Exterior: Nathema, capital city.

Disembarking a ship to see another nearby, Drakkon felt an emptiness from this husk of a world.
All was dead silent as the world stood still.
Neither wind, nor heat, nor cold, nor moisture in the air was present.
It was drained of all life essence, emotion, and presence.

"My Lord, I don't like this." shuddered Daesha.
"This is wrong, I can't sense anything," exhaled Drakkon, "If the Emperor is this powerful, what chance do I have against him?"

As he suddenly appeared, Lord Scourge asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Ditto?" asked Drakkon, reaching for his lightsaber.
"I came here expecting Revan to retrace his steps.
Perhaps I just missed him."

"So, what happens now?"
"Do you see with your own eyes the depths of the Emperor's madness?"
"Yes, and are you going to kill me now I see it, Emperor's Wrath?" questioned Drakkon.
"No, we and the Dark Council must challenge the Emperor before it's too late."
"Why would you want him dead?" asked Drakkon, "you're his personal enforcer.
He's the only person you answer to."
"And that's one person too many."

Interior: Concord Dawn, Mandalorian Knights enclave, meeting chamber.

Speaking with the Sage who'd come to visit, Galen informed Yoda, "I ran into my brother on Zygerria."
"Happen, did something?"
"He helped us, when he's a Sith Lord on the Dark Council of the Emperor."

"Feel the disturbance in the Force, did you?"
"It was as if the galaxy cheered when the Empire destroyed Zygerria.
They'll get no sympathy from me."
"Rather cold, for you, that is."
"Civilizations rise and fall, sometimes to never rise again.
This was just Zygerria's turn, and no-one will miss them."
"The boy I knew, speaking, this is not.
Concerned for you, I am."
"I'll be fine, you focus on the rest of the Order, and stopping the Emperor."

Revan chimed in, "I will destroy the Emperor.
I know him better than anyone, and I can resist his will as I have for so many centuries."
"No, not again!" shouted Galen, "I won't let you face him alone!
Not this time."

The Prodigal Knight whipped his head around to look dead Galen in the eyes, "I'm sorry, did you just tell me you 'won't let me,'?"
Standing his ground without flinching, Mandalore strongly told Revan, "We are family, and family stands together… united.
You started this crusade alone, so let's finish it together.
The Emperor has and will continue to destroy countless lives unless we stop him, together.
He seeks to divide us because he knows we can defeat him if we stand united… as one."

With a heavy sigh, Revan chuckled, "Now I know how my followers felt during the Mandalorian Wars, listening to mine and Alek's calls to action."
"Does that mean you're going to listen to me?"
"He has particular ways of dominating the wills of others."
"Has anyone tried turning the tables on him when he tries?
Bending him to their will?"
"If they have, they've likely failed."

"What if we did it through the link you two shared?
You said you had an influence on him."
"That link was broken when you freed me."
"Some links leave a trace even when broken.
We could see if it's really closed, or if we could manipulate that tr-"
Appearing, Meetra's spirit interjected, "It is too dangerous, Galen."
"Yes, to Meetra, you must listen," agreed Yoda, "worth the risk, such a plan is not."

"I never said to go through with it," assured Galen, "it's just a possibility to take into account.
The Emperor may be weighing the same risks as we speak."
"Indeed," agreed Surik, "he would not dare if his enemy could incapacitate him."

As he answered his comlink, Galen questioned, "Drakkon's fleet did what to Nal Hutta? Can sources verify?"
"Yes, my Lord." confirmed a Mandalorian commando, "I have an eye witness with me now."

As a young man with dark skin, curly black hair and brown eyes stepped into view, Marek exhaled, "Calrissian, you'd better not be lying about this."
"Don't you trust me, Galen, old buddy?" asked Lando.
"You don't want me to answer that."

Exterior: Concord Dawn, Mandalorian Knights enclave, landing pad.

Galen had a split-second vision, "Something's wrong."
"What happened?" asked Revan, "was it a vision? What'd you see?"
"A massive space station."
"The Foundry?"
"There were depictions of the Rakata, so it could be."
"Then we should go soon."
"I agree, but we'll need the HKs too.
I sense they have a role to play."

"Request: Masters, please put me in charge when we take control of the Foundry." pleaded HK-47, "Question: what could possibly go wrong?"
"So many things," muttered Galen, under his breath.
"Offended statement: I heard that, Master." gasped the Assassin droid.

A few days later.
Exterior: Hyperspace.
Interior: Ebon Hawk, main hold.

"So, why did we take the Ebon Hawk, not the Rogue Shadow?" asked Revan, whilst sitting at the holotable.
"You're still adjusting, and I thought something familiar would smooth the transition." answered Galen, "it was also your home for a time."
"Thank you, and not just for trying to make adjusting to this new era easier, for taking such good care of the old girl."
"She was my first ship, and I had to get her repaired when I found her."

"Are you sure giving HK-47 a beskar chassis was a good idea?"
"An assassin droid, with thousands of years of experience, made of beskar? What could possibly go wrong?" Galen quipped, making Revan, Ahsoka, Visas, X1, X2, Silas, the HKs, Inferno squad, Kal, Barriss, Shaak Ti and the Nulls laugh.

"So, what's your plan for after we destroy the Emperor and end the war?" asked the man out of time.
"Focus more on teaching my students, and doing right by my people."
"Fair enough."
"What do you want to do after the Emperor is dead?" asked Galen.
"I haven't thought that far ahead." shrugged Revan, a little too casually.
"You're ten steps ahead of everyone we're fighting, and you don't know what's next for you privately?" asked Skirata.
"I owe it to everyone I've lost to destroy the Emperor.
I'll think about a retirement plan afterwards, assuming survival."

Feeling his ancestor's emotions, Galen empathised "I know you feel like it's your responsibility alone, but you are not alone.
You have powerful allies, new and old.
Ni 'cuy Mand'alor: te Starkiller, bal Ni kelir fulfil Mand'alor: te Preserver's oath of allegiance o'r kaysh stead."
Revan tilted his masked head, "After all this time, my Mando'a is a bit rusty.
Can you please repeat that?"
"I am Mandalore: the Starkiller, and I will fulfil Mandalore: the Preserver's oath of allegiance in his stead."
"Thanks."

"I have a feeling we'll need to make a few detours on the way to the Foundry."
"What?" demanded Revan, "we must reach it as soon as-"
"If we take a direct route, the Empire will have an easier time tracking us there.
They may also have fleets closer to the Foundry than we are, and they'll beat us there if we have a direct path to triangulate."
"True enough, Galen."

"What are we doing to the damn thing when we get there?
Destroying it?"
"We will use it against the Empire."
Ahsoka chimed in, "I have a really bad feeling about this idea."
"Then maybe we're doing something right, Knight Tano." replied Revan.
"Didn't you say the thing was powered by the dark side?
And it's a dark side nexus?" questioned Ahsoka, "that only people strong with the dark side can use it?"
"I've known both sides of the Force.
I can handle it."

"That's what I'm worried about."
"How so?"
"You mentioned you only used the Star Forge as a tool since you knew it was too dangerous.
Not using any of its deeper capabilities to avoid being corrupted or consumed by it.
What if you do the opposite this time, use its full potential, and it destroys you or turns you fully to the dark side?"
"Thank you for your concern," appreciated Revan.

Later.
Exterior: space.
Interior: Ebon Hawk, Galen's quarters.

Meditating, Galen heard a familiar yet unfamiliar voice, he recognised it but it was calmer than usual, with a lightness to it.
"Galen."
Opening his eyes as he landed on his feet, Marek blinked at the sight of Revan in the transparent glow of a Force ghost, "Revan?"
"Yes."
"Wait, if you're Revan, then who's in the main hold with my friends?"
"Technically you rescued me, but not me so to speak."

"Is this the result of the Emperor's experiments?"
"He and his Dread Masters split us in two.
I am his light side half, he is what remains in the physical body."
"What happens if you rejoin?"
"It's difficult to tell, given you completely restored my body to its peak.
It should've long since faded to dust."
"You'll either be reborn again, or your body will disappear and your spirit will be whole."
"Keep an eye on my other half.
He's not evil, there's good in him."
"I can do that."

"Mandalore, we're coming out of Hyperspace momentarily, I'd advise strapping in." informed Eclipse, via comlink.
"Copy, Juno," replied Galen before he returned to his seat.

Exterior: Space, Kurost sector, Foundry.
Interior: Ebon Hawk, cockpit.

"I can feel its power in the dark side," exhaled Ahsoka.
"I don't like this… I feel cold." shivered Juno who checked the ship's systems, "but all systems are fully operational."
Galen told the lovely pilot, "It's the Force, Juno."
"You mean I'm Force-sensitive?
But I don't do things like move things with my mind."
"Force sensitivity isn't always that obvious.
One's attunement to the Force can show in more subtle ways."
"Like?"
"Some Force adepts hone their skills and reflexes as a pilot, deepening their connection to the Force without knowing it.
Others may have heightened senses."

"That makes sense." stated Eclipse who inquired, "why didn't you tell me I was Force-sensitive?"
"Opening yourself up to the Force in times of war can make you a target of the Sith, and I wanted to protect you.
Their Inquisitors hunt down Force-sensitives like you for a living, either to break you, turn you to the dark side, or kill you."
"Coming from the Grand Inquisitor's brother.
If I'm in his crosshairs, I need to know how to control and master what affinity for the Force I have."
"That's the thing, Juno, you already have without realising it."

Juno blinked, "What do you mean?"
"Sometimes Force-sensitivity only enhances one specific trait," explained Galen, "A Force-sensitive could be the best pilot in the galaxy but unable to lift a grain of sand with their mind."
"Is that the other reason you didn't tell me?"
"Yes."
"I don't know whether to thank you, kiss you, or punch you."
"Just find us a place to land, Juno."
"Let's hope we're the only ones here.
Or we could be walking into a trap."
"Of course there'll be a trap, but who for is the question."

Revan mentioned, "The machines built here can be programmed to target genes, like that of the Sith species and descendents."
"That didn't work out so well during the Great-Hyperspace war."
"They didn't target so specifically."
"Still don't think it's a good idea, and DNA targeting is messed up."

Bringing a certain Padawan in by the back of their tunic's collar, Skirata informed, "Mandalore, we have a stowaway.
It's your Jetii kid."
"Don't call me kid!" whined Caleb, in his Jedi robes and Mando mithril.

"What I'll call you, Caleb Dume, is 'grounded,' if you're not careful," warned Galen.
"Alright, Dad," quipped Dume.
"Does your mum know about this?"
"Yes."
Marek raised an eyebrow, "Really, ad'ika?"
"You can ask her yourself."
"If we survive this one, I will.
This isn't a field trip, it's a military operation."

"I know, you didn't want me fighting in the war.
I just felt drawn to this mission, like I'm meant to be here.
I was meditating, and something called to me."
"Then this is where you belong.
Nothing happens by accident."
"So you're not mad?"
"No, I am, that you didn't mention you were coming sooner."

Soon thereafter.
Interior: Foundry, main hangar.

Landing alongside four Mandalorian troop carriers and a Jedi starfighter escort, the strike-team disembarked and secured the hangar.

"I sense great darkness here," observed X2, "the power of this place… it feels good."
"Yeah, good like stimulants until their effects wear off, leaving you craving more and messing you up inside." commented a Mandalorian Knight initiate, Atton Jaq.
"Speaking from experience, Atton?"
"Yeah, it leaves you feeling colder than ice, on the inside, if you're not careful."

"How'd you end up with us?"
"When Galen found me, I was in a bad place trying to forget some terrible things I'd done.
I'd beaten the wrong person at pazaak.
They decided to kill me after I took a few too many stims, the effects of which were wearing off.
The next thing I knew, I woke up, in a hospital bed, to see Galen standing over me.
I thought he was going to kill me, but he was the one that'd patched me up."

"Define 'terrible,' things?" requested Barriss.
"I was an elite commando who trained at the Orsis academy to become a private assassin.
I was unnaturally good at killing Force adepts.
I… I enjoyed breaking them then killing them."

"So Galen recruited you to put your bloodlust to good use?"
"You could say that to an extent, but there was a target I'd been hunting my whole life.
A red blade who'd ruined my childhood.
Galen helped me track him down.
When I killed that red blade, my bloodlust and hatred towards other Force users was gone.
Or maybe Galen was just a good influence on me."
"He has that effect on people."

"How'd you join the Mandalorian Knights?" asked Mace Windu, who'd accompanied them much to their disdain and irritation.
"When Galen told me he was forming his own sect of Force users, and that the Force was strong with me, I was hesitant.
But I knew he could help me learn to control my powers.
He was the first person to really help me, and without an agenda.
I'd never trusted any Force user before I met him."

Interior: Foundry, command centre.

With the strike-team having fortified several key locations of the Foundry, Cordova, T3 and R2 accessed the mainframe, giving them control of the station.

"For the record, I don't approve of this facility being under the control of your assassin droid," stated Master Windu, "This is by far one of the most reckless choices you've ever made."
"No-one asked you, and no-one cares for your approval," dismissed Galen who glared at the Korun Master, "the only reasons you're here are Vaapad and your ability to see shatterpoints."

"So I'm here as nothing more than a tool and a pawn to be discarded or sacrificed by you when I'm of no further use?"
"That's exactly what you are! And all you'll ever be, Windu," snapped Galen, surprising his companions.

Fuming with anger, Mace strode out of the room, muttering curses under his breath as he headed for the hangar.

Taken aback by the outburst, Plo inquired, "Were you two in another argument?"
"He told me no real Jedi would spare dark side users.
That Cay, Visas and Asajj all deserved to die from the moment they embraced the dark side." answered Galen.
"That's not the Jedi way." chimed in Dume.
"I know, ad'ika."

"My Lord, Galen, I once more thank you for sparing me, and saving me," chimed in Visas.
"You saved me too, on Umbara.
You stood up to one of the most dangerous beings to have ever lived.
A monster that terrified you more than anything, and you were brave enough to confront it."

"Your guidance, compassion and support gave me the strength to confront Nihilus, my love."
"You've always had the strength within you, and you always will.
Just believe in yourself."
"Thank you."

"You're a good mentor, Galen," praised Eno.
"I've had some good mentors of my own to take inspection from," said Galen, fondly.
"I must confess I am worried about Revan being among your mentors."
"Fair enough. I appreciate your concern."
"And I appreciate your friendship.
Thank you for bringing me on this adventure."
"I knew if anyone from this era could translate Rakatan, it was you.
And what good is knowledge if we can't use it to help others?"
"A good question."

Mando'a translations.

Ni 'cuy Mand'alor: te Starkiller, bal Ni kelir fulfil Mand'alor: te Preserver's oath of allegiance o'r kaysh stead - I am Mandalore the Starkiller, and I will fulfil Mandalore the preserver's oath of allegiance in his stead.

Jetii - Jedi.

Ad'ika - little one, son.

Mand'alor - sole ruler.