette leapt away, leaving the Star Destroyer far behind.

XX

A few hours later, Collonzas was studying footage of the battle, as he always did. Everyone had performed admirably, at least until the arrival of the Star Destroyer. The presence of such a powerful ship so far from the areas where it would usually populate was disconcerting. Why was the Star Destroyer at Vena?

Either way, the test had been a success. His forces were attacking across the galaxy, along the Hydian Way and the Corellian Run, and also flirting around the edges of important systems and jumping once they had attracted Alliance attention. And as a result of those actions, Niathal had spread her fleets too thinly. And now was the time to take advantage of the redundancy of the Alliance. Smiling, he sent the signal, announcing the start of operations that would bring about Operation Lusankya.

Smiling tightly, he again looked at the battle holo. Something was niggling at him, it just wasn't right. And he was determined to find out what.

XX

Face was sitting in the mess hall in the middle of the night, contemplating. They had, willingly or not, actively or not, participated in the deaths of the crew of that bulk cruiser and the fighters protecting it. Intelligence was a dirty job at times, he knew that, always had. They'd had to do several unsavoury things over the years, such as when they were forced to work with Warlord Zsinj. But this was different somehow. Collonzas was a deadly, dangerous opponent. He was out for blood, and he had shown in the numerous skirmishes he had made the pirate forces take battle in that he made no bones about blowing up Alliance ships. And now, he kept promising how they would take revenge on the Alliance. Whatever that meant, it couldn't be good.

"Face?" Dia asked gently as she entered the room.

"Yeah?" he asked tiredly, turning to face her.

"It's not our fault remember? We're doing a job." She said soothingly, and he shook his head.

"It's not that simple Dia. Those are our own people we're going to be going up against, especially when Collonzas starts to go on to bigger and better things. It's only going to get worse." He lamented, and she stroked his cheek tenderly.

"It's our job Face. We don't have to like it. And think of it this way. If we get enough to deal with him, then we can save loads of lives." She assured him, and he arched his eyebrow at her.

"Ok, but until then we're going to have to keep shooting at people like us, friends. And how do we know what we're doing will even help?" he asked dispiritedly, and she smiled sadly.

"I think your problems are based around one overriding one: you're getting too old for this sort of thing."

Face looked at her, and then, after thinking about it, nodded.

"I suppose I am. I'm just tired, fed up of everything we have to do, the endless wars in this galaxy. We should just force them all to get along." He growled, and she smiled.

"No arguments here. Come on you grumpy old git, let's get you back to the retirement home." She said kindly, and the two of them left the mess hall hand in hand.

XX

Jabitha looked at Danni questioningly.

"You truly think the remaining Vong are that much of a threat to the galaxy?" she asked carefully, not paying complete attention, tuned as she was to the emotional needs of Zonama Sekot.

"Yes Magister, I do. The Praetorite Vong brought down three planets with only a few spy ships and a world ship. Who knows how much firepower these forces have?" Danni asked, and the Magister nodded.

"Magister, you have allowed my people to live here. But if these Vong are what I think they are, then there will be no way that they will allow Sekot to survive, especially not after what happened at Yuuzhanatar." Nas Choka warned, and Danni looked at the former war master accusingly.

"You said you didn't know who was behind this." She grumbled, and he patted his hand in the air to appease her.

"I don't, I just remember rumours. Before we actually entered this galaxy, rumours persisted that the Supreme Overlord had secretly given someone command of a task force. And a worldship was unaccounted for during the initial stages of the assault. It is my belief that there could in fact be some truth to those rumours, it would explain why they didn't surrender. Knowing what we know now about Onimi, it could very well mean that he was the one behind it, and as such they could only follow the Overlord's commands, hence why they have returned now, they want revenge." He explained, and Jabitha frowned.

"Well, perhaps that may be, but I vowed to take the children of my planet in. I cannot allow you to leave without incurring the wrath of the Alliance." She explained, and Danni sighed.

"I know you want to do the right thing Magister. But, if this Vong threat starts off another war, the Alliance won't be cowed by the Jedi this time. They will exterminate the Vong, and destroy Sekot. I know we cannot do much, but at least help us do something." She pleaded.

Jabitha looked out at the green world that had become home to the Yuuzhan Vong and Danni, with her rarely used Force powers, could sense how conflicted she was.

"You're asking me to break the Sekot Accords. An act of war against the Alliance. Which could endanger Sekot." She lamented.

Nas Choka growled in frustration.

"And if we do not try to stop this fleet, it will mean the end of us all anyway. The galaxy wanted us wiped out. Give them an opportunity and they will take it. We must act!"

Jabitha wrung her hands, but Danni could sense her resignation. The Magister didn't want the Vong dead either.

"Very well. You may build a warship, I will distract the scientists. But I must insist it be a corvette class, nothing more. Danni will go with you. And also, Captain Yage will join you." She said, and the two looked at each other.

A corvette wouldn't give them much power, but realistically they couldn't build anything else without alerting the Alliance. And as to Captain Yage joining them, that was alright. Lent by Admiral Pellaeon to help the Jedi find Zonama Sekot during the war, it had been left behind during an ambush by the Vong and stranded in the Unknown Regions. After Coruscant was liberated, Sekot had returned to pick up the ship, helping with its repairs, and due to them being too far away and not having enough of a crew due to the damage they had taken in the journey, they had volunteered to stay behind to guard Sekot, and after it was approved by Pellaeon in secret, the deal had been agreed and the Imperial II frigate had remained in orbit ever since.

"Very well." Nas Choka agreed, bowing his head.

"But you shall not use coralskippers. I will create Sekotan fighters for you to use instead. Is that agreeable?" Jabitha asked, and they both nodded.

"Very well. Go, begin. And lord do I hope you know what you're doing." She said worriedly, as the two left her mansion.

XX

The ship was quiet as it headed to Kesh. In the dead of night, with everyone asleep, Lumiya snuck from her room to the communications room, and signalled her Hapan operative. The Force was reacting. She could feel it. Now was the time to strike. Her decades of careful planning would now come to fruition. After the defeat of the Sith and the Empire at Endor, the galaxy had endured much. And now, once again, it was time for the Sith to have their revenge.

The image of Ducha Galney of Hapes shimmered into view, and Lumiya waited as the noblewoman bowed respectfully.

"My lady, it is good as always to hear from you." She said, and Lumiya smiled.

"You are most kind Ducha. And it will be a better call than usual this time round. The time has come. Instigate Operation Raxus." She ordered, and Galney smiled.

"Seriously?" she asked, and Lumiya allowed herself a small smile.

"Sith Lords are not usually known for their sense of humour Ducha. Yes, seriously. The time has come. The Alliance is spread thin, coming apart at the seams, and the Jedi currently lack leadership. The attacks of Collonzas and Nazarn are weakening their hold on the galaxy, making the people look elsewhere for protection and leadership. The slavery revolution is further dismantling the apparatus of state, spreading chaos and anarchy. The Jedi going insane is making the people fearful for what is to come. And due to the Sith's efforts, the Force is getting darker by the day. Things are coming apart for the Alliance, and now we must neutralise the threat of Tenel Ka and her supporters." Lumiya explained.

"Indeed my lady. I was actually going to call you to see if we could move about now anyway." The Ducha said, and Lumiya looked at her curiously.

"How do you mean?"

"Haven't you heard? Collonzas and his pirates raided Vena. An attack so close to Hapes has whipped the nobles into a frenzy, claiming that it is proof that the Alliance cannot protect itself and its allies any longer. Especially when the ship that responded to their attack was far too powerful to be where it was, and with a certain nudge from myself, I have some nobles panicking that it was the harbinger of an invasion before the pirates scuppered it." She said, and Lumiya smiled.

She had chosen well by choosing Galney to be her Hapan operative. The Ducha of Terephon, she was ambitious and resentful, feeling that once Ta'a Chume and Teniel Djo had died, the throne should have passed to another noble, and considering she was one of the richest members of court, she had fully expected it to be her. However, Tenel Ka had claimed the throne and become Queen Mother. Contrary to Galney's wishes, she had become a pro-Alliance and pro-Jedi queen, getting Hapes involved in the Vong War and the Swarm War. Furious at her continual involvement with Alliance affairs, and the heir that she was sure was illegitimate, Galney had begun sounding out support for her own claim to the throne, intending to wrest it from the Jedi queen, make Hapes a secure and closed empire again, and also get rid of any Jedi or Alliance influence.

However, she had had many false starts. The Vong War had killed many of her initial allies during the Liberation of Coruscant, and the Swarm War had further weakened her support, discreet as it was. Forging an alliance with Ducha AlGrey, they intended to make a move on Hapes following the birth of Allana. However, the comatose state of Ta'a Chume, rumoured to be the work of Tenel Ka's Jedi bodyguard, Zekk, had weakened their resolve, and it seemed as if they may never get their hands on the throne.

At least until Lumiya started to help them. She had set them up with other nobles, channelling them funds, weapons and supplies, all very discreetly so as to avoid the eyes of the Zel twins. With that, the Heritage Council had been formed, and now they had the means to ensure more people came over to their side as well. Their time had finally come.

"I shall set about my business immediately mistress." Galney said, bowing once more.

"Serve me well Galney, and you shall no longer merely covet the throne." Lumiya assured her, and then signed off.

Lumiya smiled. At long last, the plan was afoot. Soon, nothing would stop the Sith from once more ruling the galaxy. Now, she had two more calls to make before she did anything else, and then she could worry about dealing with Vol, Krayt and Vongerella and their own individual ambitions, and her own role in the scheme.

The next connection took a while to establish, and she was getting impatient. The group were on her back enough as it was, she didn't need them finding out she had contacts in Hapes or the Empire, that would only cause them to get in the way. The connection was eventually made, and she was not in the best of humours when it was done.

"Moff Lecersen, I do not appreciate being kept waiting." She growled, watching as he and Quille looked at each other worriedly.

"Apologies my lady, I have a new aide, and I was in another call, he did not know that you require immediate attention no matter what." Lecersen said, trying to smooth things over but she wasn't impressed.

"Indeed. Begin Project Vitiate." She ordered and both Moffs looked at her with ecstatic glee.

"We shall begin at once my lady." They assured her, and flickered out.

That was the Empire dealt with. Now, Lecersen and Quille would begin their plans to expand the Empire, and thanks to her efforts several worlds close to their border would soon join them. That would further weaken the Alliance and their hold on power, which suited her aims.

One last call to make, no matter how much she might not want to.

She pulled the villip from beneath her robe, and the face of Vongerella came into view.

"Master." She managed, not quite scathingly.

"Vongerella. I have a job for you." She said, and the Vong woman's false eye narrowed dangerously.

"You seem to forget master that you cast me out." She sneered, and Lumiya narrowed her eyes dangerously.

"I did, as you were to focused on the plight of your species to become a true Sith Lord. However, at the Home, you agreed to work with me, or are you reneging on the deal?" her tone implying exactly what would happen if she were.

Vongerella bared her teeth.

"Yes. With, not for." She corrected and Lumiya rolled her eyes.

"Don't be difficult Vongerella. What I want you to do will undoubtedly suit your own aims too, whatever it is you're up to." She said irritably.

And the knowledge of what Vongerella was up to still eluded her, it was driving her mad. Since the meeting on the Home she had largely disappeared, and had been absent for a long period before that, and she was still none the wiser as to what her former apprentice was up to.

"What is it?" the Vong asked, relenting.

"I want you to begin attack Alliance forces, raid their worlds, attack their convoys, ambush fleets, that sort of thing."

"To what end?" Vongerella asked, though it was clear from the predatory expression on her face that she was going to do it anyway.

"What other end matters my dear, but theirs?"

"Very well master, I shall do as you ask. I was about to start doing that anyway." She said, and the villip closed.

Lumiya smiled, and then it turned to a frown. What was Vongerella up to if she was about to start attacking Alliance targets anyway? Grumbling at the lack of information on her former apprentices activities, she sent a message to Wethen to ask him to investigate. With that, her work done for the night, she slipped back to bed, she needed to be well rested if she was to meet the Sith in the morning.

XX

"The attack on Vena and on Roche clearly shows that the Alliance is no longer capable of defending its territory!" one noble shouted.

Tenel Ka had to resist the impulse to hold her head in her hands. She was sat on her throne, with Allana sitting beside her, fidgeting due to boredom, and her father in his chair slightly behind her own to act as her advisor. Behind him stood her two cousins, Trista and Taryn Zel, and along with that was Taryn's fiancé, her old Jedi companion Zekk, who had moved to Hapes following a mission to investigate the Lorell Raiders who had made a comeback.

"And I say again that they were isolated incidents. The Alliance couldn't anticipate a surprise attack, and that's exactly what those two strikes were." A noble on her side argued.

Ducha AlGrey, the ringleader of the dissenting nobles, got to her feet, smiling smugly.

"The Queen Mother continues to act as she has always done: like her weak, savage mother. She was in favour of close ties with the New Republic, and look where it got her. Under our Queen Mother, thousands of Hapan lives have been lost fighting Alliance wars. We had no business in the Swarm War, yet because of her ties to the Alliance, and in particular to the Jedi Jacen Solo, she roped our government into yet more hostilities simply because the Alliance couldn't decide what to do about the Killiks. How much longer will you make us an Alliance puppet government your majesty?" she asked, grinning widely.

"You go too far AlGrey." Isolder growled from behind Tenel Ka.

"Do I? Under your poor mother," and Tenel Ka had to suppress a snigger, thinking that no one in their right mind would describe Ta'a Chume as 'poor', "we weathered Clone Wars, the fall of the Republic, the rise of the Empire and to a large extent the Galactic Civil War as well. It was only when Princess Leia, who just happens to be the mother of a Jedi the queen is incredibly close to, chose to court you my prince that we got involved in their problems, and even then your royal mother still kept us largely out of their business. Which was all very well, until your wife took the throne and made us a rentable military for the New Republic simply because they couldn't decide whether to fight or flee the Vong." She said eloquently.

"May I remind the esteemed Ducha that the Vong attacked Hapes without provocation during the war?" Tenel Ka ground out, but the delighted smile on AlGrey's face told her she had made a mistake.

"And why did the Vong come here? Because a Jedi mission went wrong, and you my queen decided to invite spoon benders and mystics into our home that had been mercifully free of them for centuries!"

AlGrey was scoring far too many points, and it was clear that she was building up steam.

"What exactly are you implying Ducha?" Tenel Ka hissed, trying to calm her anger. After all, Allana was present, and she might tell her father if she ripped a woman's head off with the Force, and then she would never hear the end of it.

"That your pro-Alliance leanings will be the destruction of Hapes! You continue to involve us in their problems, their wars, and all it does it get our people killed! If the Alliance isn't strong enough to defend itself, then we ought to let it die! Hapes will emerge that much stronger as a result. We don't need other governments, we never did, we could fend for ourselves. But you continue to lead us to ruin!" she yelled, and to Tenel Ka's dismay, applause broke out all around the grand hall.

"Enough!" Isolder shouted, yelling for order, while Tenel Ka got to her feet.

"Ducha AlGrey. I may be pro-Alliance, yes. But that is hardly a failing. Being an ally of the Alliance means that if we are attacked, they will come to our aid, they are a major trading partner and we can call upon the Jedi Order as and when we need it. Zekk here is living proof of how useful they are."

"If I may point out majesty, he didn't actually find out who was behind the resurgence of the Lorell Raiders." Galney, one of her loyal nobles, whispered in her ear. The Ducha knew full well who was behind the Raiders. Lumiya and she had resurrected them to distract Tenel Ka, and now Collonzas had helpfully taken them off their hands.

"Hush. AlGrey, you may want Hapes to be an isolationist power once more. However, the time for that thinking has long gone. We are part of the wider galaxy now, and we will remain that way." Tenel Ka said dangerously, her single arm flexing in anger.

"Why be isolationist? The Alliance may outnumber us, but we outwit them. People wish to join us, Vena has already expressed a wish for Hapan protection rather than that of the Alliance! Why don't we give it to them, make Hapes the powerful body it ought to be?" she demanded.

Tenel Ka was slightly taken aback. The most extreme philosophy she had ever heard from the nobles was isolation. Expansion was an entirely different affair.

"Expansion?" she breathed weakly.

"We could take what should belong to us. We are a powerful people, but you are too close to the Alliance, you are holding us back!" she roared and more cheers followed that particular speech.

"AlGrey, contain yourself!" Isolder yelled, but it was too late, the damage had been done.

"We will no longer be slaves to the Alliance, and we will not support a Jedi queen who has done nothing but lead us to ruin! As of now, I declare myself free from her service, and intend to save Hapes, who is with me?" AlGrey yelled, and to Tenel Ka's horror, applause broke out. She exchanged a frantic look with her father, and with that AlGrey along with about ten other nobles turned and left the hall, following their new leader.

Tenel Ka turned to her father in shock.

"Did she just declare a separatist movement?" she demanded, and Galney nodded.

"I believe so my queen."

"We should arrest them, now." Trista warned, and Taryn nodded in agreement.

"I know you don't like the thought of that Tenel Ka, but if we don't, this could easily escalate." Zekk warned.

"But then that will further divide the Consortium. We must think about this, we cant jut rush in to an answer. AlGrey has got to have been planning this for months. I wouldn't be surprised if she was behind the Raiders either. She must have been building support, and the problems at Vena and Roche gave her the boost in the argument that she needed." Isolder said darkly.

"How many walked out?" Zekk asked in concern, and Tenel Ka quickly scanned the remaining nobles, and swore, earning her a shocked look from her daughter.

"Mother, what's going on?" she asked softly, and Tenel Ka frowned.

"Nothing you need to worry about yet sweetie. Trista, can you take her to her room? I'll be along later honey." She said distractedly, and as her daughter was resentfully led off, she turned to Isolder, Zekk and Taryn.

"This is far too coincidental. If they do break away, they'll control the entire Lorelli Reach and the Gateworlds, which isolates us from several military bases. Do you think they intend to make a war out of this?" she asked in a panic.

Isolder clasped his chin, frowning pensively.

"We can't jump to conclusions child. We must hope for the best. Perhaps this is just a fit of pique, and after they simmer down, they will simmer out, step down and come back no harm done. But, I think we would be foolish to assume that they will not fight. Between the lot of them, they will control a sizeable fleet, and there's no guarantees," he said and lowered his voice, "that the remaining nobles in the room will actually support you. Many of them may very well just be on the fence. I think it would be adviseable to prepare for the worst." Isolder said grimly.

Tenel Ka looked at the door to the chamber where so many of her nobles had disappeared through. They had split the sector. They wanted freedom from the Alliance, and were willing to fight over it, and had declared themselves separate from her rule. This had all the makings of a civil war. And it was her leadership that had brought them to it.

She had a bad feeling about this.

Behind her, unseen by Tenel Ka's closest supporters, Galney smiled. Everything was going as planned.

XX

As Pellaeon left the briefing room, grumbling to Vitor Reige about his bones creaking, Lecersen nodded to Quille on the other side of the table. As already planned with the other Moffs, they waited until Saretti, Crowal and Rethway left the room before sealing the door and activating the jammer. While this was for the good of the Empire, it could be construed as treason.

And this was dangerous territory. While Saretti, Crowal and Rethway were hardline Pellaeon loyalists, the others were not quite so solid. While they knew Getelles would support them no matter what, Flennic and Freyborn were both two loose ends, and either one of them could easily betray them to Pellaeon, in which case they would be taking a very long walk out of a very short airlock. This was a calculated risk.

"Well Lecersen, what is it you want?" Freyborn demanded, and he smiled.

"Your help and support of course. You see, I have a plan in the works. Surely you must all have seen how the Alliance is struggling. Slave revolts are spreading anarchy. The Senate is acting against the Chief of State. Slavers and pirates are getting bolder, even now attacking within the Core Worlds themselves. The Jedi are going insane, spreading yet more panic through the populace. Rumour has it of trouble in the Mandalorian and Hapan sectors. The Vong are returning for war by the looks of things. They are spread incredibly thinly and can't rely on their established partners, and battles are taking place despite this being proclaimed as a time of peace. We've all seen it before my friends, we saw it with our own Empire after Operation Shadow Hand, we had expanded too far and fast and were suffering the consequences. Our commanders split off, becoming warlords once more and further weakening the Empire and reducing our power. That my friends is what is happening to the Alliance. They are stagnating, and as a result, the time is close for us to significantly improve the Empire's standing." He said mysteriously, and the Moffs looked at each other uncertainly.

"What are you getting at?" Flennic asked suspiciously, and Quille stepped in.

"The members of the Alliance near the border of the Unknown Regions are getting antsy. They fear the Alliance will not protect them as well as they ought to. And that fear has left them ripe for exploitation." He explained.

"What are you getting at Quille?" Getelles asked, always having had very little patience with the man.

"I mean that many planets surrounding our space fear the Alliance's power is waning. As such, they are looking for alternatives. An alternative that we can offer, if all here are willing." He said smugly.

"You plan to expand the Empire?" Flennic asked eagerly, and Lecersen nodded.

"Yes my friend. I've had agents sounding out the governments of the surrounding planets, and many would be interested in a change of government. Mygeeto, Huk, Xexton and other planets are all keen for a change in government. One that with the right support, we can provide." Lecersen elaborated.

"What is it you need from us?" Getelles asked excitedly, and the Moff smiled.

"Your support, and of course your ships."

"Won't the Alliance see any expansion as an act of war?" Freyborn asked sceptically, and Lecersen shook his head.

"No. Firstly, they have too many problems, and secondly, we won't be conquering any of the planets we gain. They will invite us to take them in again."

"How can you be sure?" Freyborn demanded, and Lecersen gave him a tight smile.

"We have our ways, never fear." He replied, knowing full well Lumiya would see to things.

"I'm in." Getelles said, the thought of an expanding Empire pleasing him.

"As am I." Flennic added.

Freyborn looked at them all musingly, then stood.

"You have given us much to think about Moff Lecersen. I shall check on what you have said, see if I can verify it, see if those government really do seek a change, and shall give you my answer in due course." He assured him, shutting his briefcase and sweeping from the room.

Lecersen smiled.

"He'll come around. My agents will see to that. Then, the Empire will stop being a miserable, paltry Alliance backwater and become the Empire we all want it to be once again." He said, and the other Moffs smiled.

"May I ask what your endgame is Lecersen?" Getelles asked, and the ambitious Moff smiled in a predator like fashion.

"A planet that's readmittance to the Empire will totally destroy all respect for Pellaeon's leadership, and also make the Empire a major power once more. The planet Pellaeon lost all those years ago at the site of one of our greatest defeats. Where else, but Bilbringi?"

XX

The meeting with Aristocra Formbi had been mildly bearable. He had praised them for saving him and his escort, and had thanked her for acting as a rally point for the civilians and the remaining military ships that they had found. He had then proceeded to tell Ara'lani that he would be taking over the fleet from then on out.

"Are you insane?" she had asked coldly, and he looked at her in shock.

"You dare speak to a member of the Families like that?" he demanded, and she narrowed her eyes furiously.

"Look around you Aristocra! The Families are gone. The Ascendancy is gone. This fleet is all that if left. We are being hunted by both the Vong and the Vaagari. A civilian will not be able to lead this fleet." She growled.

"Lead this fleet? What is it you intend to do with this usurped command Admiral?" he demanded angrily.

"The decent thing, which also happens to be the sensible thing. We look for other people who have survived the attacks, rally them to us and then make for the Redoubt. There could still be thousands of people out there, and this ship is my responsibility, and as such I have a duty to find them. You may be the last surviving member of the Families, but do you really want people in the Redoubt saying you abandoned them to their own devices to save your own skin?" she demanded angrily, and she fully expected him to argue back.

He just looked at her, and sighed miserably.

"I suppose you're right Admiral. What do you intend to do?" Formbi asked.

"Keep travelling until we can't. I always said we'd only do it for a while. Are you in agreement?" she asked sternly, and eventually he nodded.

And so the duties were split up. While he and Syal looked after the civilian fleet, Ara'lani was in charge of the military aspect, with help from Wreth, Shawnkyr and an advisor from Formbi's ship, which they all knew was a spy. But the power sharing deal worked.

At least it had until now, and its failure now had nothing to do with the personalities involved. It involved a Vong ambush.

The miid ro'ik Vong destroyer had appeared out of nowhere, right on top of the fleet just as they were about to jump to their next location. A blast of plasma had already torn apart one civilian ship, and sent the others into disarray.

"Get those civilian ships behind the defensive line now! Full covering fire! Have the Olympian deploy its fighters, send ours out to assist and have the corvettes protect the Astral Empress and the Chaf Envoy. Hustle people!" Ar'alani barked.

The two brittle looking corvettes, a spindly ship with four claw like structures protecting the engines behind the humpbacked bridge going into a small tapered point, spun around to protect Formbi and the refinery ship.

Ar'alani cursed as the destroyer, which slightly resembled an MC80 cruiser, pounded fire away at them. While the Fell Defender could take it on, it would be hard pressed to protect the civilian ships and fend off the coralskippers at the same time as they fought it. And considering they had already lost around seven hundred people from the fleet, this was not going well.

"Direct all power to frontal shields and weapons, I want that cruiser dead in space! Have the civilians break off from it and calculate another jump to lightspeed." She ordered, wincing as plasma splashed against the shields.

"Admiral, we're reading that the destoryer has thermonukes!" Doshi called and she cursed, watching as her fighters sped in at it, lasers pounding into the coral hull while spiralling away from the attacking skips.

The destroyer was coming straight for them, its plasma weapons pounding against the shields, and she was cautiously keeping an eye on Doshi's readings, they would have to move very fast if they launched a thermonuke, there was no way the Defender could stand against those weapons, they had seen them at Csilla.

The other military ships were directing their firepower to the ship, but due to the necessary distance required in order to keep them out of range of the more powerful enemy ship's guns, they were only mildly tickling the dovin basals protecting the ship. Ar'alani frowned. Something wasn't right here. The destroyer had happened upon them by accident, true, but it still should have known that it would only lead to a protracted battle which would weaken it considerably. Unless...

"Admiral, interdictor class analog dropping from lightspeed!" Doshi yelled, and she cursed as the Vong interdictor moved to intercept the civilian ships, which were moving away to make a break for it.

"Have the civilians take evasive action, that ship has to stay relatively still once it starts interdicting, move them out of its field of fire." She commanded, as the destroyer pounded the front of her ship's shields.

This was it. They were doomed, there was no way to escape. Even if she could take down the two enemy ships, their Star Destroyer would be lost in the process, then the enemy could pick the fleet off at leisure. Last stand time then.

"Transfer all power to weapons, hit the destroyer with all the firepower we've got! Have the fighters pound deal with the skips, and set a collision course with the interdictor, we need to get the civilians out of here." She said, and her crew gave her dark, saddened looks, but nodded.

The Fell Defender opened fire with everything it had, but the destroyer absorbed most of the attack. The ship started to accelerate towards the interdictor blocking the civilians escape, all the while sending a deadly field of fire back at the other ship. They got closer and closer to the interdictor, and the civilians were primed to jump the second they hit it. Ar'alani took a deep breath as the interdictor heaved into view...

And fire blossomed up its rear. Her eyes were immediately drawn to another Star Destroyer, backed up by three frigates, which had dropped out of hyperspace and were now sending punishing maser fire onto the Vong ship.

"Admiral, it's the Night Crawler!" Doshi yelled in excitement.

"Tell Captain Ka'yn that he is a most welcome sight, and have him finish off that interdictor. Have the frigates form up on us, get their fighters to assist ours, while we finish the destroyer!" she said joyfully.

The battle quickly turned in their favour, the interdictor dead in space in moments after the other Star Destroyer pounded it into submission. Under the concentrated fire of their fighters, the skips were soon dealt with, while the Defender pummelled the destroyer with help from the corvettes, frigates and carrier, now unafraid since they had backup. Fire blossomed along the enemy destroyer, shooting out of cracks in the rock like hull, while the Night Crawler joined the brawl with the destroyer.

Ten minutes later, it was all over.

XX

"Thank you for the assistance Captain Ka'yn, your arrival was well timed." Formbi said, as they sat in Ar'alani's quarters later on.

"No need to thank me, we've been tracking that interdictor for days, I'm just glad we finally caught it. And its good to know we're not alone out here." He said.

A career officer, Ka'yn had excelled at the academy, and had been given a command at a young age. Now, all these years later he was controlling one of the strongest ships in the fleet. In fact, rumour had it that he might have been on track to take her job, had the entire world not gone straight to hell in a handbasket.

"It's good to see you captain. Have you signalled your civilian ships?" Ar'alani asked as she watched a Privateer class patrol frigate, like the one Thrawn had one commanded, move into position beside the Astral Empress.

"Yes ma'am, all of them are on the way, all six of them. I thought about continuing to look for enemy ships before we ran into you, but I assume now we're going to the Redoubt?" Ka'yn asked, and Ar'alani looked at Formbi, smiling slightly.

"Well, I wasn't thinking so. There may after all still be other forces out there, civilians lost with no way to the Redoubt. We must help as many as we can. And, we're also close to Copero." She said significantly.

Formbi, Ka'yn, Wreth, Shawnkyr and Fel all looked at each other.

"Surely it was destroyed?" Fel asked, and she shook her head.

"Apparently not. It looks like the Vong only went after our planets. Copero was destroyed, but they left the shipyards intact, must have been to secure the help of the Vaagari, they let them stroll right in there. They rounded up the shipyards workers and have enslaved them, but the ships are still there, as are the people." She explained, and Ka'yn looked at her curiously.

"How do you know this?" he asked.

"One of our bridge officers is a little too keen to please at times, so gives himself helpful jobs to do." Wreth said dryly.

"Well then Admiral, while I can't say I approve of the recklessness of this decision...I also say full steam ahead. What's the plan?" Formbi asked, and she smiled tightly to herself.

"It's time to make the Vong and Vaagari bleed."

XX

Vongerella smiled as she watched the much depleted Alliance taskforce devolve into burning flames. Mygeeto, a frozen world that had once belonged to the Separatists, was screaming bloody murder below them, begging for reinforcements but none were to be had. The corvette and marauder frigate that had been left to guard the planet were smouldering ruins after her attack. At last, her war of revenge against the Alliance had begun.

True it suited Lumiya's aims. True it wasn't that big of a deal, only taking out two ships, which were relatively insignificant anyway. But, it was a start. Now that the first stone had been cast, she could send her fleet up and down the surrounding areas, further weakening the Alliance, destroying their forces through guerrilla tactics and taking it apart piecemeal. And it also helped Lumiya with her plan, which meant she wouldn't bother her much. Which suited her.

"Your orders Domina?" a warrior asked, and she smiled.

"Deploy the fleet along the Hydian Way and the Braxant Run, and send raiders to the Remnant as well. Destroy any Alliance forces they see, but do not assault any planets unless approved by me. The same goes for the Empire. However if they are outgunned they are to retreat, and not give away our location, I don't want them finding the shipwomb or what happened to the Chiss. Understood?" she asked, and the warrior bowed and went about her orders.

With the Chiss gone, and the Empire soon going to be distracted by her own raids, raids by the Vaagari and their own internal problems with the Moffs, the way was clear for her forces to act. After all the years of waiting, of conserving her forces, learning under Lumiya, waiting for the other powers she needed to build up their strength and be ready to suit her plans, soon now the Nagai and Tofs would also join her. With her natural allies arrayed behind her, she would unleash herself once more upon the galaxy, free the defeated warriors of Zonama Sekot, and restore the Vong to what they once were. Their attacks would come from the Unknown Regions, from Bakura, from Endor, and spread, forcing the Alliance into a war on two fronts, and eventually it, the Empire, the Hapans and every other major power would fall. This paltry little galaxy would be conquered, and she would be crowned Empress, not Lumiya, and the Skywalkers and Solos would die painfully for the death of her lover Onimi.

She didn't know what brought it on. Perhaps it was thinking of her oncoming revenge against the Skywalker clan. All she knew was that she was suddenly in the midst of a Force vision.

A misshapen lump of a world with not long to live, a sea of black holes, the Skywalkers and Solos, and a monster, all coalesced into one.

She smiled in a predator like fashion, he plaeryn bol expanding excitedly. She had them, and Lumiya wouldn't be able to stop her. She knew where they were going to be. It was time for a reckoning.

"Alert the fleet that we are leaving them and they are to continue as ordered. If anyone disobeys my orders, I will know and they will spend the rest of their lives on the Embrace of Pain and their torment will be legendary. Keep up the production of the plasma fire, and keep an eye on the Vaagari. And set a course for the Kessel system!" she ordered, and seconds later, the dark side swirling around her, the ship leapt towards her inevitable confrontation with the enemy she had waited so long to kill.

Here we go again!

Here's the latest chapter, and as you can see things are getting worse in the galaxy. The Chiss are still in dire straits, Nazarn is getting stronger, the Alliance is getting weaker, the Empire is getting ambitious and the Hapans are on the edge of civil war. And to top it all off, Vongerella is up to something major.

What will happen next? Next time we are back with the crew of the Falcon on Kesh, so Sith galore next time!

Please read and review!